Chevron's partnership with the Colombian people has deep roots.
The company began exploring for oil in Colombia in the late 1920s and made oil and gas discoveries during the 1960s and 1970s. The oil fields were sold during the 1990s. Two additional oil fields, in the Llanos Basin, were turned over to Ecopetrol in 2000.
Chevron began marketing products in Colombia in the 1930s. Texaco, which later merged with Chevron, entered the Colombian market in 1958, building service stations, fuel terminals, warehouses and offices in Colombia's major cities. In the mid-1960s, the company constructed a lubricant-oil blending plant and a compounding grease unit in Bogotá.
In 1972, Chevron discovered gas in La Guajira Department, drilling the first well in 1975. The Ballena onshore field began gas production in 1977, and the Chuchupa Field began production in 1979.
In 1988, Chevron opened a plastic container manufacturing plant in Bogotá.
The first Star Mart® and Star Lube® stores, under the Texaco® brand, opened for business in the 1990s.
In 2007, Chevron began offering fuels containing the Techron® additive to Colombian drivers.
Health, Environment and Safety
Chevron sponsors special environmental projects, such as the construction of artificial reefs, near some of our operations in Colombia.
The safety of our workforce is always a high priority. Chevron's downstream operations have received national and international recognition for our environmental performance.
Employees and contractors in our upstream operations also have received awards for outstanding safety performance. In 2010, the private insurance company ARP Bolívar recognized Chevron for measures we implemented to make the workplace safer.
Economy
Natural gas produced by Chevron is a crucial part of the Colombian economy, particularly along the northern coast, where it is used for power generation.
Most of Colombia's power is supplied by hydroelectricity, but the gas-powered network is vital for the country because hydroelectric capacity varies widely as a result of unpredictable rainfall. Natural gas also is used for industry and is the mainstay of the local petrochemicals industry. Millions of commercial and residential consumers in Colombia use natural gas in lieu of more costly fuels.
Chevron is a major contributor to the finances of national and local governments through the royalties and taxes it pays and has long been a leader in introducing leading-edge technology in Colombia. Chevron drilled Colombia's first horizontal well, built its first offshore platforms and gas pipelines, and has contributed many other innovations in natural gas and heavy oil.
Chevron's downstream facilities are among the most modern in Colombia, and the terminals in major cities offer the latest in high-tech services.
Updated: May 2011