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. These oil-producing properties 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 inaugurated a plastic container manufacturing plant in Bogotá.
The first Star Marts® and Star Lubes®, under the Texaco brand name, opened for business in the 1990s.
In 2007, Chevron began offering drivers in Colombia fuels with Techron.
Health, Environment and Safety
Chevron sponsors special projects, such as the construction of artificial reefs near some of our operations in Colombia. In addition, Chevron, often with the cooperation of the Office of the First Lady of Colombia, has sponsored programs such as Children's Day and other projects focused on children.
Chevron has purchased stretchers, surgical instruments and medicines for local communities. We also supported the remodeling of a health center in Mayapo, a small town in La Guajira. The delivery room and the water system were improved, and a solar-powered energy system was installed. To address water problems in the region, Chevron has drilled water wells near operational areas.
The safety of our workforce is always a high priority. Chevron's downstream operations have been recognized as some of the most secure operations in Colombia and have received national and international recognition for their environmental performance.
Employees and contractors in our upstream operations also have received awards for outstanding safety performance, and recently the entire workforce was recognized for its continued incident-free operations.
Economy
Natural gas produced by Chevron is a crucial part of the economy, particularly along the northern coast of Colombia 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 petrochemical industry. Millions of commercial and residential consumers in Colombia use 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 gas and heavy oil.
Chevron's downstream facilities are among the most modern in Colombia, and the terminals in the major cities offer the latest high-tech services.
Updated: March 2009