Chevron's partnership with the Colombian people has deep roots.
The company began exploring for oil in Colombia in the late 1920s and made crude oil and natural 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, 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.
In 2012, Chevron celebrated 35 years of natural gas production in Colombia.
Health, Environment and Safety
Chevron sponsors special environmental projects, such as the construction of artificial reefs, near some of our operations in Colombia.
Chevron was named one of the most socially responsible companies in Colombia at the 2011 Environmental Responsibility Awards. The event is sponsored by the Fundación Siembra Colombia with the support of the United Nations Development Program. Chevron also received the Gold Medal for Environmental Responsibility in Research and Conservation for promoting economic and social development of the Wayúu communities near our facilities in La Guajira Province.
Protecting people and the environment is our top 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 and 2012, the private insurance company ARP Bolívar recognized Chevron for measures we implemented to make our 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 and built its first offshore platforms and natural gas pipelines.
Chevron's downstream facilities are among the most modern in Colombia, and the terminals in major cities offer the latest in high-tech services.
Chevron, through the Texaco brand, is the only operator and fuel distributor with a presence in the island territories of San Andres and Providencia.
Updated: April 2013
Cautionary Statement