Parent organization ExxonMobil | Founded 1921 | |
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Superior Oil Company (1921–1984) was an independent American oil company that is now part of ExxonMobil. Superior Oil was founded in 1921 in Coalinga, California by William Myron Keck, also founder of the W. M. Keck Foundation.
Superior Oil began as a drilling contracting firm and grew into other oil services including exploration and production of oil and natural gas. In 1938, the company constructed the first offshore oil platform off the Gulf Coast of Louisiana in cooperation with Pure Oil, another independent producer.
From the company's founding in 1921 until 1963, Superior Oil was led by its founder, W. M. Keck. From 1963 until 1981, it was led by Keck's son, Howard B. Keck.
In the 1970s, Superior Oil was involved in the oil shale industry developing the Superior multimineral process.
In March 1984, Superior Oil was acquired by Mobil Corporation (now part of ExxonMobil) for $5.7 billion. At that time the company was the nation's largest independent oil producer.