If you were to ask me which Major Oil Company was my favorite, the best Big Oily, as it were, I would have to say it is ConocoPhillips. Now CP may not be the best producer, the best refiner, or best whatnot, but they do now and have always made the good ol' US of A a stomping grounds. When every other major decided that the sexy siren song of mascaraed, slinkily-dressed crazy warlords or South American fuertes was where it was at, and turned away from their dowdy, overweight first wife, the American oilpatch, CP always made sure it made it home for dinner. Sure, CP might cat around overseas with the best of 'em, but they never abandoned good ol' hearth and home.
I mean, don't get me wrong. Getting a farmout or doing a deal with 'em is still a painful hell, they are a major (unless your named Levrett and live in Amarillo), after all. But their folks are smart, they are good, and they think more like an independent than any other major.
My second favorite Major Oil Company is British Petroleum, or BP as they like to be known now, you know, the Petroleum is Silent. They are a smart bunch of folks, and they used to be Amoco, a real Gold Brand with exceptional people if ever one existed. Anyone who would keep and promote a country manager that spent his waterwell budget to drill a successfull off the books exploration well at least has a genetic tie to wildcatting.
I could go on, but that would defeat the purpose of who my FAVORITE majors are, wouldn't it?
You can take the wildcatter out of Oklahoma, but you can't take the Oklahoma outa' the wildcatter.
Posted by: Crash N. Burn | September 04, 2009 at 09:29 AM
I have soft spot in my heart for CP, as one of my brothers in-law works for them in the San Juan Basin.
Posted by: on-the-rocks | September 13, 2009 at 04:36 PM