History

Our story demonstrates our commitment to the community, our innovative approach to technology and our adaptability during the changes faced by our industry. 

Timeline

Highlights

1900s

1906: Canadian Albert Lero Ellsworth, along with eight shareholders, invests $135,000 in British American Oil Company Ltd. 

1920s: The company merges with Marland Oil Company to partner with Hudson’s Bay Oil and Gas Company (HBOG). 

1940 – 1960: HBOG increases its acreage position in Canada and starts shipping Canadian crude to a refinery in Billings, Montana. 

1967: HBOG becomes the sixth largest Canadian producer of oil and gas. 

1980s

1981: Conoco sells its interest in Dome Petroleum and leaves the Canadian market for a short time. 

1984 – 1988: Conoco re-enters the Canadian market and acquires an interest in the Peco field in Alberta. 

1990s

1990 1999: The company solidifies its Peco interest with the acquisition of Petro-Canada’s assets in the area. It goes on to make nine discoveries in the Foothills region. In 1999, it also purchases producing properties from Renaissance Energy, adding to its interests in Canada. 

2000-2010

2000: Conoco takes over Petro-Canada’s midstream assets, including the Empress natural gas plant and a 930-kilometre pipeline to Winnipeg, Manitoba. 

2001: Conoco makes its mark in Canada with the successful acquisition of Gulf Canada Resources Limited. Completed in record time, the deal becomes the largest oil and gas transaction in Canadian history. The addition immediately increases Conoco’s natural gas production and proved natural gas reserves by 50% and worldwide reserves (including oil, natural gas and bitumen) by 40%. 

2006: The company, now ConocoPhillips, completes the acquisition of Burlington Resources, growing its portfolio of gas reserves, including a significant expansion in western Canadian conventional and resource plays.

2010: ConocoPhillips Canada divests its nine percent interest in Syncrude oil sands mining assets. The move signals a shift to in-situ oil sands production and contributes significantly to the parent company’s plans to sell $10 billion of assets over two years. 

2011 - current

May 1, 2012: ConocoPhillips successfully separates the company’s refining & marketing and exploration & production businesses into two stand-alone, publicly traded corporations, Phillips 66 and ConocoPhillips. While the repositioning of the company impacts ConocoPhillips Canada’s operations only slightly, the change signals another exciting time for the entire company. 

May 29, 2015: ConocoPhillips achieves first steam at phase 2 of the Surmont oil sands project. Total gross capacity for the first two phases is expected to reach 150,000 barrels per day. 

May 17, 2017: ConocoPhillips sells its 50% non-operated interest in the Foster Creek Christina Lake (FCCL) oil sands partnership, as well as the majority of its Western Canada Deep Basin gas assets. ConocoPhillips Canada retains its operated 50% interest in the Surmont oil sands joint venture and its 100% operated Montney unconventional acreage position. 

October 4, 2023: ConocoPhillips completes purchase of the remaining 50% interest in the Surmont asset.