Our history: 1909-1875

1909

First Filling Station in the West

Continental Oil builds the West’s first filling station, also investing in a fleet of delivery trucks, each with 3 tanks, to deliver different types of fuel.

First Production: Anna Anderson #1

Brothers Frank and L.E. Phillips discover their first major producer, the Anna Anderson No. 1. Drilled on Delaware Indian Anna Anderson's land 7 miles north of Bartlesville, OK. This find starts the brothers on a fantastic string of over 80 drilling successes.

Standard Oil Takes Control

Standard Oil takes control of Continental Oil and Transportation Co., the top marketer of petroleum products in the Rocky Mountain region. As automobiles become more popular, additional output is refined into gasoline.

First Pipeline in California

Blake directs the construction of the first pipeline in California, from a railroad station in Pico to Ventura, where the oil is loaded onto steamers sailing to the Golden Gate Bridge area for distribution. New products are introduced: benzene to clean stoves, ready-mixed paints, hoof oil for horses, and even a popular medicinal ointment.

Continental Oil and Transportation Founded

November 25, 1875 - Isaac Elder Blake forms the Continental Oil and Transportation Co. after observing townspeople in Ogden, UT, use candles and whale oil to light their homes even though kerosene from Colorado could be purchased by the case. Blake offers kerosene imported in bulk by railroad tank cars from eastern refineries, decreasing cost and increasing demand from the thrifty pioneers.