Shell USA facts for kids
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Formerly
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Shell Oil Company, Inc. |
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Petroleum |
| Founded | 1912 U.S. |
| Headquarters |
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United States
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Key people
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Gretchen Watkins (president) |
| Products | Fuel, motor oil |
| Revenue |  US$ 37.376 billion (2013/2016) |
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Number of employees
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12,100+ (2021) |
| Parent | Shell plc |
Shell USA, Inc. is a large energy company in the United States. It is a part of Shell plc, which is a huge global energy company based in the UK. Shell USA is one of America's biggest producers of oil and natural gas. It also sells fuel and makes chemicals. About 18,000 Shell employees work in the U.S. The company's main office is in Houston, Texas.
Contents
Shell's Story
Early Deals and Changes
In 1979, Shell bought a company called Belridge Oil Company. This was a very big purchase for its time.
Later, in 1997, Shell worked with another company, Texaco, on two joint projects. These projects combined their operations in different parts of the U.S.
When Texaco joined with Chevron in 2001, Shell bought Texaco's shares in these joint projects. By 2002, Shell started changing Texaco gas stations to the Shell brand. This was a huge effort to rebrand many stations across America.
Focusing on Oil and Chemicals
In recent years, Shell Oil Company has focused more on oil and chemical products. This happened because its parent company, Royal Dutch Shell, created a new part of the business for natural gas and power. Shell Oil Company's old natural gas and energy divisions are now part of Shell Energy North America. This is a separate but connected company also based in Houston, Texas.
In June 2025, news came out that Shell was looking to buy another big oil company, BP. This would be one of the largest oil deals in many years.
What Shell USA Does
Fueling Cars and More
Shell is a leader in the U.S. with about 14,000 Shell-branded gas stations. These stations are the most common way people see Shell. They are in almost all 50 states, except Montana. At these stations, Shell sells diesel fuel, fuel, and LPG.
Shell also used to be a partner with the Saudi Arabian government's oil company, Saudi Aramco. They had a joint company called Motiva Enterprises that ran three oil refineries. However, Shell is now selling its part of Motiva.
Products and Innovation
Shell's products include different types of oils, fuels, and car services. They also explore for oil, produce it, and refine it into useful products. The Shell Martinez Refinery in Martinez, California, was the first Shell refinery in the United States. It supplied fuel to Shell and Texaco stations for many years before it was sold in 2020.
Shell fuel lines like RU2000 and SU2000 were replaced by the V-Power line.
In 2023, Shell USA became the official fuel supplier for the NTT IndyCar Series. They provide 100% ethanol-based fuel for the races. They are also the official fuel of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Also in 2023, Shell Trading (US) Company started receiving sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This fuel helps reduce carbon emissions and is distributed by Shell across the country.
Global Business Changes
In 2024, Shell prepared to sell its onshore business in Nigeria's Niger Delta. This deal was for $2.4 billion and involved selling 15 onshore oil leases and three shallow water fields to a group of companies called Renaissance. The deal needed government approval to be completed.
Shell USA and Shell plc
Until the mid-1980s, Shell's business in the United States was quite independent. It had its own stock traded on the New York Stock Exchange. However, in 1984, Royal Dutch Shell bought all the shares of Shell Oil Company that it did not already own. This was a large purchase of $5.7 billion.
Even after this purchase, Shell Oil remained somewhat independent for a while. This was partly due to legal reasons. The Shell logo used in the U.S. was even a bit different from the one used in other parts of the world. But over time, the parent company took more control. Since June 1, 1998, the Shell logo in the United States has been the same as everywhere else.
In January 2018, Royal Dutch Shell bought a large part of a solar energy company called Silicon Ranch. This was part of a global project to bring more solar energy options to customers in the U.S.
In October 2018, the company installed a tall quench tower at its Shell Chemical Appalachia plant. This tower helps reuse heat in the plant's processes.
Shell's Other Companies
Shell USA has several other companies that are part of its business:
- Pennzoil
- Quaker State
- Jiffy Lube
- Limejump
- Greenlots – This company provides Charging stations and systems for electric vehicles.
- Amilcar Petroleum Operations (APO) – A joint company with Tunisia's state-owned oil company.
- Specialty Oil Company – This company makes the Walmart Super Tech Brand.
Shell also sold its part of the Deer Park Refinery to Pemex in 2022.
See also
- Pennsylvania Shell ethylene cracker plant
- Petroleum geology
- List of automotive fuel brands
