Shell USA facts for kids
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Petroleum industry |
| Founded | 1912 U.S. |
| Headquarters | , |
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Key people
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Gretchen Watkins (President) |
| 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 big energy company in the United States. It is part of Shell plc, a huge global company based in the UK. Shell is one of the largest oil companies in the world.
About 18,000 people work for Shell in the U.S. Their main office is in Houston, Texas. Shell USA is a major producer of oil and natural gas. They also sell fuel and make chemicals.
Contents
Shell's Story in the U.S.
Shell has a long history in the United States. In 1979, Shell bought Belridge Oil Company. This was a very big deal at the time.
Working with Other Companies
In 1997, Shell teamed up with Texaco. They created two joint companies. One was called Equilon, which handled their business in the Midwest and West. The other was Motiva Enterprises, for their operations in the East and Gulf Coast.
When Texaco joined with Chevron in 2001, Shell bought Texaco's shares. By 2004, Shell changed all these Texaco gas stations to the Shell brand. This was a huge change for retail businesses in America.
Focusing on Oil and Chemicals
Recently, Shell Oil Company has focused more on oil and chemical products. Their natural gas and power businesses are now part of a new group. This group is called Shell Energy North America. It is also based in Houston, Texas.
What Shell USA Does
Shell is a leader in the U.S. fuel market. They have about 14,000 Shell-branded gas stations. These stations are the most common way people see Shell. You can find Shell stations in almost every state, except Montana.
Fuels and Products
At their gas stations, Shell sells diesel fuel, fuel, and LPG. Shell also offers oils, fuels, and car services. They explore for oil, produce it, and refine it into products.
The Shell Martinez Refinery in Martinez, California, was Shell's first refinery in the U.S. It supplied fuel to Shell and Texaco stations for many years. Shell sold this refinery in 2020.
Shell used to have fuel lines called RU2000 and SU2000. Now, their main premium fuel is called V-Power.
New Energy and Partnerships
In 2023, Shell USA became the official fuel supplier for the NTT IndyCar Series. They provide 100% ethanol-sourced fuel for the races. They are also the official fuel of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Shell is also working on cleaner energy. In 2023, they started getting sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This fuel helps reduce carbon emissions. Shell distributes this fuel across the country.
Business in Other Countries
Shell is planning to sell its onshore business in Nigeria in 2024. This deal is worth $2.4 billion. It includes 15 onshore oil fields and three shallow water fields.
Shell USA and Shell plc
For many years, Shell's business in the U.S. was quite independent. Its stock was even traded separately on the New York Stock Exchange. However, in 1984, Royal Dutch Shell bought all the remaining shares of Shell Oil Company. This cost $5.7 billion.
Even after this, Shell Oil stayed somewhat independent. This was partly due to legal reasons. The main company worried about legal problems if they controlled Shell Oil too closely. For a while, the Shell logo in the U.S. was even a bit different.
But over time, the main company took more control. Since 1998, the Shell logo used in the U.S. is the same as everywhere else.
Investing in Green Energy
In 2018, Royal Dutch Shell bought a part of Silicon Ranch. This company focuses on solar energy. This was part of Shell's "New Energies" plan. The goal is to offer solar power options to customers in the U.S.
Shell also installed a large quench tower at a chemical plant in Pennsylvania in 2018. This tower helps reuse heat, making the plant more efficient.
Shell's Other Companies
Shell USA owns or has interests in several other companies:
- Pennzoil
- Quaker State
- Jiffy Lube
- Greenlots — This company provides charging stations 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 used to own part of the Deer Park Refinery. But in 2022, they sold their share to Pemex.
See also
- Pennsylvania Shell ethylene cracker plant
- Petroleum geology
- List of automotive fuel brands
