PetroSphere

PetroSphere
Type					Public
Traded as					PS, MVVC
Industry					petroleum
Founded					by Nationalization Law, 1933; privatized 1982
Founder					President Eva Shinoda
Headquarters					Caracol, DS, Ardisphere
Area Served					Worldwide
Products					crude oil
					refined petroleum products
					raw plastics
					asphalt
Service(s)					petroleum extraction
					petroleum refining
					petroleum distribution
Total Equity					101.2 bn $Ar
Predecessor					Petróleos Ardesféricos

PetroSphere is a major petroleum extraction and refining company with headquarters at Torre PetroSphere, Calle Ispelia No. 1322, Barrio Pittsbourg in Caracol, DS, Ardisphere.

History

Originally, President Eva Shinoda nationalized the petroleum industry in 1933, due to public disatisfaction with the exploitation of Ardispherian petroleum resources by foreign companies. The name during the publically-owned period was Petróleos Ardesféricos, but when the company was privatized in gradual phases from 1962 until the final divestment in 1982, it adopted the short and catchier "PetroSphere" as its official name, using the name already being used for its retail gasoline-selling operations.

In fact, the PetroSphere retail operation is entirely franchise-based, now, so although the brand is publically visible and well-known, there are also competing retail brands of petroleum products and none of them have direct affiliation with the company, which focuses on extraction, refining and distribution.

The Ardisphere was a net-exporter of crude petroleum until the 1970s, drawing on the rich oil fields of the Au River delta and offshore in the Bahía Negra, south and west of the appropriately-named city of Yacimientos Petroleros, DS. Although the nation's declining reserves mean that it is now a net-importer of crude, it remains an exporter of refined products due to the extensive capicity developed by PetroSphere. Also, PetroSphere has expanded into natural gas extraction and shale oil production, of which new, extensive reserves have been proven in the coalfield regions of the northwest part of Departamento Boreal (DB). Despite the fact that with privatization, PetroSphere lost its national monopolies in extraction and processing, through active investment and development it retains a 67% national market share in extraction and holds more than half of the country's refining capacity.

Ardispherian Operations

Exploration and Extraction

• Offshore platforms crude extraction in Bahía Negra (map)
• Land-based crude and gas extraction in Comuna de la Delta, DS and Comuna Indenpendencia, DS (map)
• Land-based crude and gas extraction in Comuna Manzanar, DL (map)
• Coal mining in Comuna Caballo Blanco, DB (map)
• Shale oil and gas extraction in Comuna Caballo Blanco, DB and Comuna Moyica, DB (map)
• more...

Refining and Transport

• Caracol, DS, refinery and export/import terminal (map)
• Yacimientos Petroleros, DS, refinery (map)
• Lagartópolis, DP, refinery (map)
• Maquinópolis, DL (Cerro y Casa), refinery (map)
• Sombreros Blancos, DB (Jeongto), refinery (map)
• more...

Retail

More than 600 franchise fuel retail locations and affiliated convenience marts throughout the country.

International Operations

PetroSphere has also become an active player in international refining, exploration and extraction.

Exploration and Extraction

• Recently the company signed a deal for shale oil exploration with the Lyr Kingdom in Mahhal (around city of Pawm and Gamaramiponet Prefecture) in wake of that country's 2004 liberalization of laws regarding multinational investment in resources and infrastructure. (map)
• more...

Refining and Transport

• The company acquired, expanded and operates a major petrochemical import and refining complex at Pittsbury Island (Quentinsburgh), in Freedemia (map)
• more...

See Also

• OGF:International Business Listing
• IBA-150
• Ardisphere