Statoil
172889
221963591
2008-06-26T22:01:41Z
Arsenikk
1724762
Reverted [[WP:AGF|good faith]] edits by [[Special:Contributions/Agatha Müsli|Agatha Müsli]]; Does not read as well, and contains many errors. ([[WP:TW|TW]])
{{Infobox Defunct Company
| company_name = Statoil ASA
| company_logo = [[Image:StatoilLogo.gif]]
| slogan =
| fate = merged with [[Norsk Hydro]] division
| successor = [[StatoilHydro]]
| foundation = [[14 July]] [[1972]]
| defunct = [[1 October]] [[2007]]
| location = [[Stavanger]], [[Norway]]
| industry = [[Oil companies|Oil and gas]]
| key_people =
| products = [[Petroleum|Oil]]<br>[[Natural gas]]<br>[[Petrochemicals]]
| num_employees =
| parent =
| subsid =
}}
[[Image:Statoil-Estonia.jpg|thumb|150px|right|A Statoil petrol station sign in [[Estonia]]]]
'''Statoil [[Allmennaksjeselskap|ASA]]''' was a [[Norway|Norwegian]] [[petroleum]] company established in [[1972]], now part of [[StatoilHydro]]. The brand Statoil is retained as a chain of [[Statoil (fuel station)|fuel stations]] owned by StatoilHydro. Statoil was the largest petroleum company in the [[Nordic countries]] and Norway's largest company, employing over 25,000 people. While Statoil was listed on both the [[Oslo Stock Exchange]] and the [[New York Stock Exchange]], the Norwegian state still held majority ownership, with 64%. The main office located in Norway's oil capital [[Stavanger]]. The name Statoil was a truncated form of ''the State's oil''.
Statoil was one of the largest net sellers of [[crude oil]] in the world, and a major supplier of [[natural gas]] to the [[Europe]]an continent, Statoil also operated around 2000 [[gas station|service stations]] in 9 countries. The company's [[Chief Executive Officer|CEO]] from mid-2004 onwards was [[Helge Lund]], formerly CEO of [[Aker Kværner]].
==History==
===Early years===
'''Den Norske Stats Oljeselskap A/S''' was founded as a private limited company owned by the [[Government of Norway]] on [[14 July]] [[1972]] by a unanimous act passed by the Norwegian parliament [[Stortinget]]. The political motivation was Norwegian participation in the oil industry on the continental shelf and to build up Norwegian competency within the petroleum industry to establish the foundations of a domestic petroleum industry. Statoil was required to discuss important issues with the [[Norwegian Minister of Industry|Minister of Industry]], later [[Minister of Petroleum and Energy (Norway)|Minister of Petroleum and Energy]]. Statoil was also required to submit an annual report to the parliament.
In 1973 the company started work acquiring a presence in the [[petrochemical]] [[industry]]. This resulted in the development of processing plants in [[Rafsnes]] and, in partnership with [[Norsk Hydro]], the [[Mongstad]] plant in [[1980]]. In [[1981]] the company acquired, as the first Norwegian company, operator rights on the [[Norwegian continental shelf]] on the [[Gullfaks]] field. 1987-88 saw the largest scandal in the companies history, the [[Mongstad scandal]] that made the until then unassailable CEO [[Arve Johnsen]] withdraw.
===Privatization===
The company was privatised and made a [[public limited company]] ([[allmennaksjeselskap]]) in 2001, becoming listed on both the [[Oslo Stock Exchange]] and the [[New York Stock Exchange]]. At the same time it changed its name to '''Statoil ASA'''.
===Merger with Hydro===
{{main|StatoilHydro}}
In December 2006 Statoil revealed a proposal to merge with the oil business of [[Norsk Hydro]], a Norwegian conglomerate.<ref>[http://www.hydro.com/cgi-bin/www.hydro.com/show_press_rel.cgi?file=/en/press_room/press_releases/archive/2006_12/2768/2768_en.html Hydro's oil and gas activities to merge with Statoil], ''Norsk Hydro'', published 2006-12-18, accessed 2007-06-20</ref> Under the rules of the [[European Economic Area|EEA]] the proposal was approved by the [[European Union]] on May 3, 2007<ref name="EUB070305">[http://www.eubusiness.com/Energy/statoil-norsk.44/ EU regulators approve Statoil, Norsk Hydro merger], ''EU Business'', published 2007-05-03, accessed 2007-06-20</ref> and by the [[Storting|Norwegian Parliament]] on June 8, 2007.<ref name="OR070611">[http://www.ocean-resources.com/news/ournews.asp?NewsID=5709 Norwegian Parliament Okays Statoil-Hydro Merger], ''Ocean-Resources'', published 2007-06-11, accessed 2007-06-20</ref> Former Statoil's shareholders hold 67.3% of the new company [[StatoilHydro]], which started operations on [[1 October]] [[2007]].<ref name="EUB070305" /><ref name="OR070611" /> The company is the biggest offshore oil and gas company in the world.<ref name="OR070611" />
==Environmental Record==
Statoil had three recent oil spills in the Arctic waters near Norway. All the spills occurred from its ocean rig called the Erik Raude. The company was searching for oil in the region, which environmentalists were against because they wanted the sensitive area free from pollution. However, the Norwegian government allowed oil exploration, as long as there were no emissions.<ref name=enn20050413>{{cite web |url=http://www.enn.com/top_stories/article/15989 |author=Environmental News Network |title=Norway's Statoil Shuts Down Oil Drilling Rig After Arctic Oil Spill |date=2005-04-13}}</ref> After the merger to StatoilHydro, in December 2007, 25,000 barrels of oil leaked into the North Sea. This was Statoil’s 2nd worst oil spill.<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssEnergyNews/idUSL1415001920071214?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0 |title=North Sea oil spill off Norway largely "dissolved" |author=[[Reuters]] |date=2007-12-14}}</ref> Two leaks also occurred in February, 2008. In March, Statoil dropped about 1.6 tons of pure hydraulic oil in the Barents Sea. Hydraulic oil is said to be the 2nd most hazardous pollutant.<ref name=aftenposten20050413>{{cite web |url=http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1016676.ece |title=Bellona files charges after oil spill |author=[[Aftenposten]] |date=2005-04-13}}</ref> Since the leaks, Statoil has stated that the oil has mostly dissolved, and there is not much proof of ecological harm. The Norwegian government has not stopped the oil drilling in the Arctic waters, and Statoil started up its oil operations in April.<ref name=enn20050413 /> [[Bellona Foundation|Bellona]], a Norwegian environmental group, is looking to take legal action. They want the end of oil drilling in the Barents Sea.<ref name=aftenposten20050413 />
==Controversy and corruption==
===Rotvoll controversy===
{{main|Rotvoll controversy}}
In [[1991]] there arose a controversy between Statoil and local environmentalists, mainly from [[Natur og Ungdom]] and [[Friends of the Earth Norway]], who protested the building of a new [[research and development]] centre at [[Rotvoll]] in [[Trondheim]], [[Norway]], [[wetlands]] area close to the city with significant bird life. The controversy was climaxed with [[civil disobedience]] by the environmentalists, but the centre was still built.
===Statoil corruption case===
{{see|Statoil corruption case}}
The Statoil corruption case refers to the company's misconduct and use of corruption in [[Iran]] in 2002/2003 in an attempt to secure lucrative oil contracts in that country. This was mainly achieved by hiring the services of Horton Investments, an Iranian consultancy firm owned by Mehdi Hashemi Rafsanjani, son of former Iranian President [[Hashemi Rafsanjani]]. Horton Investments was paid [[United States dollar|USD]] 15.2 million by Statoil to influence important political figures in Iran to grant oil contracts to Statoil. The corruption scandal was uncovered by Norwegian paper [[Dagens Næringsliv]] on [[September 3]], [[2003]].
===Corrib gas project===
{{main|Corrib gas project}}
Statoil was a partner of [[Royal Dutch Shell]] in the [[Corrib gas project]], which entails developing a [[natural gas]] field off the northwest of [[Ireland]]. The project has proved controversial, and a national campaign, [[Shell to Sea]], now opposes the project vehemently. In the summer of 2005, [[Rossport Five|five men]] from [[County Mayo]] were jailed because of their opposition to the project, and Statoil filling stations around Ireland were picketed - although these are only operated under franchise by [[Topaz Energy]]. Scores of protesters had to be moved on by [[An Garda Síochána]]{{Dubious|date=April 2008}} in order to facilitate the building of a refinery to process the gas in [[Erris]], but the protests continue.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.corribsos.com/ |title=Shell to Sea |author=[[Shell to Sea]] |accessdate=2007-09-12}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
*[http://www.statoil.com/ Corporate website]
*[http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006/10/worlds_largest_.html World’s Largest Carbon Sequestration Project Approved]
*[http://oilrigcareer.com/index.php?sid=875791982&t=sub_pages&cat=12 Statoil operated oil fields] Detailed list of all oil fields operated by Statoil
*[http://www.statoillubricants.com/ Statoil's Lubricants]
*[http://www.statoil.se/ Statoil Sweden]
[[Category:StatoilHydro]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1972]]
[[Category:Petroleum companies of Norway]]
[[Category:Natural gas companies of Norway]]
[[Category:Former Norwegian government enterprises]]
[[Category:Companies based in Stavanger]]
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