Following the break up by the US Government of Standard Oil, several new companies were created, three of which, along with four other major oil companies, were once referred to as the Seven Sisters, coined by an Italian entrepreneur, Enrico Mattei. With their virtual monopoly on oil production, refinement and distribution, they were able to take advantage of the rapidly increasing demands for oil and turn massive profits. Being well organized and able to negotiate as a cartel, they were able to have their way in most Third World oil producers. It was only when the Arab states began to gain control over oil prices and production, mainly through the formation of OPEC, beginning in 1960 and really gaining power by the 1970's, that the Seven Sisters' influence declined.

The companies were:

1. Standard Oil of New Jersey (Esso). This later became Exxon, now ExxonMobil.
2. Royal Dutch Shell Anglo-Dutch
3. British Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC). This later became British Petroleum, then BP Amoco following a merger with Amoco (which in turn was formerly Standard Oil of Indiana). It is now known solely by the initials BP.
4. Standard Oil of New York (Socony). This later became Mobil, which merged with Exxon to form ExxonMobil.
5. Texaco. This later merged with Chevron and was ChevronTexaco from 2001 till 2005 when the name of the company reverted back to Chevron.
6. Standard Oil of California (Socal). This became Chevron.
7. Gulf Oil. Most of this became part of Chevron, with smaller parts becoming part of BP, and Cumberland Farms. A network of stations in the northeastern United States still bears this name.

The Seven Sisters is the title of a book by British journalist Anthony Sampson about the history of the oil industry, published in 1975.

ISBN 0553204491

As of 2005, the surviving companies are ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, and BP.

Reference in The Road Warrior film

The Seven Sisters oil company conspiracy theory is referenced in the 1981 film, The Road Warrior, which starred Mel Gibson. In the film, a fuel tanker can be seen emblazoned with a Seven Sisters logo.

See also

• Cartel
• Fossil fuel
• Monopoly
• Petroleum

Oil companies of the United States | History of the petroleum industry

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