Imperial Oil (NYSEAMERICAN:IMO) is one of Canada’s largest integrated oil and gas companies, with operations spanning upstream exploration and production, downstream refining and marketing, and chemical manufacturing. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, the company produces crude oil and natural gas in Western Canada and manages one of the country’s most extensive networks of refineries and retail outlets under the Esso and Mobil brands. Imperial Oil is majority-owned by ExxonMobil Corporation, which provides access to global technology and research capabilities.
In its upstream segment, Imperial Oil focuses on resource development in Alberta and the Northwest Territories, with key assets including the Kearl oil sands project and Cold Lake thermal operations. The company leverages enhanced oil recovery and steam-assisted gravity drainage techniques to develop heavy oil reserves, alongside conventional oil and gas drilling. Exploration activities also extend to offshore prospects on Canada’s East Coast, where Imperial Oil participates in joint ventures and partnerships.
The downstream business comprises three major refineries located at Strathcona (Alberta), Sarnia (Ontario) and Nanticoke (Ontario), with a combined capacity of over half a million barrels per day. These facilities produce transportation fuels, lubricants, asphalt and petrochemicals that are marketed across Canada through a network of roughly 1,700 service stations and commercial distribution channels. Imperial Oil’s chemical operations supply raw materials for plastics, synthetic rubber and other industrial products.
Founded in 1880 and a pioneer in Canada’s oil industry since the landmark Leduc No. 1 discovery in 1947, Imperial Oil has played a central role in the nation’s energy development. The company is focused on operational efficiency and environmental stewardship, investing in emissions reduction technologies and land reclamation. Imperial Oil’s leadership team, headed by President and CEO Brad Corson, continues to guide the company’s strategic growth and commitment to safety and sustainability.
