Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY) (OXY) is an international energy company engaged primarily in the exploration, production and marketing of oil and natural gas. The company conducts upstream activities to discover and produce hydrocarbons and operates complementary midstream and marketing functions to transport and sell its production. Occidental also owns a chemicals business that manufactures and sells industrial chemicals and related products for a range of end markets.
Occidental’s operations are concentrated in the United States, with a significant presence in the Permian Basin, and it maintains exploration and production activities in several international regions, including parts of the Middle East, Latin America and Africa. The company’s assets span conventional and unconventional reservoirs, and it employs enhanced oil recovery techniques, including the use of carbon dioxide for tertiary recovery, as part of its production portfolio.
Founded in 1920 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, Occidental has grown through organic development and strategic acquisitions. A notable milestone in the company’s recent history was the 2019 acquisition of Anadarko Petroleum, which materially expanded Occidental’s position in U.S. onshore production. Vicki Hollub has served as president and chief executive officer since 2016, becoming one of the first women to lead a major U.S. oil and gas company.
In addition to hydrocarbons, Occidental operates a chemicals division and has publicly emphasized investments in carbon management and lower‑carbon solutions, including carbon capture, utilization and sequestration (CCUS) initiatives. The company’s integrated portfolio—upstream production, midstream activities, chemical manufacturing and carbon management—positions it to participate across multiple segments of the energy value chain.
