ARCO
An American petroleum brand originating with Atlantic Richfield Company and now used primarily for gasoline stations operated through Marathon Petroleum and BP licensing arrangements.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
ARCO is an American petroleum and gasoline-station brand whose name originated with the Atlantic Richfield Company, an oil company created in 1966 by combining Atlantic Refining and Richfield Oil Corporation. The company inherited histories reaching back to nineteenth-century petroleum businesses, but the ARCO identity itself was developed after the merger. Its red diamond-shaped ARCO Spark, designed by Herbert Bayer, became one of the most recognizable visual marks in the American petroleum sector. For much of the period from the 1960s through the 1990s, Atlantic Richfield was a large integrated energy company rather than merely a retail fuel label. It explored for and produced oil and gas in the United States, Alaska, the North Sea, Indonesia, the South China Sea, and Mexico; operated refineries, pipelines, terminals, research facilities, and service stations; and participated in chemicals, mining, solar power, and other energy-related activities. ARCO and Exxon were involved in the discovery of the Prudhoe Bay oil field in Alaska in 1968, a defining event in the development of North American petroleum production. The company expanded through acquisitions, including Sinclair Oil in 1969 and Anaconda Copper Mining Company in 1977. The Anaconda transaction diversified ARCO into hard-rock mining but also created substantial environmental obligations connected with mining and smelting properties in Montana. ARCO later withdrew from much of the mining business as copper prices weakened and operations became uneconomic. Its diversified portfolio also contracted through the divestiture or sale of ARCO Chemical, ARCO Solar, regional service stations, and other assets. ARCO developed a reputation for value-oriented retail fuel. In 1982 it stopped accepting its own credit card and bank credit cards, allowing stations to emphasize cash payment and lower prices. It later introduced debit-card acceptance with a transaction fee. The company also created the ampm convenience-store format, first introduced in Southern California in 1978. Retail marketing, sponsorships, and a large western service-station network helped sustain ARCO's consumer visibility even as its broader corporate structure changed. BP Amoco acquired Atlantic Richfield in 2000 for approximately $26.8 billion. Most of the former company's operations were folded into BP, while the ARCO retail brand continued in selected markets. Regulatory requirements led to the sale of ARCO Alaska and ARCO Pipe Line Company in connection with the transaction. In 2012, BP sold its Carson refinery, hundreds of ARCO stations in California, Arizona, and Nevada, and ownership of the ARCO brand to Tesoro (later Marathon Petroleum), while retaining an exclusive license for ARCO stations in northern California, Oregon, and Washington supplied by BP's Cherry Point refinery. Today ARCO is primarily a branded gasoline and convenience-retail network. Marathon Petroleum controls the brand in most of the United States and Mexico, while BP uses the brand under license in California, Oregon, and Washington. The brand is associated with gasoline, diesel, convenience-store retail, a relatively price-sensitive positioning, and a presence in the western United States. The former Atlantic Richfield corporate entity remains associated with BP's management of environmental liabilities, particularly those connected with former Anaconda properties.
History
ARCO was established in 1966 through the merger of the Atlantic Refining Company and Richfield Oil Corporation of California. The merger joined an East Coast petroleum heritage with Richfield's California operations and created the Atlantic Richfield Company. The acronym ARCO became the principal consumer-facing identity, supported by a red diamond logo designed by Herbert Bayer. The new company quickly expanded its integrated oil business. In 1968, ARCO and Exxon participated in the discovery of the Prudhoe Bay oil field in Alaska. Development of Prudhoe Bay and the associated Alaska infrastructure became central to ARCO's growth and helped make it one of the largest American energy companies. ARCO acquired Sinclair Oil in 1969, although some Sinclair assets were subsequently divested. In 1977 it acquired Anaconda Copper Mining Company, seeking diversification and potential access to resources relevant to an oil-shale strategy. The mining business instead generated significant operating difficulties and long-term environmental liabilities after copper prices fell and Montana operations were curtailed. ARCO's retail business became especially influential in the western United States. It opened the first ampm convenience store in Southern California in 1978. In 1982, the company eliminated credit-card acceptance at its stations in an effort to reduce payment-processing costs and pass savings to dealers and consumers. ARCO became notable for its cash-only, low-price model, later adding bank-card and debit-card transactions with a fee. During the 1980s and 1990s it sold or reorganized several regional station networks while expanding or leasing selected California operations. The company also pursued businesses outside conventional petroleum. ARCO Solar grew after the purchase of Solar Technology International in 1977 and operated a one-megawatt photovoltaic plant near Hesperia in 1982, described as the first central utility-scale photovoltaic plant of its kind. ARCO later sold the solar business to Siemens in 1990. ARCO Chemical was spun off in 1987 and eventually acquired by Lyondell Chemical Company in 1998. The company maintained a substantial research center in Plano, Texas, whose work included advanced seismic methods for monitoring oil recovery. ARCO's corporate independence ended when BP Amoco acquired it in 2000 for approximately $26.8 billion. The transaction required certain divestitures, including ARCO Alaska to Phillips Petroleum and ARCO Pipe Line Company to a subsidiary of Enterprise Products. BP retained the ARCO name for retail operations and retained the Atlantic Richfield corporate entity for environmental claims associated with former mining assets. In 2012, BP sold its Carson refinery, approximately 800 stations in California, Arizona, and Nevada, and ownership of the ARCO brand to Tesoro. BP paid for an exclusive license to continue using ARCO in northern California, Oregon, and Washington, with those stations supplied through BP's regional refining system. Tesoro later became Marathon Petroleum. The resulting structure divided ARCO's modern retail identity: Marathon controls the brand in most covered territories, while BP operates licensed ARCO-branded stations in selected western states and Marathon has rights in the remainder of the United States and Mexico. The brand's legacy therefore has two layers. Historically, ARCO represented a major diversified oil company with exploration, production, refining, chemicals, mining, research, and alternative-energy activities. In the present market, it is principally a fuel-retailing brand centered on gasoline stations, diesel, convenience stores, and the ampm format. Environmental remediation connected with former Anaconda properties remains part of the historical and legal legacy managed through BP and the Atlantic Richfield entity.
- 2012
Retail brand transferred to Tesoro
[1]BP sold significant western retail assets and ARCO brand ownership to Tesoro while retaining a limited regional license.
- 2000
BP acquires ARCO
[1]BP Amoco acquired Atlantic Richfield and integrated most of its operations into BP.
- 1998
ARCO Chemical is acquired by Lyondell
[1]Lyondell Chemical Company acquired ARCO Chemical, ending ARCO's direct ownership of the chemical business.
- 1990
ARCO Solar sold to Siemens
[1]ARCO sold its solar subsidiary to Siemens for reported consideration of $36 million.
- 1987
ARCO Chemical is spun off
[1]ARCO Chemical became a separately traded company, with a minority interest initially sold to public investors.
- 1982
Cash-focused station model
[1]ARCO stopped accepting bank credit cards at its stations, using reduced payment costs to support its low-price retail strategy.
- 1982
Photovoltaic utility plant
[1]ARCO constructed a one-megawatt photovoltaic central power facility near Hesperia, California.
- 1978
First ampm convenience store
[1]ARCO opened the first ampm convenience store in Southern California.
- 1977
Anaconda Copper acquisition and ARCO Solar expansion
[1]ARCO acquired Anaconda Copper Mining Company and also purchased Solar Technology International, later renamed ARCO Solar.
- 1969
Sinclair Oil acquisition
[1]ARCO acquired Sinclair Oil Corporation, later divesting portions of the acquired business.
Products and positioning
Value-oriented fuel retailing, historically emphasizing competitive pump prices and efficient station operations, with a strong western United States identity.
Fuel retail · 1966
ARCO gasoline
The core ARCO offering is branded gasoline sold through company-affiliated, licensed, and independently operated service stations. The brand historically emphasized efficient retail operations and competitive pump pricing. Current supply, ownership, and operating arrangements differ by territory: Marathon Petroleum controls most ARCO markets, while BP supplies and licenses the brand in selected parts of California, Oregon, and Washington.
Fuel retail
ARCO diesel
ARCO-branded stations also sell diesel fuel where the individual station and local market support the offering. Diesel is part of the brand's broader petroleum retail portfolio rather than a separately documented consumer sub-brand.
Convenience retail · 1978
ampm
ampm is the convenience-store format associated with ARCO stations. It began in Southern California and provides food, beverages, snacks, and routine travel purchases alongside fuel retailing. The format has remained an important part of the customer proposition at many ARCO locations.
Solar energy · 1977
ARCO Solar
ARCO Solar was the company's photovoltaic business, created after ARCO acquired Solar Technology International. It developed and manufactured solar panels and built a one-megawatt photovoltaic facility near Hesperia, California, before being sold to Siemens in 1990.
Chemicals · 1987
ARCO Chemical
ARCO Chemical was the former company's chemicals division. It was spun off in 1987 and later acquired by Lyondell Chemical Company in 1998, so it is no longer an ARCO-owned product line.
Controversies
2010
Advertisement causes false emergency-alert activations
An ARCO/BP radio advertisement used altered emergency-alert audio that repeatedly activated or unmuted Emergency Alert System equipment at stations in Oregon and elsewhere. The advertising agency withdrew the commercial after broadcasters identified the cause.
2010
Yerington, Nevada mining contamination settlement
Atlantic Richfield and BP America agreed to settle claims brought by approximately 700 current and former residents near the former Anaconda mine at Yerington, Nevada. The reported settlement involved payments of up to $19.5 million.
2008
Anaconda and Clark Fork environmental liabilities
Pollution associated with former Anaconda mining and smelting operations led to extensive environmental remediation obligations. ARCO agreed to provide $187 million for natural-resource restoration after prolonged litigation with environmental authorities.
1990
Channelview chemical-plant explosion
An explosion at an ARCO Chemical facility in Channelview, Texas killed seventeen people and injured five others.
Marketing campaigns
- 1985Sacramento Kings arena sponsorship
United States
ARCO sponsored the Sacramento Kings after the franchise moved to Sacramento and obtained naming rights for both the temporary venue and the later purpose-built ARCO Arena. The arena carried the ARCO name for decades; BP did not renew the naming arrangement when it expired in 2011.
Outcome. The arena carried the ARCO name for decades; BP did not renew the naming arrangement when it expired in 2011.
- 1980Los Angeles Olympic sponsorship
United States
ARCO sponsored the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and helped finance refurbishment of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The sponsorship strengthened ARCO's visibility in Southern California and linked the company to a major international sporting event.
Outcome. The sponsorship strengthened ARCO's visibility in Southern California and linked the company to a major international sporting event.
- 1980ARCO Concerts in the Sky
Los Angeles, United States
ARCO sponsored a summer jazz concert series at the Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles during the 1980s and 1990s. The program associated the brand with Los Angeles cultural and music events.
Outcome. The program associated the brand with Los Angeles cultural and music events.
- 1965ARCO Jesse Owens Games
United States
ARCO sponsored a youth track-and-field meet associated with Olympic champion Jesse Owens, supporting athletics for children roughly ten to fifteen years old. The event became a long-running community and sports sponsorship associated with the ARCO name.
Outcome. The event became a long-running community and sports sponsorship associated with the ARCO name.
Brand decisions
2012
Transfer ARCO retail assets to TesoroM&ABackground
BP reorganized its western United States downstream portfolio while seeking to preserve ARCO-branded retail presence in selected Pacific Northwest markets.
Action taken
BP sold its Carson refinery, approximately 800 stations in California, Arizona, and Nevada, and ARCO brand ownership to Tesoro, while retaining an exclusive license for northern California, Oregon, and Washington.
Aftermath
Tesoro, later Marathon Petroleum, became the principal owner of ARCO retail rights, while BP continued operating licensed ARCO stations in three western states.
Transaction value. $2.5 billion (2012)
2000
Sell Atlantic Richfield to BP AmocoM&ABackground
ARCO's independent corporate era ended as the oil industry underwent consolidation.
Action taken
BP Amoco acquired ARCO and integrated most of its operations, subject to regulatory divestitures.
Aftermath
The ARCO name survived mainly in retail fuels, while BP retained environmental responsibilities connected with former mining properties.
Acquisition value. $26.8 billion (2000)
1982
Adopt a cash-first payment modelStrategyBackground
ARCO sought to reduce the cost of processing credit-card transactions and use the savings to support lower retail fuel prices.
Action taken
The company stopped accepting its private credit card and bank credit cards at stations, later adding bank-card transactions with a fee.
Aftermath
The policy became a distinctive feature of ARCO's value-oriented positioning, although it eventually evolved as debit-card payments became common.
1977
Acquire Anaconda Copper Mining CompanyM&ABackground
ARCO sought diversification and believed Anaconda's resource position and technical expertise could support broader energy ambitions, including oil shale.
Action taken
ARCO purchased Anaconda and assumed control of its mining and smelting properties.
Aftermath
Falling copper prices and limited mining experience contributed to curtailed operations and extensive environmental liabilities.
1966
Create an integrated oil company through mergerStrategyBackground
Atlantic Refining and Richfield Oil combined their petroleum assets to create a larger company with both eastern and western United States operations.
Action taken
The merged company adopted Atlantic Richfield Company as its corporate name and ARCO as its principal public brand.
Aftermath
ARCO developed into a multinational integrated energy company with exploration, production, refining, retail, chemicals, and other businesses.
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