Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2018
Bayou Corne sinkhole responsibility
Occidental was found partially responsible, alongside Texas Brine and Vulcan Materials, for the Bayou Corne sinkhole in Louisiana.
2007
Executive compensation controversy
Shareholders and commentators criticized the compensation paid to chief executive Ray Irani, including reported compensation of $460 million for 2006. The issue contributed to pressure for governance and leadership changes.
1988
Piper Alpha offshore disaster
A fire and explosion on the Piper Alpha platform in the North Sea killed 167 people. The disaster became a landmark offshore-safety case and one of the deadliest accidents in the petroleum industry.
Love Canal environmental liabilities
Hooker Chemical, later acquired by Occidental, used the Love Canal site in Niagara Falls, New York, for chemical-waste disposal. The contamination became one of the best-known United States environmental crises and left Occidental with legacy remediation responsibilities.