Richfield Oil Corporation
Historical California petroleum company that expanded into refining, service stations, and Alaskan exploration before merging into Atlantic Richfield in 1966.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Richfield Oil Corporation was an American petroleum company headquartered in California and active from 1911 until its merger in 1966. It developed a substantial West Coast petroleum business spanning crude-oil production, refining, fuel distribution, retail service stations, storage, and petroleum marketing. The company became particularly associated with Southern California, where it opened its first automotive service station in Los Angeles in 1917 and later built the Richfield Tower, a distinctive twelve-story black-and-gold Art Deco headquarters completed in 1929. Richfield expanded rapidly during the 1920s, but the company’s growth left it vulnerable when the Great Depression disrupted petroleum markets and corporate finances. In 1931 it entered receivership after Republic Supply Company brought a claim concerning Richfield bonds. William C. McDuffie, who had recently become the company’s president and also led Pacific Western Oil Corporation, was appointed receiver. Cities Service Company acquired a majority interest through a stock exchange in which it offered one share of Cities Service stock for every four Richfield shares. Consolidated Oil Corporation, later renamed Sinclair Oil Corporation, also pursued control of Richfield. Although its attempted acquisition was not accepted, Consolidated remained influential and in 1935 acquired Richfield’s eastern United States operations; those stations were subsequently rebranded as Sinclair locations. Richfield emerged from receivership in 1936 after Rio Grande, jointly controlled by Consolidated Oil and Cities Service, agreed to merge with Richfield. The company then continued to build its refining and production capabilities. In 1938 it opened the Carson Oil Refinery in the Los Angeles area, strengthening its position as an integrated California petroleum operator. The company also played a notable role in wartime and postwar American petroleum history. On February 23, 1942, during World War II, the Japanese submarine I-17 shelled two Richfield storage tanks at the Ellwood oil field west of Santa Barbara. The incident is generally identified as the first attack by a foreign power on the continental United States during the war. In the postwar period, Richfield invested in consumer-facing brand visibility. It sponsored Disneyland’s model freeway attraction Autopia from 1955 through 1970, associating the company with automobile culture and family entertainment even after the corporate merger that ended Richfield as an independent company. A major strategic achievement came in Alaska. In 1957 Richfield discovered commercial quantities of oil on the Kenai Peninsula, becoming the first company credited with such a discovery in the state. The success encouraged further Alaskan leasing, including activity connected with the Prudhoe Bay area. Those later Alaskan interests became especially valuable to the successor company created through Richfield’s 1966 merger with Atlantic Refining Company. The resulting Atlantic Richfield Company was later known as ARCO. Atlantic Richfield was ultimately acquired by BP in 2000, but Richfield Oil Corporation itself ceased to exist as an independent corporate entity in 1966.
History
Richfield Oil Corporation was founded in California in 1911 and became one of the petroleum companies associated with the industrial and automotive growth of the American West. Its early business centered on petroleum production and distribution, and in 1917 it opened its first automotive service station in Los Angeles. During the 1920s the company expanded rapidly. Its growing corporate presence was symbolized by Richfield Tower, a twelve-story black-and-gold Art Deco building completed in Los Angeles in 1929. The tower served as the company’s headquarters until it was demolished in 1968, after the corporate entity had already disappeared through merger. The expansion proved difficult to sustain during the Great Depression. In 1931 Richfield entered receivership following a complaint by Republic Supply Company concerning bonds valued at $275,000. William C. McDuffie, then Richfield’s recently elected president and also president of Pacific Western Oil Corporation, was appointed receiver on January 15. Pacific Western had succeeded Petroleum Securities Company and, when incorporated in 1928, continued that company’s crude-supply contract with Richfield. Cities Service Company acquired a majority of Richfield’s stock through an exchange offering one Cities Service share for every four Richfield shares. Consolidated Oil Corporation, later renamed Sinclair Oil Corporation, offered to purchase Richfield in 1932. The offer was not accepted, but Harry Ford Sinclair continued pursuing the company, helping prevent Standard Oil of California from taking it over. In 1935 Consolidated acquired Richfield’s eastern United States operations. The eastern service stations were later converted to Sinclair branding. Richfield emerged from receivership in 1936 after Rio Grande, controlled jointly by Consolidated Oil and Cities Service, agreed to merge with Richfield. After reorganization, Richfield continued developing an integrated petroleum business. It opened the Carson Oil Refinery in 1938, adding important refining capacity in the Los Angeles region. The company’s facilities also became involved in a notable wartime incident. On February 23, 1942, the Japanese submarine I-17 shelled two Richfield storage tanks at the Ellwood oil field west of Santa Barbara. The attack caused limited physical damage but became historically significant as the first attack by a foreign power on the continental United States during World War II. In the postwar decades Richfield combined petroleum operations with highly visible consumer marketing. It sponsored Autopia, Disneyland’s model freeway attraction, from 1955 through 1970. The sponsorship connected the Richfield name with automobiles, highways, and Southern California leisure culture. The company also expanded its exploration program beyond its established California base. In 1957 it discovered commercial quantities of oil on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula. The discovery demonstrated the potential of Alaskan production and encouraged Richfield to obtain additional leases, including interests in the Prudhoe Bay region. These Alaskan assets later became strategically important to Atlantic Richfield. Atlantic Refining Company was seeking additional oil production when it began considering larger combinations. After Atlantic’s 1962 merger with Hondo Oil & Gas Company, Robert O. Anderson led the combined organization and continued looking for acquisition opportunities. Anderson and Richfield chairman Charles S. Jones discussed a combination during a fishing trip, leading to an agreement to merge. The transaction was completed in 1966, creating Atlantic Richfield Company, subsequently known as ARCO. Richfield Oil Corporation therefore ceased to operate as an independent company, although its California assets, brand legacy, and Alaskan exploration achievements continued within the successor organization. ARCO was later acquired by BP in 2000.
- 1966
Merger creates Atlantic Richfield Company
[1]Richfield merges with Atlantic Refining Company, forming Atlantic Richfield Company, later known as ARCO.
- 1957
Commercial oil discovered on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula
[1]Richfield discovers commercial quantities of oil on the Kenai Peninsula, supporting expanded Alaskan exploration.
- 1955
Autopia sponsorship begins
[1]Richfield begins sponsoring Disneyland’s Autopia attraction.
- 1942
Ellwood oil-field attack
[1]A Japanese submarine shells Richfield storage tanks at the Ellwood oil field near Santa Barbara.
- 1938
Carson Oil Refinery opens
[1]Richfield opens its Carson refinery in the Los Angeles area.
- 1936
Richfield emerges from receivership
[1]A Rio Grande merger agreement enables Richfield to emerge from receivership.
- 1935
Eastern operations are transferred to Consolidated Oil
[1]Consolidated Oil acquires Richfield’s eastern United States operations, which later operate under the Sinclair brand.
- 1931
Richfield enters receivership
[1]The company enters receivership during the Great Depression, with William C. McDuffie appointed receiver.
- 1929
Richfield Tower becomes headquarters
[1]The company’s twelve-story black-and-gold Art Deco headquarters is completed in Los Angeles.
- 1917
First Richfield automotive service station opens
[1]The company opens its first automotive service station in Los Angeles.
Products and positioning
An integrated American petroleum company with a strong California identity, combining oil production, refining, fuel distribution, service stations, and exploration. Its public image was closely linked to Southern California automobile culture and, later, to the development of Alaskan oil resources.
Automotive fuel · 1917
Richfield-branded gasoline
Richfield marketed gasoline and other automotive fuels through its branded service-station network. Retail distribution became an important public face of the company after the opening of its first Los Angeles service station in 1917. The brand’s association with Southern California driving culture was reinforced by its later sponsorship of Disneyland’s Autopia attraction.
Refining · 1938
Refined petroleum products
Richfield produced and distributed refined petroleum products through its integrated operating base. The opening of the Carson Oil Refinery in 1938 expanded its refining capacity in the Los Angeles region and supported the company’s fuel-distribution activities.
Oil production · 1911
Crude oil production
Crude-oil production was a core part of Richfield’s petroleum business. Its operations included California oil fields and later expanded into Alaska, where the company discovered commercial quantities of oil on the Kenai Peninsula in 1957.
Exploration and production · 1957
Alaskan oil exploration
Richfield’s 1957 Kenai Peninsula discovery established a significant Alaskan exploration foothold. The company subsequently pursued additional leasing, including in the Prudhoe Bay area. These interests later contributed to the strategic value of the Atlantic Richfield successor organization.
Marketing campaigns
- 1955Disneyland Autopia sponsorship
United States
Richfield sponsored Disneyland’s Autopia model freeway attraction, aligning its petroleum brand with automobiles, highways, and family-oriented Southern California entertainment.
Outcome. The sponsorship continued through 1970, including after Richfield had merged into Atlantic Richfield.
Brand decisions
1966
Merge with Atlantic Refining CompanyM&ABackground
Atlantic Refining was seeking additional oil production, while Richfield offered California operations and valuable exploration interests.
Action taken
Richfield and Atlantic Refining merged to create Atlantic Richfield Company.
Aftermath
Richfield ceased to exist as an independent company. Atlantic Richfield was later known as ARCO and was acquired by BP in 2000.
1957
Expand Alaskan exploration after Kenai discoveryStrategyBackground
Richfield discovered commercial quantities of oil on the Kenai Peninsula, demonstrating the potential of Alaskan petroleum resources.
Action taken
The company pursued additional Alaskan leases, including interests associated with the Prudhoe Bay area.
Aftermath
The Alaskan position later became an important asset of Atlantic Richfield and its ARCO successor.
1938
Open the Carson Oil RefineryStrategyBackground
After emerging from receivership, Richfield sought to rebuild and strengthen its integrated California petroleum operations.
Action taken
The company opened a refinery in Carson, California.
Aftermath
The refinery expanded Richfield’s refining capacity and supported its West Coast fuel business.
1935
Sell eastern United States operations to Consolidated OilM&ABackground
Richfield’s corporate control and operating structure were being reshaped after its receivership and competing acquisition efforts.
Action taken
Consolidated Oil Corporation acquired Richfield’s eastern operations; the related service stations were later rebranded as Sinclair stations.
Aftermath
The transaction reduced Richfield’s eastern footprint and helped remove Standard Oil of California’s interest in acquiring the company.
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