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Our history

The Petroleum Museum

The Petroleum Museum was created by Petroperú with the aim of providing the community with information about the oil industry, the process of exploration, exploitation, transportation, refining, commercialization of fuel and petrochemical products. Those which are part of our daily lives.

History

More than 400 million years ago, it was created naturally and in various parts of the world, what we now know as Petroleum, which means oil that is born from stone.

Oil can be found all over the world and obviously, in Peru as well. It is fundamental for the development of humanity and is used in activities closely linked to our daily lives, in transport, energy, communications, clothing, medicine, appliances, food, among others.

Timeline

The hydrocarbon in Peru

1827 1868

1869 1879

1880 1900

1901 1910

1911 1924

1925 1940

1941 1955

1956 1960

1961 1967

1968 1972

1972 1979

1980 1985

1986 1992

1993 1995

1996 2004

2005 2012

2013 2017

1827 1868

1827

  • José de Lama, owner of Máncora, bought the Amotape pitch mine from Quintana.
  • The Congress elects José de La Mar as President of Peru.

1859

  • The world’s first oil well is set up in Titusville, Pennsylvania.

1860

  • First refining of natural outcropping oil by Manuel Antonio de la Lama in Hacienda Máncora

1863

  • First oil drilling in Peru and Latin America and second in the world, in Zorritos, on November 2 in the Tucillal stream by Eng. Prentice. That day is considered the “Day of Petroleum Engineering in Peru”
  • Eight drillings were carried out on the northern coast of Peru, by Eng. Farrier.

1864

  • The Peruvian Petroleum Company, run by E.P. Larkin, drilled three wells in Zorritos. Faustino Piaggio then began to operate in the industrial establishment of Zorritos.

1868

  • Drilling of the first well in La Brea and Pariñas.
  • The government of President Balta began in Peru.

1859

The world's first oil well is set up in Titusville, Pennsylvania.

1869 1879

1870

  • The Peruvian Refinar Petróleo Company opened refineries in Bellevue and Bebedero (on the Tumbes River).
  • Construction of the Central Railway began in Peru. Standard Oil was founded.

1871

  • The Compañía Peruana de Refinación de Petróleo was formed and installed in Tumbes the “first oil refinery in Latin America”.

1874

  • J.B. Murphy began its work on Negritos, Piura.

1875

  • The Corocoro company carried out explorations in Pirín (Huancané province, Puno).

1876

  • Fazzine excavated a well 1.50 meters in diameter and reached 150 meters deep, works that would be continued by Titicaca Oil and Cia. Since 1905, the Titicaca Oil Union and Rio Ramis Petroleum Co.
  • The School of Civil and Mining Engineers is created in Peru. Two surveys are carried out in Tumbes led by Eng. Prentice.
  • The first population census in Peru yielded 2’704,998 inhabitants.

1877

  • Helguero was recognized as the sole owner of Hacienda La Brea.

1879

  • The War of the Pacific begins, between Peru-Bolivia and Chile; the Battle of Angamos takes place where Miguel Grau Seminario dies.

1871

The Compañía Peruana de Refinación de Petróleo was formed and installed in Tumbes the “first oil refinery in Latin America”

1880 1900

1880

  • The Battle of Arica and the heroic deeds of Alfonso Ugarte and Francisco Bolognesi took place.

1883

  • The War of the Pacific ends with the signing of the Treaty of Ancon.

1886

  • Helguero sells his rights to Brea and Pariñas to English citizen Herbert Wilkin Tweddle, who would sell the undivided half to William Keswick.

1889

  • In the province of Canas in Cusco, the existence of an oil field in the Poccpoqquella field, close to the hacienda, is confirmed. Pallpata, Pichihua district.
  • Tweddle and Keswick lease the La Brea and Pariñas oil deposits for 99 years to Cia. The London Pacific Petroleum Company Limited.

1890

  • The Zorritos refinery (of Faustino Piaggio) gains renown for the quality of refined petroleum and its by-products (kerosene and gasoline).
  • Peru was the first country in Latin America where oil was treated for commercial purposes.

1892

  • Thirty open wells were located in the Negritos area, Piura.

1900

  • The main oil fields were the Brea and Pariñas (Negritos); Lobitos, north of Negritos and Zorritos founded in the 1890s by Faustino G. Piaggio.

1892

Thirty open wells were located in the Negritos area, Piura.

1901 1910

1901

  • In the vicinity of Beaumont (Texas) lies the largest oil well until then known in the United States.

1905

  • Discovery of an oil reserve near Tulsa, Oklahoma
  • Peru was governed by José Pardo y Barreda.

1907

  • Shell and Royal Dutch integrated their operations and established themselves as the largest competitor to Standard Oil of New Jersey.
  • Plastic entered the global market.

1908

  • Two major wells were drilled in Persia (now Iran).
  • The first government of Augusto B. Leguía began in Peru.

1909

  • The Sharp-Hughes Tool Company revolutionized drilling techniques by introducing the first rotary cone drill that allows for traversing hard terrain formations.

1910

  • Weetman Pearson drilled one of the world’s largest oil wells near Tampico, Mexico, in the area known as Senda del Oro.
  • Peruvian-Italian Jorge Chavez made his heroic journey through the Italian Alps.
  • Rubber accounted for 30 per cent of world exports.

1905

Discovery of an oil reserve near Tulsa, Oklahoma

1911 1924

1913

  • The company Caribbean Petroleum, controlled by Royal Dutch Shell drilled the 1st oil well in the Guanoco field in Venezuela.
  • The first rubber factory was built in South America, in Brazil.

1917

  • The Talara Refinery begins its activities, when the International Petroleum Company (IPC) and a group of local workers put into service a battery of four distillation stills with a production capacity of 10,000 barrels per day.

1920

  • The Marañón oil company was formed.
  • The Peasant Communities in Peru were recognized.

1921

  • Mexico stood out as the world’s second largest oil producer.

1922

  • In Venezuela, the first high-productivity well is discovered in the Los Barroso area.
  • A new oil law was enacted that regulated the future of industry in Peru.
  • By Arbitration Award, IPC is granted an oil exploitation concession.

1924

  • During the “Oncenio”, the British, owners of La Brea and Pariñas, sold their rights to the IPC, of American shareholders.
  • Augusto B. Leguía is re-elected president of Peru.

1917

The Talara Refinery begins its activities

1925 1940

1925

  • Gasoline octane increased from 50 to 60.

1926

  • Beginning of almost twenty years in which two products led Peruvian exports: cotton and oil.
  • The four thermal cracking units of the Talara Refinery were installed.

1927

  • The Anglo-Persian company with the Royal Dutch drilled in Kirkuk (northern Iraq) at a depth of 500 meters, the 1st well with extraordinary power.

1928

  • Portable oil drilling equipment was first used to operate in waters off the coasts of Louisiana and Texas in the United States.
  • Venezuela became the world’s second largest oil exporter.

1929

  • The lubricant distillation plant of the Talara Refinery was installed, which allowed entry into that market.

1934

  • The Peruvian state created an oil department of the Corps of Mining Engineers.

1935

  • A new industry was started in the IPC with the manufacture of liquefied gas that was distributed in the country by the Pacific Gas Co.

1938

  • The asphalt plant of the Talara Refinery was built.

1939

  • World War II begins.
  • Manuel Prado Ugarteche began his rule in Peru.

1938

The asphalt plant of the Talara Refinery was built.

1941 1955

1941

  • The oil company El Oriente was established in the Peruvian jungle. The Peru-Ecuador conflict began.

1946

  • The Peruvian state decided to sign an agreement with the US company with the aim of exploring oil fields in the area of Sechura in Piura.

1952

  • Petroleum Law No. 11780 was promulgated, which states: “… oil fields and similar hydrocarbons are assets of imprescriptible ownership of the State.”
  • The Higher Petroleum Council was created.
  • Petrolera Peruana was established.

1954

  • The current Primary Distillation Unit (PDU) of the Talara Refinery came into operation, with a processing capacity of 45,000 barrels per day, expanded to 62,000 barrels per day in 1962.

1955

  • There were 15 companies with exploration concessions on 10,000,000 hectares of Peruvian territory.
  • The Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería (National Engineering University) was established.

1941

The oil company El Oriente was established in the Peruvian jungle.

1956 1960

1956

  • Manuel Prado was re-elected President of Peru with the help of APRA.
  • The province of Talara was created in the department of Piura, Peru.

1957

  • A Supreme Decree was issued declaring the Fiscal Oil Company (EPF) in reorganization and entrusting a special commission with its administration.

1958

  • International Petroleum Co. (IPC) remained the sole supplier of oil on the coast and mountains and went on to control almost 90% of the Peruvian oil industry.

1959

  • Petrolera Peruana transferred its shares to the company Belco Petroleum Corporation of Peru.
  • The country’s economic situation was critical, mainly because of the deficit in public finances and the blatant imbalance in the balance of payments. A Special Commission was appointed to study the crisis in the oil industry.
  • The independent deputy Alfonso Benavides Correa denounced before Congress the illegality of the concession granted to the IPC in 1922 through the arbitration award.

1960

  • The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was founded.

1960

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was founded.

1961 1967

1961

  • A refinery was installed on Conchán beach, which would later be named Conchán Chevron and years later would be incorporated into the service of the State.
  • The Berlin Wall was built.
  • The events of the Bay of Pigs occurred in Cuba.
  • The USSR launches Yuri Gagarin, the first man to cross space.
  • A National Population Census was carried out that recorded 10’420,257 inhabitants.

1962

  • Oil had to be imported due to the productive deficit faced by the country and exports were reduced by a third, mainly hurting the production companies.
  • The company Lobitos Oil Fields withdrew from Peru.
  • Cuban Missile Crisis.

1963

  • The Executive sent to Congress a draft law that restored the ownership of the subsoil of La Brea y Pariñas to the Peruvian State.
  • Decree-Law No. 14473 established new organizational rules for the EPF, which would be constituted as a State body with legal personality and autonomy.

1967

  • The “La Pampilla” Refinery was officially inaugurated in Lima.
  • A supreme decree inscribed as National Reserve Areas in the register of Oil Concessions the deposits of La Brea and Pariñas.

1967

The “La Pampilla” Refinery was officially inaugurated in Lima.

1968 1972

1968

  • It was publicly announced that the government had reached a final agreement with the IPC, which took the name of the Talara Act.
  • Martin Luther King was assassinated in Dallas.
  • A Military Coup d ‘Etat is carried out in Peru, General Juan Velasco Alvarado assumes state power.
  • Decree Law No. 17065 declared null the Talara Act and the contracts between the IPC and the previous government, with this measure the IPC lost the concessions obtained, as well as the cancellation of its debt to the Peruvian State.
  • Expropriation of the IPC in Talara by the Revolutionary Government of the Armed Forces, transferring ownership to the Peruvian State. (The Day of National Reparation and Dignity was created: October 9.)

1969

  • The Empresa Petrolera Fiscal is authorized to export oil, as long as it does not deplete the domestic market.
  • General Velasco announced that the IPC owes Peru 690 million dollars for irregular extractions in the Brea and Pariñas deposits for 45 years.
  • Decree Law No. 17753 of July 24 was issued by which the company Petróleos del Perú (Petroperú S.A.) was established.

1971

  • The operation of the Corrientes X-1 well begins, the first drilled by Petroperú.
  • It was decided to build an oil pipeline that would take the oil to the destination markets, this had to cross the Andes to empty into the north coast and the port of departure would be Bayovar (its main stretch extends from San José de Saramuro to the port of Bayovar and its construction was completed in 1977).

1969

Decree Law No. 17753 of July 24 was issued by which the company Petróleos del Perú (Petroperú S.A.) was established.

1972 1979

1972

  • Oil was found in the first well drilled in the northern jungle, the Corrientes X-1 (Trumpeters) the news aroused joy among the population of the country.
  • From 5 to 9, the number of operations contracts that Petroperú signed with different oil consortia rose.
  • Financing contracts were signed for the construction and assembly of the Talara Catalytic Cracking complex.

1974

  • The Inca Plan of the Peruvian State considered “creating a solid state company in charge of all oil activities”, this developed a new type of relationship between the State, Petroperú and the large international oil companies, which was called “Peru Model Contract”.

1975

  • Francisco Morales Bermudez assumes power.
  • The current Catalytic Cracking Complex of the Talara Refinery was installed, consisting of the Vacuum Distillation Unit (UDV) and the Catalytic Cracking Unit.

1978

  • The economy showed a rapid recovery thanks to the rise in international prices of export products, including oil.

1979

  • Peru became an oil exporting country. It is added to the completion of the pipeline works and the arrival of oil from the Amazon to the ports of embarkation of the coast.
  • The Phosphate Concentrator Plant began to operate as part of the Bayovar Comprehensive Project.

1972

Oil was found in the first well drilled in the northern jungle, the Corrientes X-1 (Trumpeters)

1980 1985

1980

  • Law No. 22862 and D.S.010-80-EF were promulgated, which empowered the Executive to renegotiate the existing oil contracts and reach important agreements with the Belco, OXY and Bridas firms, which operated in Peru and granted Petroperú semi-exclusivity in the rehabilitation of oil wells, as well as the granting of benefits and taxes to natural persons who developed activities related to oil extraction.
  • Petrolatina was created, the first Latin American oil company in which Peruvian negotiators formed together with OXY and Bridas a joint stock company and Petroperú became a shareholder of a multinational oil exploration and exploitation company.
  • Democracy was restored, Fernando Belaunde Terry democratically assumes the presidency of Peru.
  • The Petroperu – Shell Contract was signed.

1981

  • The New Mining and Oil Law was enacted in Peru.

1982

  • Construction work on the new refinery in Iquitos was completed.

1984

  • An agreement was signed with the Dutch company Shell to which 1,000,592 hectares were awarded. For the exploitation, the construction of an oil pipeline from the jungle to the coast was contemplated.

1985

  • The government decreed the reorganization of Petroperú.
  • The Apra party took power with Alan García Pérez.
  • Belco withdraws from Peru and the transfer of its facilities to Petroperú is decreed. The renegotiation with OXY takes place favoring national interests.

1981

The New Mining and Oil Law was enacted in Peru.

1986 1992

1986

  • The discovery of large reserves of natural gas in the jungle of Peru became the most fortunate event for the national oil industry. Natural gas fields were discovered in Lot 42.
  • Petróleos del Mar, Petromar S.A. was created as a subsidiary of Petróleos del Peru with the aim of developing oil activities in maritime areas.

1987

  • On February 21, the discovery of the Camisea gas reserve was announced: “Shell discovers in Peru the largest gas reserve in the world.”

1988

  • Petroperú and Shell sign an agreement on the granting of hydrocarbon exploitation rights.
  • The economic context of the country evidenced a lack of Petroperu funds that reflected a series of resource shortages due to the economic crisis, hyperinflation and low oil production, which had forced the government to import oil.

1992

  • Petroperú put on sale 83 taps, the Conchán Refinery and the Transoceánica company with which the process began and transfer to the private sector of the assets of the state oil company, to continue with the auction of port facilities, ships and refineries. The process was not completed.
  • Abimael Guzman, leader of the Shining Path, is captured.
  • The operation was closed due to the negative profitability of the Fertilizer, Solvent and Carbon Black Plants.

1988

Petroperú and Shell sign an agreement on the granting of hydrocarbon exploitation rights.

1993 1995

1993

  • New Political Constitution of Peru is promulgated.
  • Law No. 26221 General Hydrocarbons Law came into force. Law No. 26223 on the creation of the Perupetro State Company and Law No. 26224, aimed at limiting Petroperú’s functions in the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons by transferring the remaining ones to Perupetro, which was to operate as a State company under private law and which was to carry out promotional activities for investment in hydrocarbon exploration.
  • The Chinese company Sapet Development signed a contract with Perupetro and was awarded lot VII located 123 km. south of Talara. A year later the Russians signed a contract with Perupetro for mining in Puno and two years later an agreement was signed with Repsol to whom lot Z-29 was awarded in the continental socket at a distance of 60 to 150 km. from the coasts of La Libertad and Lambayeque.

1994

  • The attacks of nature were successfully faced when in March the Callao Plant was flooded by overflowing the Rimac River and another emergency occurred in Oil Pipeline Operations, when the pipeline broke at km. 285 in the Marañón riverbed. In addition, the current of the Amazon River caused the bank to collapse, affecting the facilities of the Petroperú dock in the Iquitos area.
  • Two hydrocarbon exploitation contracts were signed between Petroperú and Maple Gas Corporation.

1995

  • There was a war between Peru and Ecuador.
  • France began atomic tests at Mururoa Atoll.
  • The current Liquid Loading Dock of the Talara Refinery came into operation, replacing the old one, a facility of great importance for the exit of products to the national and international market.

1994

Two hydrocarbon exploitation contracts were signed between Petroperú and Maple Gas Corporation.

1996 2004

1996

  • The Peruvian government made the decision to auction off the assets of the state-owned oil company. The first package to be offered was that of the La Pampilla refinery and Lot 8/8X of the northern jungle.
  • The MRTA took over the Japanese embassy in Peru.

1999

  • The first efforts were developed to realize in the medium term the binational project of interconnection of the pipeline systems of Peru and Ecuador.

2003

  • Petroperú completed the execution of the public investment project for the operational improvement of the Talara refinery.
  • The replacement of equipment and improvement of the UDP of the Talara Refinery was launched, through the installation of the crude desalination plant, the replacement of the furnace and the modernization of the instrumentation system.
  • The Strategic Plan 2004-2010 was developed in Petroperú with the broad participation of the staff, with the purpose of capitalizing synergies for the achievement of business objectives.

2004

  • Important activities of social action and conservation of the environment characterized Petroperú, allocating strong sums of money to bet on development where production is compatible with the preservation of social and natural values without this means leaving aside the basic objectives of the company.
  • The use of lead in the preparation of gasoline was eliminated.

2004

The use of lead in the preparation of gasoline was eliminated.

2005 2012

2005

  • In the field of commercial management, Petroperú consolidated its leadership in the supply of national demand.
  • Alan García Pérez is elected President of Peru.

2006

  • Law No. 28840 on Strengthening and Modernization of the Petroleum Company of Peru-PETROPERÚ. Greater autonomy was obtained in economic, financial and administrative aspects.

2009

  • The commercialization of biofuels began.

2010

  • The marketing schedule for gasohol (gasoline mixture with fuel alcohol, ethanol) is complied with.

2011

  • Law No. 29817, when the development of the South Andean Gas Pipeline and the petrochemical pole is declared of national interest, and Petroperú was authorized to participate in the achievement of these objectives.
  • Ollanta Humala is elected President of Peru.

2012

  • Nine refineries operate in Peru, five of which are owned by Petroperú, including Talara, Conchán, Iquitos and El Milagro.
  • Signing of the contract with the Anglo-French company Perenco for the transport of crude oil from Station 1 of the Norperuano Pipeline to Bayóvar.

2012

Nine refineries operate in Peru, five of which are owned by Petroperú, including Talara, Conchán, Iquitos and El Milagro.

2013 2017

2013

  • The Talisman/Hess Consortium and Petroperú signed a contract for the transfer of assets and rights of lot 64, located in the province Datem del Marañon (Loreto). It is the first step for the return of Petroperú to oil exploitation, an activity that was abandoned in 1995 when the privatization process took place.
  • The Congress approves Law No. 30130 that declares of public necessity and national interest the priority execution of the modernization of Talara Refinery, on December 13.
  • Petroperú officially returned to the upstream (exploration and exploitation).

2014

  • On May 29, Petroperú approves the signing of the contract for the execution of the Talara Refinery Modernization Project, with the engineering company Técnicas Reunidas de España. That day the first stone was laid.

2015

  • The Talara Refinery Modernization Project, reports an advance to 29.25% of the work.

 

2016

  • The Talara Refinery Modernization Project reports an advance to 52.03% of the work.

2017

  • The Talara Refinery Modernization Project reports an advance to 56.47% of the work.

2015

The Talara Refinery Modernization Project, reports an advance to 29.25% of the work.