Chevron
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Chevron, headquartered in San Francisco, California, is one of the worlds largest integrated oil companies. Chevron is engaged, either directly or through affiliates, in the exploration for, and production of, oil and natural gas; the pipeline transportation of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids; the refining of crude oil into refined petroleum products, including gasoline, aviation fuel, and other light petroleum products; the transportation, terminaling, and marketing of gasoline and aviation fuel; and other related businesses. During fiscal year 1999, Chevron had worldwide revenues of approximately $35.4 billion and net income of approximately $2.1 billion.
Chevron sold its natural gas and natural gas liquids transportation, distribution and marketing operations to NGC Corporation in 1996 and retained a stock interest in the company. NGC subsequently became Dynegy Inc. Dynegy is engaged in the gathering, processing, fractionation, transmission, terminaling, storage, and marketing of natural gas and natural gas liquids. Chevron owns approximately 26% of Dynegy. Chevron has a long-term strategic alliance with Dynegy for the marketing of Chevrons natural gas and natural gas liquids, and the supply of natural gas and natural gas liquids to Chevrons refineries in the lower 48 states of the United States. Chevron has three positions on Dynegys Board of Directors. This relationship gives Chevron access to information concerning Dynegys business and allows Chevron to participate in Dynegys business decisions.
ChevronЎЇs ad campaign to raise awareness of energy consumption issues follows similar moves by its peers, and gets a mixed reception
Almost daily rises in oil and gas prices are putting the worldЎЇs oil majors on the spot, especially with US consumers, prompting them to launch concerted public image campaigns.
According to research group TNS Media Intelligence, the four supermajors ÐC ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP and Royal Dutch Shell ÐC ratcheted up their combined advertising spending by 37% to $138 million in the first five months of this year, even after a 15% increase in 2004.
BP and Shell have both hosted advertising campaigns aimed at raising awareness among consumers on energy issues and ExxonMobil publishes a fairly comprehensive energy forecast. But Chevron has caused a stir this summer with its global Will You Join Us campaign in which it candidly admits ÐŽothe era of easy oil is overÐŽ±.
It is a declaration some industry observers say they never thought theyЎЇd hear from a member of the industry itself.
The ad campaign and website ÐC which has a counter that tallies the number of barrels of oil consumed while viewers visit ÐC challenge consumers to conserve energy and to offer suggestions for both making the most out of current supplies and developing alternatives to fossil fuels.
Even some stalwart critics, long frustrated by the industryЎЇs usual ÐŽohead in the sandÐŽ± approach to the issue of peak oil