Pacific Petroleums Limited was a Canadian integrated petroleum company that existed between 1939 and 1979. The company was founded and run by Frank McMahon, a wildcat driller from

British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...

. Pacific was also the largest shareholder of McMahon's other main venture, Westcoast Transmission. Until 1958 the company operated at an annual loss, but from that time on was one of the most profitable oil companies in the country. In 1960, Phillips Petroleum became Pacific's largest shareholder with a 39 per cent stake, and Pacific began selling retail gasoline under the "66" brand. Between 1978 and 1979, the crown corporation Petro-Canada purchased Pacific for $1.5 billion in what was then the most expensive corporate takeover in Canadian history.

History

Pacific Petroleums Limited was formed as a merger of two companies: West Turner Petroleums and British Pacific Oils, both of which had been founded by Frank McMahon. The vote to merge took place on Saturday, 14 January 1939 in Vancouver. McMahon stayed with the company until 1941, when he left to form several other oil companies. He returned in 1948 and launched a major gas exploration programme.Earle Gray, ''The Great Canadian Oil Patch'' (Toronto: Maclean-Hunter, 1970), 162.

Leadership

Chairman of the Board

Norman R. Whittall, 1948–1952
Frank M. McMahon, 1952–19??

President

Norman R. Whittall, 1939–1948
Frank M. McMahon, 1948–1952
George L. McMahon, 1952–1961
John Getgood, 1961–1964
Kelly H. Gibson, 1964–1970
L. Merrill Rasmussen, 1970–1979

References

{{Reflist Companies based in Calgary Defunct companies of Canada Defunct energy companies of Canada Defunct oil and gas companies of Canada Defunct oil companies Oil and gas companies 1938 establishments in British Columbia