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Bradford Refinery History

Refinery Origin

• The refinery was founded at it's present location in 1881. The original crude oil capacity was 10 barrels per day and required 5 employees for it's operation.

• By March of 1966, the capacity had grown to 4,800 barrels per day.

Crude Oil Supply

• The crude oil used is Penn Grade and it all originated from the Bradford area itself until 1969.

Refining Capacity by Year

• 1881 - 10 Barrels per day
• 1906 - 140 Barrels per day
• 1931 - 2,250 Barrels per day
• 1955 - 3,800 Barrels per day
• 1966 - 4,500 Barrels per day
• 1971 - 5,500 Barrels per day
• 1975 - 7,200 Barrels per day
• 1986 - 10,000 Barrels per day (to present day)

Refinery Innovations

• 1925 - First Pennsylvania refiner to dewax all grades of motor oil below 0°F.

• 1928 - First Pennsylvania refiner to offer highly refined motor oils good for 2,000 miles.

• 1933 - First to introduce the quart can nationally for motor oils.

• 1937 - First Pennsylvania refiner to use propane dewaxing.

• 1938 - First Pennsylvania refiner to install full-scale engine testing facilities for use
               in research and development of high quality automotive lubricants.

• 1940 - First Pennsylvania refiner to use Phenol Extraction.

• 1943 - First Pennsylvania refiner to produce heavy duty motor oils.

• 1951 - First Pennsylvania refiner and second refinery in the world to install a
               platformer for gasoline reforming.

• 1953 - First refiner to market an SAE 10W-30 motor oil.

• 1956 - Pioneered the use of close-cut petroleum distillates as rolling oils for aluminum
               sheet and foil manufacture.

• 1958 - First to develop and market sheer-stable high viscosity index hydraulic fluids.

• 1960 - First to introduce motorcycle racing oil.

• 1961 - First to introduce sports car racing oil. Pioneered the marketing of specially
               formulated lubricants in the rapidly growing auto racing industry.

• 1961 - First petroleum refiner to introduce all-petroleum base automotive underbody coatings.

• 1967 - First Pennsylvania refiner to offer a lubricants analysis program for
               commercial fleets and off-the-road contractors.