Apache Corporation

Founded in 1954 in Minneapolis, Minnesota,as Apache Oil Corporation and in 1956, the company was one of the first firms to register a drilling program with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The companyís name was changed to Apache Corporation in 1960, and for the next two decades the company diversified into agriculture, steel, plastics, telephones, utilities, cattle and dude ranching, aerosol cans, lumber, auto supplies and other businesses ñ a total of 58 acquired firms.

Forming Apache Exploration Company (subsequently ìApexcoî) as its oil and gas operating company in 1971 and focused attention back to oil and gas.

Through the 1980's the company acquired oil and gas assets and Apache Petroleum Company (APC) was formed.

In the 1990's Apache purchased MW Petroleum assets from Amoco, buying Apache a position in the Permian Basin of West Texas and eastern New Mexico ñ one of the worldís largest oil provinces. The company moved its headquarters to Houston and in 1988, yielded its first operated production in the Carnarvon Basin offshore Western Australia with the 1993 acquisition of Hadson Energy Resources.

Expansion came with the 1999 acquisition of Shell Canadaís Plains business unit ñ which led to the Ladyfern discovery ñ and again with purchases from Phillips Petroleum and Fletcher Challenge.

In early 2001 Apache became the largest oil producer in Egypt when it acquired Repsolís interests in Egyptís Western Desert. Further projects followed throughout China and Columbia. In 2007, The Julimar field discovery, along with adjacent Brunello discovery, proved new gas sand probability prospecting technology. The 2 trillion cubic feet accumulation led to participation in the Wheatstone LNG project, Apache's first LNG development and largest single capital project with net investment of $4 billion.

Today Apache is focused on Western Australian projects and also owns an interest in the BHP Billiton-operated Pyrenees FPSO development offshore WA. In 2011, Apache, its co-venturer KUFPEC and Chevron approved development plans for the Chevron-operated Wheatstone LNG Project. The first phase of the project comprises two liquefied natural gas processing trains with a combined capacity of approximately 8.9 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa), a domestic gas plant and associated onshore and offshore infrastructure. Apache plans to supply gas to Wheatstone from its Julimar and Brunello natural gas fields discovered in the Carnarvon Basin. Apache's expected net investment for the field and LNG facility development, including drilling, transportation, and other infrastructure, is approximately $4 billion, with first production planned for 2016.