Petroleum Refining & Chemical Products

Texas leads the nation in petroleum refining and chemical products production, and is a global leader in the closely related petrochemical industry. Texas entered the global petroleum production and refining industry in 1901, when the Spindletop Oilfield began production with a gusher that made headlines around the world.

1. Irving, TX is home to ExxonMobil, which is #2 on the Fortune 500 list.
2. Houston, which is considered the energy capital of the nation, is home to more than 3,700 energy-related companies, including 16 of the nation's top 20 oil pipelines.
3. Texas' 26 refineries lead the nation in both crude oil production and refining, generating more than 4.7 million barrels of crude oil a day and accounting for 27 percent of the nation's total capacity.
4. The average yearly wage for a petroleum refinery employee in Texas is $113,672.
5. The Gulf Coast chemical plant and refinery complex is the largest petrochemical complex in the world and home to over 400 chemical plants, which employ approximately 33,000 Texans.
6. Houston alone accounts for over 40% of the nation's base petrochemical capacity.