Petrotrin’s incorporation in 1993 was the culmination of a series of mergers and acquisitions commencing in 1974. Petrotrin’s rich heritage is firmly rooted in the annals of history, dating all the way back to the first oil well (the nation's first commercial oil well) drilled at the Aripero, South Trinidad in 1866, and the pre-World-War-One United British Oilfields of Trinidad.

Trinidad and Tobago's efforts to find oil extend even further back, with the country's first well drilled by the Merrimac Company in the vicinity of the La Brea Pitch Lake in 1857 to a total depth of 280 feet."

Birth of No 8 CDU

Workmen's Transport to and from refinery

This monumental introduction of Petrotrin’s predecessor history makes an indelible contribution to the global market as it signalled that the petroleum industry in Trinidad and Tobago is one of the oldest in the world, older even than those in Venezuela and Saudi Arabia.

The outcome of this historic journey led to the discovery and development of oilfields at Forest Reserve, Point Fortin, Tabaquite and Barrackpore in South Trinidad but it was not until 1908 that commercial production began.

The first export shipment was made from Brighton, La Brea in 1910. Marine drilling subsequently began in the Soldado field off Trinidad’s South-West Coast in the early 1950’s.

The first major refinery started at Point Fortin in 1914 while the first distillation unit at Pointe-a-Pierre was constructed in 1917. Both the Pointe-a-Pierre and Point Fortin refineries were constructed with state-of-the art technology of the day and were significant to the British War effort in the last World War.

In 1974 the Government of Trinidad and Tobago acquired the assets of Shell Trinidad including the Point Fortin Refinery. This pronounced the birth of Trinidad and Tobago Oil Company Limited (TRINTOC).

Forest Reserve Field Office

In 1985, Texaco sold the Pointe-a-Pierre Refinery along with other assets to the Government, thus enabling Trintoc to operate both refineries until the advent of Petrotrin in 1993.
 

St. Peter's School - Pointe-a-Pierre

Dubbs Cracking Plant - Pointe-a-Pierre

Click for larger image