American Refining Group, Inc.
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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.