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Our asphalt plant in Santa Maria, California produces light naphtha, kerosene distillate, gas oils and numerous cut-back, paving and emulsion asphalt products. Demand for our asphalt products is primarily in the Central and Northern California regions, while naphtha and distillates are sold throughout California.


1932

The original refinery, built in 1932-33 by The Five C Refining Company, was a simple facility that produced naphtha, kerosene distillates, diesel fuel and residuum from oils extracted in the region. Some of these products were shipped to other locations and further refined into motor gasoline, heavy oils for power generation and marine fuel for large vessels. The refinery as originally constructed did not have the capability to produce asphalt.

1951

The refinery was privately owned by Five C until 1951 when this company was acquired by Douglas Oil Company of California, which owned two other refineries in California. Douglas upgraded the facility with a vacuum distillation tower that enabled the refinery to produce asphalt.

1960

In 1960, Conoco acquired Douglas Oil Company (including our refinery) and again substantially upgraded the facility. In the early 1990’s Conoco decided to reduce its holdings in California.

1994

Conoco sold the refinery to Saba Petroleum Company in 1994. Prior to selling the refinery in 1994, Conoco ran the refinery for 48 years at an output of approximately 10,000 barrels per day.

1999

Saba subcontracted the operations of the refinery to a third party and sold the output until its acquisition by Greka in 1999. The refinery has essentially been running 24/7, 365 days a year since 1932 and has always had demand for its full output at market prices.




 

 
Since the 1930's the refinery has essentially been running 24/7, 365 days a year. It has always had demand for its full output at market prices. Prior to selling the refinery in 1994, Conoco ran the refinery for 48 years at an output of approximately 10,000 barrels per day.

Asphalt specifications have advanced significantly over the last 10 years and will continue to be pushed forward requiring varying degrees of modification with natural rubber, ground tire rubber, polymers and other additives. In an attempt to improve the overall quality of the highways throughout the United States, the Federal Government since the 1990's developed a performance-grade (PG) rating system for the quality of asphalt and its use in various climatic conditions. California follows these guidelines requiring asphalt manufacturers to conform to a tight set of specifications.

Greka’s refinery is certified to produce the various PG-grades utilizing our local crude supply. Santa Maria Valley crude oil has the physical properties that yield high quality asphalt with a high susceptibility to the various modifiers, and our staff has experience in making all the currently known formulations. We have delivered product to high-margin niche markets and anticipate this opportunity will continue to grow.

Greka has marketed its premium asphalt products primarily in Central California. The Central Coast is geographically isolated from other California asphalt producers which are located in San Francisco, Bakersfield and Los Angeles. Greka has a distinct freight advantage in the local market extending from the South San Francisco Bay area to Ventura.