Apache Corporation was conceived 50 years ago. Its gestation, with no small amount of planning, has yielded a company that is built to last.
— Raymond Plank "Critical Mass: Apache at 50"

Apache was formed in 1954 with $250,000 of investor capital with the simple concept of becoming a significant and profitable oil company. Today, Apache Corporation is one of the world's top independent oil and gas exploration and production companies. The journey to this point was fueled by Apache's contrarian approach to business. The eras linked below tell the story...

1954 - 1956: The early years
1959 - 1971: Alternate paths
1973 - 1986: Return to roots
1987 - 2003: Critical mass
2004 - today: Into the millenium

Key dates

• Dec. 6, 1954: Apache was founded.
• 1959: Apache diversified until oil and gas demostrated long-term viablility and profitability.
• 1967: The Fagerness No. 1 discovery puts Apache on the map.
• May 27, 1969: Apache's stock was listed on the New York Stock Exchange, opening at $30.50 per share.
• 1971: Apache Exploration Company was formed, which brought renewed emphasis to oil and gas.
• 1977: Apache sells diversified assets.
• 1981: Apache Petroleum Company was formed, the country's first Master Limited Partnership.
• 1982: Acquisition of Dow Chemical's oil and gas assets by APC; beginning of growth through acquistion.
• 1986: Oxy acquisition and imminent tax reform leads to restructuring as a pure exploration and production company.
• 1987: Headquarters moves from Minneapolis, Minn., to Denver, Colo.
• 1988: Decision to go international; Apache is years ahead of its peer group.
• 1991: MW Petroleum acquistion formalizes “acquire and exploit” and precipitates headquarters' move to Houston.
• 1993: With Hadson acquisition, Australia becomes first international core area.
• 1995: Dekalb merger marks return to Canada after 25-year absence and formation of second international core area.
• 1996: Earnings reach $100 million for the first time.
• 1996: Phoenix merger makes Egypt third international core area.
• July 22, 1997: Standard & Poors added Apache to the S&P 500 index.
• 1999: Shell GOM acquisition marks beginning of Apache's pre-eminence on the Outer Continental Shelf.
• 1999: Shell Canada acquisition: $518 million.
• 2001: Fletcher Challenge acquisition: Canada, $677 million.
• 2001: Repsol acquisition: Egypt , $447 million (which brought operatorship of Khalda).
• 2003: BP North Sea acquisition adds fourth international core area.
• 2003: Qasr No.1 in Egypt: At 2-3 TCF, it marks the largest onshore discovery in the company's history.
• 2003: Earnings reach $1 billion for the first time on record reserves and production.
• 2003: BP acquisition: UK North Sea , $650 million.
• 2003: BP acquisition: Gulf of Mexico , $650 million.
• 2003: Shell acquisition: Gulf of Mexico, $200 million.
• Jan. 12, 2004: Apache dually lists on the NASDAQ stock market.
• 2004: Anadarko acquisition: Gulf of Mexico, $525 million.
• Oct. 26, 2004:  Apache share price doubled in four years, adding more than $9 billion in shareholder value.
• 2005: ExxonMobil agreements: West Texas, Western Canada, onshore Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico Continental Shelf
• 2005: Anadarko acquisition: Gulf of Mexico, $525 million.
• 2006: Amerada Hess acquisition: Permian Basin of West Texas and New Mexico.
• 2007: Year end earnings hit record of $2.8 billion or $8.39 per share.
• 2009: Apache Founder Raymond Plank retires after 54 years of service.

Read more
For more milestones that made Apache what it is today, see "Defining Moments" compiled online from "Critical Mass: Apache at 50."