Saudi Aramco also may obtain service contracts, since they have a large pool of expertise. At present, in partnership with Exxon, they are upgrading the Chinese Fujian refinery. With Total, they are building the state-of-the-art Jubail Refinery (Three more are planned, partners not yet known).

Any discussion of major oil companies must include them as well as Sinopec and Petrochina, ENI of Italy, Conoco-Phillips, Lukoil of Russia, and several others.

Royal Dutch Shell is the largest employer, with 104,000; Total-95,000; Exxon-Mobil-83,000; BP-97,600; Chevron-56,000; Saudi Aramco-52,000.