Occidental Petroleum Corporation, founded in 1920, is one of the leading producers of oil and natural gas in the United States. The company s areas of operation include oil recovery, exploration and oilfield acquisitions. It uses advanced technological equipment for its drilling activities. The company is also a producer of coal and chemical products, including sodium silicates, polyvinyl chloride, caustic soda, and natural gas odorants. It has a marketing division that offers distribution and risk management services to customers. The company provides financial assistance for community services and economic development. Ray R. Irani has been the chief executive officer for Occidental Petroleum for the more than 15 of the 23 years he has been with the company. Irani graduated from the American University Beirut Lebanon with a bachelor s degree and earned a doctorate from the University of Southern California. Occidental Petroleum Corporation has operations in the United States, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia, and is headquartered in Los Angeles.