Conoco Ponca City Refinery The Conoco Ponca City Refinery was the historical headquarters refinery of Continental Oil Company (Conoco) in north-central Oklahoma. Workers at this facility were exposed to asbestos-containing materials used throughout the refinery for over five decades.
Last verified: 2026-03-09Continental Oil Company (Conoco) established its headquarters and a major refinery in Ponca City, Oklahoma in the early twentieth century. The refinery became the operational heart of Conoco and a major employer in the region. The facility went through corporate transitions as Conoco merged with Phillips Petroleum in 2002 to form ConocoPhillips. Asbestos insulation and components were used throughout the refinery from the 1920s through the late 1970s.
Workers at the Conoco Ponca City Refinery were exposed to asbestos in pipe insulation, boiler lagging, gaskets, valve packing, and refractory cement across the refinery process units. The refinery long operational history meant that workers encountered asbestos materials of varying age and condition, with older materials being more deteriorated and friable. Maintenance workers performing turnaround operations regularly stripped and replaced asbestos insulation, generating heavy fiber exposure.
The following job categories at Conoco Ponca City Refinery had the highest risk of asbestos exposure:
Former Conoco Ponca City Refinery workers have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, and asbestos-related lung cancer. As a small city economically dependent on the refinery, Ponca City has seen a disproportionate impact from asbestos-related disease relative to its population. Multiple generations of local families worked at the refinery, and secondary exposure through contaminated work clothing has also been documented.
Health information is based on established medical research on asbestos exposure. Asbestos is classified as a known human carcinogen by the National Cancer Institute, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Consult a physician for medical advice specific to your situation.
Workers exposed to asbestos at Conoco Ponca City Refinery may be entitled to compensation through asbestos trust funds, personal injury lawsuits, or veterans benefits. Mesothelioma patients and their families have recovered billions in compensation from companies that manufactured or used asbestos products.
3 asbestos trust funds have been identified as potentially related to exposure at this site. Many mesothelioma patients qualify to file claims with multiple trusts simultaneously.
Find Out If You QualifyWorkers who were employed at Conoco Ponca City Refinery between 1920s–1970s may have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials. If you've been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may have legal options including trust fund claims and lawsuits.
Workers exposed to asbestos at Conoco Ponca City Refinery may be eligible to file claims with the following trust funds:
Continental Oil Company (Conoco) built and operated the Ponca City Refinery for decades. In 2002, Conoco merged with Phillips Petroleum to form ConocoPhillips. Asbestos exposure claims from the Conoco era may be directed to ConocoPhillips as the successor company.
The Conoco refinery was the primary employer and economic engine of Ponca City for most of the twentieth century. This economic dependence meant that a large proportion of the local workforce was potentially exposed to asbestos at the facility over multiple generations.
Former workers experiencing respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath, persistent cough, or chest pain should seek evaluation from a physician experienced in asbestos-related diseases. Early detection of mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases significantly impacts treatment options and legal claim timelines.
If you or a loved one worked at Conoco Ponca City Refinery and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis, our attorneys can help you explore your legal options. There is no cost, no pressure, and no obligation.
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