The company was founded as
Petroleum Development (Trucial Coast) Limited (PDTC), an associate of the
Iraq Petroleum Company (IPC). In 1939 it acquired a 75-year concession from Sheikh
Shakhbut bin Sultan Al Nahyan for Abu Dhabi. PDTC first discovered oil at the Murban No. 1 well in the
Murban Bab oil field in 1953, although it was not viable and was shut down after a fatal accident. 1963 was the year of first oil export from ADPC's discoveries. Corporate reorganization occurred in 1978 as the
Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Explorations in conjunction with several foreign companies. ==Depictions==