SINGAPORE, November 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite unprecedented price volatility, global recession, swings in demand, and the greening of the world's energy priorities, major oil companies maintained their stronghold as the world's top-performing energy businesses, according to the 2009 Platts Top 250 Global Energy Company rankings announced here Monday evening.

Houston-based ExxonMobil Corporation retained the number one spot in the Platts Top 250 for the fifth consecutive year in the roster's eight. In second and third place were Chevron Corporation and Royal Dutch Shell plc, followed by BP plc and Total SA in fourth and fifth, respectively. Altogether, integrated oil and gas companies (IOGs) carved out the 13 top spots in the 2009 Platts rankings, and took 30 of the top 50 places.

Russia's Rosneft Oil Company and Gazprom Oao again made the top 10 list, coming in seventh and eighth, respectively. Gazprom also ranked number two in terms of profitability, second only to ExxonMobil. With LUKOIL Oil Company in 12th place and TNK-BP Holdings jumping to 13th place from 23rd, four Russian international oil and gas companies now rank among the 15 top-performing energy companies in the world.

In addition, five other Russian companies were included among the Top 250 - Gazprom Neft (#24), Surgutneftegas Oao (#29), Transneft OJSC (#64), Novatek Oao (#151) and OAO Tatneft (#172). In 2004, there were only five Russian companies in total among the Top 250.

Platts tonight also unveiled its third annual list of the world's 50 fastest-growing energy companies. Five Russian companies made the list. Rosneft Oil Company, which ranked #1 on Platts' 2008 list, fell to 12th place for 2009, supplanted in the top spot by American storage and transfer company ONEOK Partners LP. Also counted among the fastest growing were Gazprom Oao (#16), Gazprom Neft (#25), LUKOIL Oil Company (#44), and Novatek Oao (#49), all of which were more highly ranked in 2008.

Upstream outfits based in resource-rich countries have had a relatively difficult time since the boom era ended, but Russian companies have clearly consolidated their strong position among the world's top companies, said Platts President Larry Neal. Backed by world-class reserves and stabilizing demand in European markets, Russian oil companies are particularly well-placed to grow as potential new supply outlets open up in Asia, thanks to the new Siberian pipeline.

The Platts Top 250 Global Energy Companies Rankings are based on a combination of assets, revenues, profits and return on invested capital using data from Capital IQ, a database compiled and maintained by Standard Poor's, which, like Platts, is a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies To be ranked, companies must have assets greater than US$2 billion and must be publicly listed. The fastest growing companies are ranked on their three-year compound growth rate.

Platts' 2009 performance rankings were unveiled at the company's fourth annual Asia Leadership Awards and Recognition Dinner, held this year at Singapore's Shangri-la Hotel in partnership with Singapore International Energy Week. The gala event, attended by some 300 industry executives from across Asia, also celebrated the accomplishments of the top 15 Asian energy companies, top 10 fastest growing Asian energy companies, and top Asian energy companies by industry sector.

For more information and complete rankings, go to the Platts Top 250 website (http://www.platts.com/Top250Home.aspx) or media kit (http://www.platts.com/MediaKits.aspx?xmlfile=mediaTop250.xml).

About Platts:. Platts, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies , is a leading global provider of energy and commodities information. With a century of business experience, Platts serves customers across more than 150 countries. An independent provider, Platts serves the oil, natural gas, electricity, emissions, nuclear power, coal, petrochemical, shipping, and metals markets from 17 offices worldwide. Platts' real-time news, pricing, analytical services and conferences help markets operate with transparency and efficiency. Traders, risk managers, analysts, and industry leaders depend upon Platts to help them make better trading and investment decisions. Additional information is available at http://www.platts.com.

SOURCE: Platts

CONTACT: Kathleen Tanzy of Platts, +1-212 904-2860 or +1-917-331-4607,kathleen_tanzy@platts.com