Here’s a top 10 list of oil companies that have been involved in documented human rights abuses or major controversies, based on litigation, NGO reports and credible investigations. I’ve included brief notes on the type of abuse and cases involved for each company.
1. Royal Dutch Shell
Main controversies:
- Accused of complicity in killings, torture and arbitrary arrests in Nigeria — including the execution of Ogoni activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others. Shell settled a related lawsuit but denied liability. Wikipedia+1
- Long-standing allegations of environmental harm and rights violations in the Niger Delta affecting community health and livelihoods. gicj.org
2. ExxonMobil
Main controversies:
- Litigation (Doe v. Exxon Mobil Corp.) alleged that Indonesian security forces hired to guard Exxon operations in Aceh committed torture, rape and murder; Exxon fought the case for over two decades. Wikipedia
- Cases settled with villagers alleging abuses by Indonesian military under contract. Al Jazeera
3. TotalEnergies
Main controversies:
- Accused of complicity in war crimes, torture and enforced disappearances by Mozambican soldiers protecting its LNG site, in a criminal complaint filed in France. ECCHR+1
- Tied to serious rights violations at oil projects in Uganda and Tanzania, including forced eviction, gender-based violence and extortion. fidh.org
4. Chevron (including former Texaco)
Main controversies:
- Historic environmental and rights disaster in the Ecuadorian Amazon from Texaco operations, with allegations of toxic contamination, indigenous displacement and health harms (ongoing transnational legal saga). Reddit
- Chevron’s Nigeria operations also faced serious abuse allegations linked to security forces. Wikipedia
5. China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC)
Main controversies:
- Accused of poor labor practices, mistreatment of communities and violent clashes with workers in Myanmar/Burma. Wikipedia
- Involved with rights abuse reports linked to Uganda oil projects alongside TotalEnergies. fidh.org
6. Lundin Energy (formerly Lundin Oil)
Main controversies:
- Company executives were charged in Sweden with aiding war crimes connected to violent campaigns tied to oil operations in Block 5A, South Sudan. Wikipedia
7. Talisman Energy (Canada)
Main controversies:
- Similar to Lundin, Talisman was implicated in Sudan for enabling violence and displacement by ignoring abuses tied to military operations in oil regions. Human Rights Watch
8. China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC)
Main controversies:
- Linked to human rights issues in Burma (Myanmar) oil and gas projects; also highlighted in broader rights violation research on extractive industries. EarthRights International
- Partners in Sudan and Uganda projects with documented rights abuses. Human Rights Watch+1
9. BP (British Petroleum)
Main controversies:
- Though less in direct abuse litigation like others here, BP was named in a major human rights-climate petition alleging fossil fuel producers’ role in climate-related deaths, displacement and harms to vulnerable groups. Amnesty International
10. Saudi Aramco
Main controversies:
- Also included in climate-linked human rights petitions alongside BP, ExxonMobil, Shell and others — for contributing to the climate crisis that impacts rights globally (e.g., displacement, food insecurity, extreme weather). Amnesty International
How These Abuses Show Up
Types of abuses linked to these companies include:
- Direct violence or complicity (security forces torturing, killing protestors)
- Forced displacement / loss of land rights
- Environmental contamination affecting health & livelihoods
- Gender-based violence and extortion around oil sites
- Climate change impacts disproportionally affecting vulnerable populations
Many cases involve the companies working with local armies or state security forces, and some emerged only after years of legal battles or NGO investigations.
Notes for Your Article
Not all allegations have resulted in convictions. Many were settled or are ongoing.
Climate-linked human rights cases broaden the frame: here major producers are accused of violating rights through their contribution to global warming. Amnesty International
State actors often share responsibility, but companies can be accused of complicity if they provide security, funds, or support without safeguards.