Chevron closed its $55 billion acquisition of Hess on Friday after winning a landmark legal battle against larger rival Exxon Mobil to gain access to the largest oil discovery in decades.

The conclusion of the saga removes a stock overhang for Chevron and paves the way for the $53 billion deal to close immediately, which the oil giant said it could happen within a couple of days.

Chevron Corp. has prevailed in a 20-month fight to buy Hess Corp. for $53 billion, overcoming a challenge by arch rival Exxon Mobil Corp. that was unprecedented in the modern history of Big Oil.