It's an honor to address this 15th World Petroleum Congress. And, it's a real pleasure for me to once again be in the People's Republic of China. This is a great country with a long oil and gas history.
Elf has been one of the companies involved in offshore China since the early eighties-but, I must admit, with limited success. We have participated in exploring the Tarim basin and we are now investigating opportunities for future co-operation. We look forward to success in China in exploration and also, in our important chemicals and pharmaceuticals activities.
We are very impressed by the dynamic oil and gas industry that exists here. I want to thank our Chinese friends for the excellent organization of this congress.
I am pleased that Elf Aquitaine, France and Europe have been chosen to speak about the role of technology in the 21st century, especially since we have been present and active in most of the challenges in the second half of the 20th century. Let me take a few minutes to give you some history about Elf Aquitaine's technology.
For us, it started in 1951, with the discovery of a major gas field at Lacq, in southwestern France. At the time, an American oil fire fighter, named Myron Kinley (i),* told us we shouldn't even try to operate a field with such a high sulphur content. Since then of course we did, and became world specialists in gas sweetening. We also made horizontal drilling a commercial proposition, pioneered measurement while drilling, and developed offshore fields in Norway and the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa. This innovative platform was towed from France to offshore Congo (2-Six industrial units, including gas reinjection and LPG separation, were built in Italy, France and the Netherlands and assembled in Marseilles on this 220 meter-long, 46 meter-wide pouting concrete platform, the largest of its kind ever built). * Italic numbers and text indicate accompanying illustrations. Presently, we are meeting the deep offshore challenges in Angola, Congo and the Gulf of Mexico-as well as in high pressure/high temperature fields like Elgin and Franklin, in the North Sea.
Elf technology has also played a part in the field of gasoline and lubricants, as you can see from our participation with the champions in Formula 1 car racing. .. (3-Did you ever meet world champion Damon Hill filling up at an Elf station?). Elf is also a leader in petrochemicals, specialty chemicals and polymers through its Elf Atochem subsidiary.
Of course, we were not the only actors. Along with Alf, the French oil and gas industry, represented by the companies listed here (4), have also been active worldwide, and of course, there were other European partners.
So, I have been asked to speak to you today about 'Technology, a g
