"We're applying new and extended technology to develop Tahiti. Drilling to depths up to five miles below the rig floor into an extremely high-pressure environment demands it. When it is brought into production, Tahiti will have the deepest producing wells in the Gulf of Mexico."

• Professional: Petroleum Engineer, Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge); 28 years with Chevron.
• Personal: Hunting and fishing.

A string of discoveries in the deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico has established Chevron as one of the industry's top explorers. Credit belongs, in large measure, to technical teams who are applying proprietary technology that can map deepwater reservoirs with unprecedented clarity. The image of the Tahiti Field, above right, penetrates through thick layers of subsurface salt and other challenges that distort traditional seismic imagery. Chevron has a major position in the deepwater Gulf and is investing heavily to increase energy supplies from the area. A "Big 5" project, Tahiti is one of the largest, deepest and most significant discoveries made to date in the Gulf.

An Exploration Success Story

Since 2002, Chevron has almost doubled its exploration discovery rate. In 2005 alone, the company drilled 31 successful exploration wells, achieving a success rate of 58 percent. Our exploration efforts have added significant new resources to our existing crude oil and natural gas resource base. We are focused on converting those undeveloped resources into proved reserves.