17-01-00 The year 2000 marks a major corporate milestone for Conoco -- its 125th anniversary -- but there's nothing old-fashioned about the way employees are celebrating.
From humble origins of providing kerosene to pioneer settlers in 1875, Conoco has grown into a fully integrated, global energy company of the 21st century. Still savouring its newly independent company status, Conoco's anniversary is as much about looking forward as it is about heralding past accomplishments.

In its unique style, Conoco brings key corporate milestones to life through a creative blend of history and entertainment. January 17 was the official kick-off of a 125-day countdown to the company's world-wide birthday party planned for May 20, 2000. Gatherings will be held in 15 countries, on five continents.
At midnight on January 17, a 16-foot-tall wooden oil derrick, augmented with a specialised digital counter, was erected at the entrance of Conoco's Houston headquarters. The derrick's clock counts down 125 days untilthe May 20 birthday celebration.

During the 125-day countdown, colourful, life-size photo cut-outs of Conoco employees -- each one representing a year from 1875 to 2000 -- will be on display at the Houston complex. Employees are photographed dressed in period costume and hold a year marker sign designating a corresponding company milestone.
Forming a paper-doll-like chain, the photographs will eventually extend across an entire corridor of Conoco's multi-building complex -- a quarter of a mile long. Costume design was provided by members of the University of Houston's drama department, who ensured the authenticity of each outfit.

The company is publishing a commemorative coffee table book, "Conoco 125 Years of Energy," that will be given to all employees world-wide as a keepsake. Authored by Pulitzer Prize nominee Russ Banham, the 270-page book includes more than 100 in-depth interviews and never-before published photographs.
"Conoco's 125th anniversary is a wonderful opportunity to recall the major contributions our company has made to a world economy that thrives on energy," said Archie W. Dunham, Conoco Chairman and CEO. "Significantly, the anniversary underscores the importance of continuous innovation and responsiveness to change, the impact of a powerful corporate culture based on the core values of safety, environmental excellence, high ethical conduct and valuing all people, and the immense worth of committed and talented people who drive technological progress. These attributes will surely propel us toward another 125 years of success."

Conoco's 125th anniversary comes at an extraordinary time in the company's history. Recent corporate achievements include earning the number one position in Schroders' 1999 ranking of exploration and production results and Wood Mackenzie's top spot for Conoco's European downstream operations as the most profitable in Europe.
Conoco's corporate split-off from DuPont in August 1999 stands as the largest in US history.
Additionally, the company has brought on-line several "legacy" projects in the last 16 months -- Britannia, one of the largest natural gas fields in the North Sea; Petrozuata, a $ 2.5 bn heavy oil joint venture in Venezuela; Melaka refinery, a 100,000 bpd refinery in Malaysia; and two of the world's most advanced ultra-deepwater drillships.

Conoco is a major, integrated energy company based in Houston and active in over 40 countries.