1.

P.

Kemezis and W Clasgall, 'ATexas Wildcatter Cashes in on French Oil," Busrhess

W-eek,'tsllay'

'

1985, 106-10i.

2. The dominant companies in the oil and

gas industry include such firms as ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips. These firms are often referred to as the "majors' or simply as "Big Oil."

207

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sEcTtoNTHREE INTERNALCournollssuas

of oil and gas exploration by employing a rough-andtumble business strategy. Lee recognized that the large domestic oil firms in the U.S. had already identified the prime drilling sites in this country. So, Lee decided that Triton should focus its exploration efforts in other oil-producing countries, particularly in regions of those countries largely overlooked by "Big Oil." During Lee's tenure with Triton, the company launched exploration ventures in Argentina, Australia, Canada, Colombia, France,
Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Thailand.
In the early 1970s, Triton discovered a large oil and gas field in the Gulf of Thailand.
Recurring disagreements and confrontations with the Thai government stymied
Triton from developing that field for more than l0 years. Lee's experience with the
Thai government taught him an important lesson: If Triton's exploration ventures
*.re io be successful in foreign countries, the company had to foster good relationships with key governmental officials in those countries.
Lee created Triton Indonesia, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Triton Energy, to develop an oil field that the company acquired in Indonesia in 1988. This oil field, located on the island of Sumatra and known as the Enim Field, belonged to a Dutch firm in the 1930s. At the time, Sumatra was a protectorate of the Netherlands. When the Japanese invaded Indonesia during World War II, retreating Dutch soldiers dynamited the Enim Field to render it