1.   Foreign mining companies hope that law, and accompanying rules of regulations expected to be approved early next year, will finally permit foreign exploration and mining for gold.

2.   The union called the strike in protest at plans by Ecopetrol, announced yesterday, to attract more foreign exploration companies to Colombia, Alvis said.

3.   Other foreign exploration companies have also found gas, although they must drill more wells to learn if the deposits have commercial potential.

4.   None of the other foreign exploration firms operating here has yet made a similar find.

5.   The state-run Vietnam Oil and Gas Oil Corp. signed its first foreign exploration contract that year, with an Indian company.

6.   The state-run Vietnam Oil and Gas Oil Corp. signed its first foreign exploration contract that year, with an Indian firm.

7.   Doshi said Asia needed to offer more incentives to attract foreign exploration firms.

8.   The Vietnam work will be the first foreign exploration for Pertamina.