History
FORACO was founded in 1961 in France initially manufacturing mineral drilling rigs exported to Africa and Brazil. During this period, the company developed the first Vibro Percussive (Sonic) drills which were commissioned by Parker Drilling to drill the support piles for the Trans Alaska Pipeline. By the early 1970’s the company had patented one of the very first Reverse Circulation (RC) system and established itself as a Drilling Contractor in the Ivory Coast with a first massive contract to deliver 800 village drinking wells. These early African roots led to drilling wells for national water scheme in Libya and large (1,000 wells) programs in Mali, Chad and Niger.
During the 1980’s FORACO underwent a number of ownership changes including French oil Major Elf, who later transferred ownership to the internationally renowned French Geological Bureau – BRGM following the oil crisis.
