TONG XIAOGUANG Tong Xiaoguang, distinguished geologist for petroleum exploration, was born in Shengzhou City, Zhejiang Province in April 1935. He graduated from Nanjing University in 1959 and 1964 for undergraduate and graduate education separately, both in geology. Prof. Tong has been working in China petroleum industry for over 40 years, with extensive exploration and production experience for oil and gas both in China and worldwide. From 1964 on, Prof. Tong worked as technician, geologist, director geologist, deputychief geologist, chief geologist, deputy director general in diversified affiliates of China National Petroleum Corporation including Daqing Petroleum Administration Bureau, Liaohe Petroleum Administration Bureau, Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development, Tarim Petroleum Exploration and Development Headquarters, Petroleum Exploration Bureau of CNPC. His main interest is in the area of petroleum basin geology and exploration. With his innovation in understanding the rules of hydrocarbon accumulation, he has made great contribution to the discovery of the oil and gas fields in the basins he studied. Prof. Tong was appointed as vice president and chief geologist in 1993, senior advisor in 2002 of China National Oil and Gas Exploration and Development, as the major pioneer of overseas petroleum E&P activities for China. He has performed extensive studies for petroleum geology, hydrocarbon potential, investment environment, evaluation methods and technology of new venture project etc for many countries in the world. He already directed hundreds of new venture technical evaluations, many integrated evaluations, and over 20 comprehensive geology studies for exploration program. He is the major contributors for the successful  exploration in two major Basins in Sudan. Prof. Tong holds one SpecialClass Prize, one First Prize, and one Second Prize from China National Science and Technology Innovation Award. He also won several provincial and ministry level awards. In 1986, he was awarded “China National Distinguished Contribution Specialist” title for youth and middle aged scientists. In 2005, he was honored with the academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering.