The U.S. State Department allowed a Conoco Inc. team to visit oil fields in Libya that the Houston major oil company was forced to abandon in 1986 because of U.S. sanctions, Conoco chairman Archie Dunham confirmed. His comments came during a news conference at Arthur Andersen & Co.'s 20th annual energy symposium in Houston. A frequent critic of unilateral sanctions against Libya and Iran, Dunham said Conoco "absolutely" would like to resume its operations in Libya, which he said still recognizes Conoco's ownership of certain properties. He said that the State Department requested that he refrain from making the trip himself and also stipulated the Conoco team include only one executive. Ted Davis, president of Conoco operations in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, led the team. "They're going out in the field and looking at our production facilities in Libya," he told reporters. Specifically, the team is assessing the condition of Conoco's assets in Libya. Dunham said that the properties were producing. He could not provide more details. The State Department has given some other companies permission to visit Libya. Dunham said he hopes the United States eventually will restore relations with the North African nation. -Paula Dittrick