Great Oil Sniffer Hoax
In 1979, French company Elf Aquitaine fell victim to the Great Oil Sniffer Hoax, losing $150 million on a fake gravity wave-based oil detection system. The scandal exposed financial irregularities and political cover-ups.
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The Great Oil Sniffer Hoax was a scandal involving French oil company Elf Aquitaine in 1979. The company spent millions developing a gravity wave-based oil detection system, later revealed as a scam, causing Elf to lose over $150 million. The scandal, known as "Avions Renifleurs" in France, involved false oil detection claims. The hoax began with Aldo Bonassoli's invention of a desalination system, which evolved into a failed water sniffer project. Elf got involved in 1976, signing a lucrative contract for the fake oil detection devices. Despite numerous failed tests, Elf officials remained convinced until the hoax was exposed in 1979. The scandal led to political repercussions, with audits revealing financial irregularities and a subsequent cover-up. Bonassoli resurfaced in 1984, claiming improvements to his machine, but nothing came of it. The scandal highlighted oversight failures and political motivations in the oil industry.
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