Petroleum production in Middle East countries in 1967 totaled 3,679,506,000 bbl at an average rate of 10,080,838 b/d. This compares with 3,407,666,000 bbl or 9,336,071 b/d in 1966. The principal production increases were in Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar offshore, Abu Dhabi, and Oman (first production).

New fields were found in offshore Iran, Neutral Zone, and Saudi Arabia.

There were no exploration activities in Iraq, Aden, Kamaran Islands, Yeman, Hadramaut, and Cyprus. The main areas of exploratory work were in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Neutral Zone, and the southern Gulf (both onshore and offshore).

INTRODUCTION

In Iraq, exploration remained at a standstill pending the resolution of a dispute about acreage holdings. Production decreased by 7.8%.

In onshore Iran, the IOEPC increased geophysical activity by a third, and completed 5 dry wildcats and 3 new-field discoveries. Production in Iran increased by 22% or more.

The Kuwait Oil Company, Ltd., completed one unsuccessful wildcat which had been started during 1967. The production rate was increased 0.74% to a new high of 2,292,380 bbl.

In the Neutral Zone, 12 development wells were completed successfully in the South Umm Gudair field. The Khafji offshore field production was raised by 8.7%. Two new-field wildcats were completed successfully in this Japanese concession. Neutral Zone total production was decreased by less than 1%, as a result of a 17% decrease in the onshore production.

In Saudi Arabia, Aramco found 3 new oil fields in the offshore area and one new gas field in the Rub'al Khali. Production was increased 8.6% and the company's ninth billion bbl of oil was produced.

The Bahrain Petroleum Company increased production 12½% to a new high of 25,370,055 bbl in 1967. Drilling was limited to 6 field-development wells.

In Qatar production rose about 12%, mainly from the Shell offshore Maydan Mahzam field.

Exploration in Abu Dhabi continued without success in both onshore and offshore areas. Production rose about 6% as the Zakum field was brought into production.

In the offshore area of Dubai the Fateh discovery was confirmed by 2 step-out wells. Seismic exploration was done both onshore and offshore.

In Sharjah 1 wildcat was lost due to weather, and the concession was terminated.

In Al Fujairah geologic and seismic work was done.

The first production from onshore Oman was attained in 1967. Geological and geophysical surveys were conducted both onshore and offshore.

Exploration in Turkey decreased appreciably, but crude production increased by a third. This is directly attributable to the availability of a pipeline from District V to the Mediterranean.

In Israel, exploration drilling and production of crude oil decreased; there was a large increase in development drilling.

Most locations of onshore concessions in the Middle East and of offshore concessions in the Gulf are shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the 1965 review.(FOOTNOTE 3)

Production of crude oil in the countries of the Middle East is summarized in Table I.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The writers express their appreciation to the many contributors who have supplied information on activities in the areas. Their names have been noted in the various appropriate sections of this paper.

IRAQ (Tables II-IV)

(Information supplied by IRAQ PETROLEUM CO., LTD.)

No exploration work was done during 1967 by

FOOTNOTE 3. Mason, John F., 1966, Petroleum developments in Middle East countries in 1965: Am. Assoc. Petroleum Geologists Bull., v. 50, p. 1741-1766.

End_Page 1552------------------------------

Iraq (IPC), Basrah (BPC), or Mosul (MPC) Petroleum Companies. In the IPC concession, 2 wells were drilled and completed in the Kirkuk field; these were Kirkuk Nos. 176 and 177. Drilling totaled 7,325 ft. There was no drilling activity in the BPC concession. However, in the MPC concession 1 well had reached 4,210 ft at year end in the Ain Zalah field. Production, export, and shipping data are shown in Tables II-IV.

IRAN (Tables V-IX)

(Information supplied by IRAANSE AARDOLIE EXPLORATIE EN PRODUCTIE MIJ. N.V. and AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL OIL CO.)

Iranian Oil Exploration and Producing Co. (IOEPC):
Exploration survey activity in the Consortium Area increased by a third, and comprised 14½ party-months of seismic-reflection land operations and 4 party-months of seismic-refraction land operations. Exploration drilling activity is shown in Table VI.

Production by fields in the Consortium Area during 1967 was at the average rate of 2,480,041 b/d and is summarized in Table VII.

The conversion of Bandar Mah Shahr from a crude oil export terminal to a products export terminal was completed during 1967. There are 6 jetties with a throughput capacity of 350,000 b/d and tankers up to 50,000 dwt class can be accommodated. The official inauguration was made by His Imperial Majesty, the Shahanshah Arya Mehr, on December 4, 1967. Other work on new facilities completed during 1967 included the following items.

1. Commissioning of Gurreh Oil Booster Station of 6 pumping sets totaling 42,000 HP.
2. Installation of a production unit in the Binak field of 50,000 b/d capacity.
3. Expansion of existing production units in Marun by 250,000 b/d, in Bibi Hakimeh by 125,000 b/d, and in Gach Saran by 50,000 b/d.
4. Gathering lines in all fields.

Planned facilities include natural gas liquids processing units to be installed at Agha Jari and later at Marun. A fractionating plant and natural gas liquids export facilities will be installed at Bandar Mah Shahr. Field production unit facilities will be increased to meet higher offtake.

Table I. PRODUCING SUMMARY BY COUNTRIES, MIDDLE EAST

Table II. IRAQ-IPC AND ASSOCIATED COMPANIES, PRODUCTION DURING 1967

Table III. IRAQ-PETROLEUM EXPORTS, 1967

Table IV. IRAQ-IPC AND ASSOCIATED COMPANIES, SHIPMENTS FROM TERMINALS, 1967

End_Page 1553------------------------------

DEVELOPMENT

Drilling for production and field delineation was done at Gach Saran, Marun, Bibi Hakimeh, Pazanan, Faris, and Agha Jari. In 1967, 35 wells were completed of which 18 were new producers, 15 were workover wells, and 2 were nonproducers (Table VIII).

Work in the Masjed-e-Suleyman field to control the influx of gas from an underlying Jurassic reservoir to the Asmari/Eocene reservoir was completed successfully.

FUTURE PLANS

Present plans provide for 2 drilling strings solely on exploration work during 1968.

A program of geophysical surveys is scheduled for 1968. Geological field work will consist of special studies, including work on salt plugs, stratigraphy, and tectonics.

Continuous technical and economic studies are being done to assess new fields, to improve production from existing fields, and to determine the best source for forward crude requirements.

Studies continue to assess the value of water injection in certain fields for improving ultimate recovery.

RELINQUISHMENT

Three blocks, totaling 25,069 sq mi, of the Agreement Area were relinquished to the government of Iran during 1967.

National Iranian Oil Co. (NIOC):
Exploration activity is reported incompletely for 1967. Drilling activity so far as known is reported in Table V-A. Production from the Naft-i-Shah field for the first 11 months of 1967 was reported at the rate of 9,405 b/d and a gross production of 3,141,321 bbl.

OFFSHORE CONCESSIONAIRES

NIOC is a 50% partner of the companies which at various times obtained concessions in the offshore areas of Iran. These include SIRIP, IPAC, DOPCO, FPC, IMINOCO, IROPCO, LAPCO, PEGUPCO, and SOFIRAN (ELF). An incomplete listing of wells drilled by these companies in 1967 is given in Table V-B.

Societe Irano-Italienne des Petroles (SIRIP):
No field surveys are known to have been conducted by the company during 1967. Drilling activity is described in Table V-B. SIRIP produced 6,843,223 bbl during the first 11 months of 1967 at a rate of 20,488 b/d.

Iran Pan American Oil Co. (IPAC):
Exploration drilling completed in 1967 (Table IX) resulted in 2 oil wells in the Ferdowsi field. One development well was completed in the Darius field.

Production from the Darius field averaged 91,768 b/d (total, 1967 = 33,495,352 bbl). Production from the Cyrus field averaged 8,618 b/d (total, 1967 = 3,145,641 bbl).

During the year, IPAC conducted 468 line-miles of marine seismic work for a total of 2 3/4 party-months.

In April 1967, construction of offshore production facilities for the Cyrus field, 45 mi west-southwest of Kharg Island, was completed.

Dashtestan Offshore Petroleum Co. (DOPCO) (Shell, operator):
No field exploration was carried out during 1967.

Farsi Petroleum Co. (FPC) (Operated by Societe Francaise des Petroles d'Iran (SOFIRAN)):
This company is owned 80% by Entreprise de Recherches et d'Activities Petrolieres (ERAP) and 20% by Societe Nationale des Petroles d'Aquitaine (SNPA). The company holds a concession covering 2,224 sq mi. Operations were suspended in 1966 and are not known to have been resumed in 1967.

Iranian Marine International Oil Co. (IMINOCO) (AGIP, operator for ENI, Phillips, and the Indian Government Oil and Natural Gas Commission):
This group holds a concession consisting of 4 blocks in District I of the Persian Gulf totaling 3,073 sq mi.

No seismic work was conducted during 1967. By year end, application was made to NIOC to have the R field declared commercial.

Drilling activity is listed in Table V-B.

Table V-A. IRAN-NATIONAL IRANIAN OIL CO., DRILLING ACTIVITY, 1967

End_Page 1554------------------------------

Table V-B. IRAN-DRILLING ACTIVITIES, 1967

End_Page 1555------------------------------

Iranian Offshore Petroleum Co. (IROPCO) (Tidewater, operator, associated with Atlantic-Richfield, Sunray-DX, Skelly, Superior, Cities Service, Kerr-McGee, and CEPSA):
This company holds a concession covering 870 sq mi. No field exploration is known to have been carried out during the year.

Lavan Petroleum Co. (LAPCO) (Atlantic-Richfield, operator with Murphy, Sun, and Union):
This company holds 3,089 sq mi in 3 scattered blocks. A discovery was reported during the year on the W structure. Drilling activity is reported in Table V-B.

Persian Gulf Petroleum Co. (PEGUPCO) (composed of 7 German companies: DEA, Preussag, Wintershall, Deutsche Schachtbau, Gelsenberg, Elwerath, and Scholvenchemie):
This group holds a concession of 1,988 sq mi in the southern part of the Gulf.

Exploration drilling consisted of the abandonment of Q-1 during the first quarter of 1967 at a total depth of 9,000 ft. The M-1, drilled in 1966, was reentered at 7,891 ft, deepened to 10,373 ft, and abandoned April 19, 1967.

Societe Francaise des Petroles d'Iran (SOFIRAN) (ERAP 40%, SNPA 10%, NIOC 50%):
This group, currently operating under the name ELF, holds rights for approximately 102,700 sq mi in 3 onshore blocks and about 7,700 sq mi in Gulf waters.

Exploration activity known to have occurred

Table VI. IRAN-IOEPC, EXPLORATION DRILLING, 1967

Table VII. IRAN-IOEPC, PRODUCTION BY FIELDS, 1967 (1,000 Bbl)

Table VIII. IRAN-IOEPC, DEVELOPMENT AND WORKOVER DRILLING, 1967

Table IX. IRAN-IRAN PAN AMERICAN OIL CO., DRILLING ACTIVITY, 1967

End_Page 1556------------------------------

during the year was the drilling of the Sirri A-1. This wildcat was abandoned in December 1967 at a total depth of 11,400 ft.

KUWAIT (Table X)

(Information supplied by KUWAIT OIL CO. LTD., ASIATIC PETROLEUM CORP., and KUWAIT NATIONAL PETROLEUM CO.)

Kuwait Oil Co., Ltd. (KOC):
Exploration drilling consisted of the East Ahmadi 1, spudded August 27, 1966, and abandoned early in 1967 at a total depth of 13,693 ft without significant shows of hydrocarbons. Of this footage, 12,759 was credited previously to 1966. The well was east of the Ahmadi Ridge.

Development and appraisal of proved reserves involved drilling 56 wells, of which 47 were considered successful completions. This drilling program utilized contractor's rigs and 2 workover rigs, 1 provided by a contractor and the other by KOC. These operations comprised 58.5 drilling and 17.5 workover rig-months for a total of 395,193 ft of new hole. Table X summarizes the status of all wells at year end.

Gross crude-oil production from all fields amounted to 113,355,644 long tons (836,718,697 bbl). This represented an average production of 2,292,380 b/d or an increase of 0.74% from 2,275,444 b/d, the figure for 1966. Field installations were being expanded as necessary to keep pace with the expected oil and gas demands. In Umm Gudair 2 new gathering systems were nearing completion to serve an approximately 30 wells and have a nominal capacity each of about 50,000 b/d.

Consumption of gas continued to increase and during the year it averaged 327 MMcf/d for all purposes. Of the gas used an average of 36 MMcf/d was supplied to the state for power generation and water distillation at Shuwaikh and for other industrial enterprises around Kuwait City. Low-pressure gas, which amounted to 26 MMcf/d, was supplied to the Shuiabali Industrial Area and the Kuwait Chemical Fertilizer Company plant.

Gas-injection capacity during the year rose to more than 300 MMcf/d with the completion of the first stage plant at Minagish. The plant is designed to receive 115 MMcf/d from Burgan and the remainder from Minagish. KOC now has 3 gas-injection plants at Burgan, Raudhatain, and Minagish.

Major expansion of facilities for recovery of gas liquids was accomplished during the year resulting in a 21.7% by weight increase from 1966. Volume of exports for the year of propane, butane, and natural gasoline was 1,015,050 long tons. Locally 10,588 long tons of LPG were sold.

The overall total of exports amounted to 113,332,990 long tons (839,280,729 bbl) in 2,398 tankers. This represents an increase by volume of 0.64% from 1966.

In May 1967, in accordance with the terms of the Relinquishment Agreement signed in January 1963, the concessionaires, BP (Kuwait) Ltd. and Gulf Kuwait Co., relinquished an additional 250,070 acres of concession area offshore in the general vicinity of Failakah Island.

KUWAIT-SAUDI ARABIA NEUTRAL ZONE (Tables XI-XV)

(Information supplied by AMERICAN INDEPENDENT OIL CO. and ARABIAN OIL CO. (JAPAN) LTD.)

American Independent Oil Co. (Aminoil) and Getty Oil Co.:
Exploration activity during the year consisted of 2½ party-days of marine reflection-seismic survey.

Development drilling was limited to the Umm Gudair field. Twelve development wells were completed for a combined total of 116,960 ft. The total number of completed wells at year end in the South Umm Gudair field was 15. Well status and production by zones are shown in Tables XI and XII, respectively.

A $25-million refinery expansion and addition

Table X. KUWAIT-KOC, STATUS OF WELLS, DECEMBER 31, 1967

End_Page 1557------------------------------

of a desulfurization unit were under construction during 1967. The 22.5-mi 16-in. pipeline from South Umm Gudair field to the Wafra gathering center was scheduled for completion by the end of March 1968.

Total production by the 2 companies during 1967 was 50,258,863 bbl, 10,152,060 bbl less than in 1966. Daily average production was 137,693 bbl, a decrease of 17% from 1966. The cumulative production of the Neutral Zone (onshore) at the end of 1967 was 607,806,865 bbl.

Arabian Oil Co. (Japan) Ltd. (AOC):
Two offshore drilling units were active throughout the year, drilling a total of 68,076 ft of hole. Ten development wells were completed in the Khafji field using 1 drilling unit. The other drilling unit was engaged on exploratory wells. The Lulu 1, east of the Khafji field, was completed in the Ratawi Limestone as a new-field discovery. Lulu 2 was spudded on the southern part of the Lulu area and had reached 5,122 ft at year end. North of the Hout field, Dorra 1 was completed as a new-field discovery in the "B" limestone. The status of wells at year end is listed in Table XIV.

A marine seismic survey was conducted partly in the AOC concession area. This operation was programmed to resurvey the questionable parts of the AOC area.

Production of crude oil from the Khafji field in 1967 totaled 101,847,657 bbl, an average rate of 279,035 b/d. This is an increase from 1966 of 8,878,005 bbl or 8.7%. Monthly and daily average production figures are given in Table XV. At year end the cumulative total production was 402,326,833 bbl.

Table XI. KUWAIT-SAUDI ARABIA NEUTRAL ZONE--AMERICAN INDEPENDENT OIL CO. AND GETTY OIL CO., WELL STATUS BY ZONES, DECEMBER 31, 1967

Table XII. KUWAIT-SAUDI ARABIA NEUTRAL ZONE--AMERICAN INDEPENDENT OIL CO. AND GETTY OIL CO., PRODUCTION BY ZONES, 1967

Table XIII. NEUTRAL--AOC, DRILLING OPERATIONS, 1967

Table XIV. NEUTRAL ZONE--AOC, STATUS OF WELLS, DECEMBER 31, 1967

Table XV. NEUTRAL ZONE--ARABIAN OIL COMPANY (JAPAN) LTD., KHAFJI FIELD PRODUCTION, 1967

End_Page 1558------------------------------

SAUDI-ARABIA (Tables XVI-XVIII)

(Information supplied by ARABIAN AMERICAN OIL CO.)

Arabian American Oil Co. (Aramco):
Five seismic parties were in operation in 1967 and a continuous wildcat program was maintained with as many as 3 simultaneous exploratory tests. Eight rigs were in operation for part or all of 1967 on wildcatting, development drilling, pressure-maintenance well needs, and workovers. A total of 8,628 km of seismic coverage was recorded in 57 crew-months. Eight wildcat and 39 development and injection wells were drilled in 4.76 rig-years of effort. In addition, major products were completed on facilities for handling the increased petroleum output.

Five land seismic parties using digital recording and computer processing were active in 4 of Aramco's 5 retained areas. Both refraction and reflection techniques were employed. One crew worked in the eastern Rub'al-Khali throughout the hot summer months while the other crew shut down for 3 months. Three parties working in the northern area were equipped with surface-energy sources whereas the 2 parties in the Rub'al-Khali used conventional refraction methods. The Dhahran TIAC digital computer center was improved during the year to handle the more sophisticated computer programs now in use.

The continuous wildcat program resulted in the completion of 8 tests with 2 drilling at year end. Four rigs worked a combined total of 1.57 rig-years on exploratory holes for a total of 90,192 ft drilled. An additional 5,383 ft of drilling was done on 5 water wells in support of the wildcat program. Three oil discoveries were made in the offshore area at Marjan, Karan, and Jana. Gas was found at Kidan in the Rub'al-Khali.

Two wildcats were drilling at year end, 1 at Jurayd in the offshore area and 1 in the onshore area at Juraybi'at 2 on the south end of the Jauf anticline.

Three unsuccessful wildcats were completed in 1967. Jathum 1 was drilled approximately 75 km west of 'Ain Dar; Jauf 2 and Uhayrish 1 were drilled on the Jauf anticlinal trend in the northeastern onshore area.

Delineation and development drilling was performed in the Berri, Khursaniyah, Marjan, Qatif, and Safaniya fields and in the 'Ain Dar, Shedgum, and 'Uthmaniyah areas of Ghawar field. During the year 39 wells were completed and 3 were drilling at year end. In addition, 5 wells drilled in 1965 and 1966 were completed. A summary of this activity is contained in Table XVI. A total of 3.19 rig-years was devoted to development and delineation drilling resulting in 280,696 ft of new hole. This includes 0.03 rig-year and 8,610 ft expended on the 3 wells drilling at year end. A summary of the status of all wells at year end 1967 is contained in Table XVII.

Eight rigs were used in drilling operations during 1967, but no more than 6 were in use concurrently. In the offshore operations the new self-contained Aramco Mobile Drilling Platform No. 2 was in continuous service and the tender-supported Aramco Mobile Drilling Platfom No. 1 was active until mid-August when it was deactivated. The onshore drilling and workover program was carried out with 6 rigs. One of these was a contract rig in operation during the last 5 months of the year.

Oil production during 1967 amounted to 948,110,468 bbl, an increase of 74,761,320 bbl or 8.6% above 1966. A new high average of 2,597,563 b/d was achieved for the year. Production, daily average, and cumulative production by fields are summarized in Table XVIII.

Aramco's 9 billionth barrel of oil was produced

Table XVI. SAUDI ARABIA--ARABIAN AMERICAN OIL CO., WELLS DRILLED BY FIELDS, 1967

End_Page 1559------------------------------

in November 1967. This most recent billion barrels was recovered in 1 year and 22 days.

One new field, Berri, was placed on production during 1967.

Several important additions were made to the oil-handling facilities during 1967, among them:

1. The capacity of Shedgum Gas Oil Separating Plant No. 1 (GOSP-1) was increased to 410,000 b/d by year end.

2. Shedgum GOSP 1, 'Ain Dar GOSP 4, and 'Uthmaniyah GOSP 1, 2, and 3 were placed on pressure crude delivery by the addition of pipeline spheroids to the 'Uthmaniyah-Abqaiq pipeline No. 1.

3. Haradh GOSP 2 capacity was raised from 15,000 b/d to 65,000 b/d by the installation of a 400-HP diesel-driven pump replacing the cold gas expansion turbines.

4. The new Berri GOSP 1 was placed in service in February and by year end capacity was about 45,000 b/d.

5. Khursaniyah GOSP 1 and 'Ain Dar GOSPs 1, 2, and 3 had slight increases in potential by the addition of new wells.

6. Significant increases in pipeline capacity were achieved by the completion of the Abqaiq-Qatif No. 4 line and 2 short loops of the Qatif-Ras Tanura No. 6 line and Ras Tanura Terminal line T-18, all 40 and 42 in. in diameter.

Refinery oil-handling and ancillary marine facilities were increased as follows:

1. Facilities to permit the delivery of 37,500 b/d of propane and butane were completed in 1967 and construction was in progress to increase the capacity to 44,000 b/d.

Table XVII. SAUDI ARABIA--ARABIAN AMERICAN OIL CO., STATUS OF WELLS, DECEMBER 31, 1967

Table XVIII. SAUDI ARABIA--ARABIAN AMERICAN OIL CO., PRODUCTION BY FIELDS DURING 1967

End_Page 1560------------------------------

2. Aramco's eighth and largest refrigerated LPG tank with a 400,000-bbl capacity was put in service in June.

3. Two additional 500,000-bbl crude storage tanks were completed at Ras Tanura and a third was nearing completion, which will place total storage capacity at 8,600,000-bbl.

4. The second 2-berth, sea-island, deep-water loading facility was placed in operation in April. A third sea island is under construction.

BAHRAIN

(Information supplied by AMERICAN OVERSEAS PETROLEUM LTD. and CONTINENTAL OIL CO.)

Bahrain Petroleum Co., Ltd. (Bapco):
Three party-months of digital seismic surveys were carried out, in separate phases-deep water, shallow shoals, and land. The results were being processed and remained under study during the rest of the year.

No exploratory wells were drilled. Six successful field development wells were drilled. At year end 211 wells had been drilled, of which 206 were producing oil and 5 gas.

The gross average producing rate during 1967 was 69,507 b/d, up from 61,701 b/d in 1966. In addition, gas was produced for field-pressure maintenance, refinery supply, and power generation in Manama.

Continental Oil Co. of Bahrain Ltd.:
Exploration activity consisted of 1¼ party-months geologic work on the islands within the concession area and 2 days of marine reflection-seismic survey in shallow waters.

QATAR (Tables XIX-XX)

(Information supplied by QATAR PETROLEUM CO., LTD., ASIATIC PETROLEUM CORP., and CONTINENTAL OIL CO.)

Qatar Petroleum Co., Ltd.:
There was no exploration or development drilling activity during the year.

Production from the Dukhan field totaled 9,069,839 long tons, or approximately 70,989,539 bbl, at an average rate of 194,491 b/d. Export shipments from Umm Said totaled 8,909,704 long tons in 242 ships.

The Shell Co. of Qatar, Ltd.:
There was no exploratory activity during the year. Drilling in 1967 totaled 34,601 ft in 11.2 rig-months and is summarized in Table XIX.

Production from the Idd el Shargi and Maydan Mahzam fields totaled 14,405,158 bbl and 32,678,534 bbl, respectively, for a concession total of 47,083,692 bbl.

Continental Oil Co. of Qatar, Ltd., and Pure Oil Middle East, Inc.:
Exploration activity by the former (operator) consisted of 1 party-month of marine reflection-seismic surveying.

Exploration drilling is reported in Table XX.

ABU DHABI (Table XXI)

(Information supplied by IRAQ PETROLEUM CO., LTD., BRITISH PETROLEUM CO. LTD., and PHILLIPS PETROLEUM CO.)

Abu Dhabi Petroleum Co., Ltd. (ADPC) (Associated Co. of Iraq Petroleum Co.):
Two seismic parties operated in Abu Dhabi for 18 party-months of reflection-seismic surveying. Exploration drilling was continued throughout the year. The status of exploratory wells at year end is reported in Table XXI.

Development drilling consisted of 5 wells (Murban 56-60) completed on the Bu Hasa dome.

Total exploration footage drilled during 1967 was 37,457; the total development footage drilled was 42,477; and the total footage drilled was 79,934.

Crude-oil production from the Murban field totaled 12,165,510 long tons or 94,039,392 bbl, an average of 257,642 b/d. Shipments from the Jebel Dhanna terminal (in 258 tankers) totaled 12,157,754 long tons.

Under the terms of an agreement to the provisions for relinquishment in the 1965 agreement with His Highness the Ruler and the company, an

Table XIX. QATAR--CONTINENTAL OIL CO. OF QATAR, LTD., AND PURE OIL MIDDLE EAST, INC.: SUMMARY OF EXPLORATION DRILLING 1967

Table XX. QATAR--SHELL CO. OF QATAR, LTD., SUMMARY OF DRILLING OPERATIONS, 1967

End_Page 1561------------------------------

area of approximately 6,500 sq km was surrendered on September 19, 1967. Another agreement signed on September 20, 1967 defined the seaward boundaries between the respective concessions of the company and Abu Dhabi Marine Areas Ltd.

Phillips Petroleum Co.:
Phillips, in joint participation with American Independent Oil Co. and Agip SPA, acquired a concession in Abu Dhabi on January 21, 1967. The concession consists of 4 blocks designated as A, B, C, and D totaling 3,195,991 gross acres.

Seismic work began June 9, 1967 with almost 7 party-months of seismic survey completed by year end. A second seismic crew was mobilized and ready to begin operations at year end.

Abu Dhabi Marine Areas, Ltd. (ADMA) (British Petroleum, Ltd. 2/3; Compagnie Francaise des Petroles, 1/3):
A 3-month marine seismic survey was carried out. One exploration well was drilled on the Mosaddej structure 28 mi north-northeast of Zakum, and was abandoned at 8,957 ft.

In the Umm Shaif field, no wells were drilled in 1967. Production was 111,700 b/d, compared with 104,381 b/d in 1966. In 1967 the field produced 40,768,519 bbl of 37.5° API oil from 25 wells completed in the Jurassic Arab-Darb Limestone. Cumulative production since inception in June 1962 totaled 158 million bbl.

Oil production from the Zakum field began on October 2, 1967. The production for the rest of the year was 4,307,067 bbl, an average of 47,856 b/d, from 8 wells. During the year 11 wells were completed, bringing the total of producers to 26, and 2 wells were drilling at year end. The field produces 40.9° API oil from the Lower Cretaceous Thamama Limestone.

Two rigs were active throughout 1967 completing 110,168 ft of development drilling and 8,597 ft of exploration drilling.

Abu Dhabi Oil Company:
A concession covering 2 blocks of offshore acreage comprising approximately 1,091,217 acres was granted by the government of Abu Dhabi to a Japanese group of companies on December 6, 1967.

DUBAI

(Information supplied by CONTINENTAL OIL CO.)

Dubai Petroleum Co. (DUPETCO):
This wholly owned subsidiary of Continental Oil Co. and its associates, Dubai Sun Oil Co. and Deutsche Erdol-Aktiengesellschaft, conducted 4 party-months of reflection-seismic (thumper) survey on this 914,285-acre concession during the year.

Dubai Marine Areas, Ltd. (DUMA) (Dubai Petroleum Co. Ltd., operator, with British Petroleum Exploration Co. Ltd., Compagnie Francaise des Petroles, Deutsche Erdol-Aktiengesellschaft. Dubai Sun Oil Co.):
Exploration consisted of 2 confirmation wells drilled in the Fateh field. Fateh B-1 was spudded January 11, 1967 and suspended April 21, 1967 at a total depth of 9,299 ft. Fateh C-1 spudded April 23, 1967 and was suspended July 17, 1967 at a total depth of 9,048 ft.

Development drilling and installation of production facilities are scheduled to commence in the second half of 1968.

Geophysical activity consisted of ½ party-month of marine reflection-seismic surveying.

SHARJAH-AJMAN-UMM AL QAWAIN

(Information supplied by J. W. MECOM)

During 1967, J. W. Mecom and Pure Oil Middle East, Inc., continued drilling the exploratory offshore well Trucial Offshore 1. On March 8, 1967 the well had reached a total depth of 12,013 ft when the hole was lost due to adverse weather.

The concession agreement covering these Trucial States expired during September 1967.

RAS AL KHAIMA

(Information supplied by UNION OIL CO. OF CALIFORNIA)

Ras al Khaima Oil Co. (Union Oil Co. of California and Southern Natural Gas Co.) relinquished the onshore part of the concession. No exploration activity was carried out on the remaining offshore acreage in 1967.

AL FUJAIRAH

Bochumer Mineraloel (Bomin):
Bomin conducted 1 party-month of marine reflection-seismic

Table XXI. ABU DHABI--ABU DHABI PETROLEUM CO., LTD. SUMMARY OF EXPLORATION DRILLING ACTIVITY, 1967

End_Page 1562------------------------------

survey, 2 party-months of field geology, and 4 months of photogeological interpretation relative to this approximately 1,482,632-acre offshore concession during 1967. The concession was granted June 11, 1966.

OMAN (Table XXII)

(Information supplied by ASIATIC PETROLEUM CORP.)

Petroleum Development (Oman), Ltd. (PDO) (Shell 85%, Compagnie Francaise des Petroles 10%, and Gulbenkian 5%):
Exploration survey activity in 1967 included 51.1 party-months of land and 0.3 party-month of marine reflection-seismic work, 3.5 party-months gravity, and 6.3 party-months of field geology. Drilling in 1967 totaled 81,894 ft in 23.6 rig-months (Table XXII).

Production from Natih and Fahud totaled 3,653,051 bbl and 19,376,659 bbl, respectively, for a concession total of 23,029,710 bbl.

Wintershall (Wintershall Aktiengesellschaft 65%, Deutsche Erdol A.G. 12.5%, Gelsenkirchener Bergwerks A.G. 12.5%, and Deutsche Schachtbau 10%):
Wintershall and associates conducted 2 party-months of marine reflection-seismic survey and 3.7 party-months of field geology relative to this approximately 1,976,843-acre offshore concession during the year. The concession was granted December 12, 1965.

DHOFAR

John W. Mecom, Pure Oil Middle East, Inc., and Continental Oil Co. of Dhofar (a wholly owned subsidiary of Continental Oil Co.) conducted exploration work during the year comprising 4 party-months of reflection-seismic (thumper) surveying and 1½ party-months of gradiometer survey.

HADHRAMAUT

No activity was reported for the Hadhramaut or the Mahra Sultanate during 1967 and these areas are not known to be under concession.

ADEN--KAMARAN ISLANDS (now the PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF SOUTH YEMEN)

There was no exploration activity during 1967 within the Kamaran Island license area. The concession was terminated on November 29, 1967.

YEMEN

There were no developments during 1967, according to information received from John W. Mecom.

JORDAN

(Information supplied by HARRY WASSALL AND ASSOCIATES, INC.)

There were no concessions held during 1967. The only exploration activity reported during the year was conducted by the government Mineral Resources Authority (MRA). An exploration well projected to 5,000 ft had been spudded on Lisan peninsula in the Dead Sea area at the end of 1966, but no further information on the well has been released. A party of German geologists also was reported working for MRA in the Dead Sea area until about midyear. A contract seismic crew began a scheduled 1-year survey in October 1967. This work was to be done in the Lisan Peninsula, Hebron, Al Jaft, and Wadi Sirkan areas.

LEBANON

(Information supplied by HARRY WASSALL AND ASSOCIATES, INC.)

Exploration activity during 1967 was limited to continued drilling by R. F. Shaheen on the Batroun structure near Abrine. The wildcat was

Table XXII. OMAN--PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT (OMAN), LTD., DRILLING ACTIVITY, 1967

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abandoned at a depth of 1,640 ft in January 1967, without having penetrated any prospective Lower Cretaceous or Upper Jurassic reservoirs.

The concessions held by 2 local companies, Petrolex and Becha Tabet, were cancelled in 1967. Both companies appealed this decision and the matter was still unresolved at year end. Similarly, the reinstatement of the Cie. Libanaise des Petroles (CLP) rights, to which the government has agreed, was still pending final action. CLP is negotiating for a joint enterprise with a foreign company and has tentative plans to retest the Yohmos 1 wildcat in southern Lebanon. A new wildcat is scheduled to be drilled near Qartaba.

SYRIA

(Information supplied by HARRY WASSALL AND ASSOCIATES, INC.)

Exploration and production operations continue to be reserved for the government and are conducted by the Syrian General Petroleum Authority (SGPA).

Four new rigs were imported in the spring of 1967, making a total of 8, all operated either by SGPA or by Russian contractors. Two rigs were purchased in the U.S., and 2 were imported from the USSR under terms of a drilling contract. Five rigs were operated by the Russians in the Souedie field in northeastern Syria, where 13 producers were completed. A total of 25 wells had been drilled in the field by the end of 1967. Five wells remain of the initial development program and are scheduled to be completed early in 1968. Development of the other fields in northeastern Syria-Karachok, Rumailan, and Darik-probably was in progress, but the only information available is that 1 well was completed at Rumailan.

No information has been received about exploration drilling scheduled for 1967 in the Sokhe area approximately 50 mi east-northeast of Palmyra.

It is believed that the SGPA continued to operate 1 seismic crew and 1 gravity crew throughout the year. The contract seismic crew active in 1966 completed its assignment at the end of that year.

The 400-mi pipeline from the northeastern fields to the Homs refinery and Tartus on the Mediterranean Sea was nearing completion at the end of 1967, and was to be commissioned in early 1968. Production was to begin at the rate of 20,000 b/d from the Souedie field, with the Karachok and Rumailan fields to be connected late in 1968. At that time production should reach 80,000-100,000 b/d, according to government spokesmen. Recoverable reserves are stated to be 150 million tons or approximately 1 billion bbl.

CYPRUS

(Information supplied by FOREST OIL CORP.)

Forest Cyprus Corp.:
This company has not resumed the operations discontinued at the end of 1963. The government has acknowledged that the force majeure clause in the concession contract was in effect from December 23, 1963.

TURKEY (Figs. 1, 2; Tables XXIII-XXVI)

(This section was prepared by MARVIN E. HAGEMEIER, Turkish Gulf Oil Co., whose assistance is gratefully acknowledged.)

All phases of exploration activity declined in 1967, about 40% below the 1966 figures. The critical factor of acreage held under exploration license at the year end was 8.7 million acres compared with 10.2 million acres at the end of 1966. Exploration and concession activities in 1967 are summarized in Table XXIII.

Development drilling increased substantially as the producing companies, principally Turkiye Petrolleri A.O. (TPAO), attempted to achieve maximum utilization of the Batman-Iskenderun pipeline. This TPAO-owned and operated line was inaugurated in late 1966 and replaced truck transport from the District V fields to the ATAS refinery. The line contributed greatly to a 34% increase in production-approximately 19.5 million bbl, or an average of 53,389 b/d.

Districts V and VI (Southeast Turkey basin):
With the exception of Mobil's Bulgurdag field in District III, all production and most of the exploratory activity are concentrated in this area.

Shell with 5 exploratory wells and TPAO with 10 were most active in exploration drilling. Independents completed 2 unsuccessful tests.

Shell's activity was concentrated on the Kayakoy-Beykan producing trend in District V and resulted in 1 discovery, the Kurkan South 1A. The discovery well is approximately 1.8 km southeast of the Kurkan field and 135 km north of West Kayakoy. After suspending the Kurkan South 1 at 6,350 ft, Shell reentered the hole, set a whipstock, and completed it as a discovery in

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Fig. 1. Turkey--areas of interest.

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the Cretaceous Mardin at a new total depth of 6,370 ft.

Clark, Perkins, and Petropar relinquished a total of 7 licenses in District V and shut down their operations in Turkey.

In District V Gulf and Shell relinquished 1 license of a jointly held block of 5. Gulf's 50% interest in the remaining 4 licenses was transferred to Shell early in the year.

Mobil (80%) and Panoil (20%) surrendered 1 license containing the Selmo field and applied for a production lease on the field in November 1967. Mobil also applied for a production lease on the Silivanka field.

District VII (Adana basin):
TPAO completed 2 unsuccessful wells on the Gokdere structure just north of the Gulf of Iskenderun. The purpose of these wells was to evaluate Pliocene-Miocene gas shows found in Gokdere 1. Gokdere 4 was drilling at year end with the same objectives.

A CGG Flexotir crew conducted a reflection-seismic survey for TPAO on its offshore Gulf of Iskenderun licenses.

A block of 7 offshore licenses extending to the edge of the continental shelf was awarded to Turkish Gulf during the year. A seismic survey was planned for 1968 on these licenses.

The Continental-Elwerath-Panoil group added a fifth license outside the 6-mi limit to their offshore block in early 1967. Continental subsequently transferred its 43% interest in the block to Elwerath and Panoil and withdrew from Turkey. In late 1967 Elwerath and Panoil applied for the transfer of the former's 75% interest in the block to Panoil. This was approved early in 1968, leaving Panoil the sole rightholder of the licenses.

District I (Thrace basin):
TPAO was the only license holder in this district and confined their activity to seismic, gravity, and magnetic surveys. A Geographex "thumper" party used this technique for the first time in Turkey in this area.

District III (Sinop basin):
Gulf relinquished a block of 8 licenses in the Samsun area early in 1967, leaving TPAO as the sole license holder in the district. TPAO's first wildcat (Fasili 1) was drilling at year end near Sinop on the first of a 2-well program.

District III and IV (closed areas):
The greater

Table XXIII. TURKEY--EXPLORATION AND CONCESSION ACTIVITY IN 1967

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Table XXIV. TURKEY--WILDCAT WELLS DRILLED IN 1967

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part of Districts III and IV is still closed to petroleum companies, including TPAO. Geologic and geophysical studies have been conducted by MTA (Maden Tetkik ve Arama Enstitusu), the Government Mineral Research and Exploration Institute. MTA spudded 2 wells of interest in 1967 (Fig. 2). The Hacilar 5 in District III is programmed for 4,000 m and is a follow-up to 4 structure holes on the feature. MTA is using a 15,000-ft capacity Russian rig on this test, and was drilling at approximately 3,000 m at year end.

The second well spudded in 1967 is the Katranli 3, near Tekman in District IV. A TPAO rig and crew are drilling on contract to MTA with a 2,400-m proposed depth.

Concentrated Russian drilling activity adjacent to the Turk/Soviet border has stimulated interest in this area, and at year end a second TPAO rig was rigging up on the Tuzluca 1. The well was spudded in January 1968.

DRILLING SUMMARIES

Exploratory and development drilling is summarized in Tables XXIV and XXV, respectively.

PRODUCTION

Crude production increased from an average of 39,703 b/d in 1966 to 53,389 b/d in 1967 (Table XXVI). Continued development by Shell on the Kayakoy-Beykan trend should raise its production in 1968. Panoil has reached agreement with TPAO for the purchase of its 20% share of Selmo production. TPAO mixes this lighter crude with its own heavy Bati Raman and Magrip oil, increasing

Table XXV. TURKEY--DEVELOPMENT WELLS DRILLED IN 1967

Table XXVI. TURKEY--OIL PRODUCTION IN 1967

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its pipeline transportability and probably permitting higher production rates from those fields. Throughput in the line totaled 12.5 million bbl in 1967, the first full year of operation, and 16.0 million bbl is predicted in 1968.

REFINERIES

Three refineries are presently in operation in Turkey. ATAS, located at Mersin on the Mediterranean coast, is owned jointly by Mobil (56%), Shell (27%), and BP (17%). Expansion which is essentially a "debottlenecking" process will increase the capacity of the plant from 65,000 b/d to 94,000 b/d. The IPRAS plant at Izmit is owned by TPAO (51%) and Caltex (49%). An application for a permit to expand this refinery from 44,000 b/d to 100,000 b/d was approved in February 1968. The third active refinery is the 15,000-b/d Batman installation owned by TPAO.

The permit for a fourth refinery to be built at Izmir by TPAO was granted in 1967. The plant will have a design capacity of 60,000 b/d and will be built with Russian assistance.

An application for a fifth refinery to be located on the Sea of Marmara was filed by Turk Petrol, a Turkish private company. Designed capacity will be 20,000 b/d, and the certificate was awarded early in 1968.

Fig. 2. Fields and important wells in eastern Turkey.

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Fig. 3. Israel oil licenses, 1967.

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ISRAEL (Figures 3, 4; Tables XVII-XXX).

(Information supplied in part by G. GVIRTZMAN, Geological Survey, Oil Division, State of Israel.)

At year end, 12 different companies or groups held petroleum rights in Israel (Table XXVII, Fig. 3). The area covered by such rights is

Table XXVII. ISRAEL--PETROLEUM RIGHTS, AT END OF 1967

Table XXVIII. ISRAEL--DRILLING SUMMARY, 1967 (In Ft)

Table XXIX. ISRAEL--EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT DRILLING 1967

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Fig. 4. Israel exploration and development, 1967.

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thought to have decreased from approximately 3,225,713 acres at the end of 1966 to about 2,942,962 acres at the end of 1967. Asher Oil Company relinquished all of its rights in Israel, and a newcomer, Mayflower Oil Exploration Company, acquired rights in a joint enterprise with Israeli companies.

Total footage drilled in Israel during 1967 increased from 95,628 in 1966 to 98,048. The exploration drilling decreased substantially from 89,611 ft in 1966 to 66,449 ft in 1967. Development drilling increased abruptly from 6,017 ft in 1966 to 31,609 ft (Table XXVIII).

Of the 10 exploration wells drilled during the year (Table XXIX), 9 were abandoned without finding commercial production, and 1 was drilling at year end. Six of these wildcats were drilled on the coastal plain, 2 were in the Negev, and 1 in the Dead Sea valley. The Shoqeda and Bat-Yam exploratory wells were drilled for objectives in the Miocene of the coastal plain. The wildcat in the vicinity of the Dead Sea found traces of heavy oil.

Exploration activity, on the part of the concessionaires, in addition to drilling, totaled 17 party-months of seismic surveying, 11.5 party-months of gravity surveys, 5.25 party-months of ground magnetometer, 1.15 party-months of aeromagnetic surveys, and 6 party-months of field geology. The marine geophysical survey totaled 1 boat-month (sparker, gravimeter, and magnetometer).

Production of crude oil in 1967, from 32 wells in LIOP's Heletz-Brur-Kokhav field, is estimated to have totaled 974,000 bbl. Production was at an average rate of 2,706 b/d, a decrease of 27% from the year-end average of 3,700 b/d in 1966. Cumulative production totaled about 11,375,000 bbl.

Natural gas production in 1967 from 9 wells in NIPC's Zohar field totaled 3,899 MMcf. Production was at an average rate of 10,330 Mcf/d, an increase of 12% from the year-end average of 9,280 Mcf/d in 1966. Cumulative gas production totaled about 12,487 MMcf. The principal consumers of this gas are the Dead Sea Works, the Oron Phosphate Plant, and the industry of Dimona.

An Israeli company was reported to be producing approximately 90,000 b/d from the Belayim fields on the Sinai Peninsula at year end.

The aeromagnetic map of Israel, financed by the government, was published. Regional and stratigraphic studies carried out for the government by the Institute for Petroleum Research and Geophysics and by the Geological Survey of Israel progressed according to the 3-year master plan.

Table XXX. ISRAEL--DRILLING SUMMARY, 1967 (In Ft)

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