Oil concessions in Muscat and Oman

This file contains correspondence relating to:

• Reports that Iraq Petroleum Company (IPC) are thinking of approaching the Sultan of Muscat about turning their concession into one of the normal 50-50 type of arrangements (1)
• Proximity of Cities Service's future plans to the Darbat Ali or Habarut border (2)
• Route that the IPC will use for supply of their operations at Fahud and in the interior of Oman generally. Various possible routes are given and any objections to them. A discussion on the strategic and political implications of the pipe terminal's location (3-4)
• IPC's progress in prospecting for oil in Oman. Its first well is currently being drilled at Fahud in central Oman. So far there has been no strike (5)
• The Sultan's reluctant agreement to a new IPC supply route to Oman on condition that the supply base is not at Matrah [Muttrah]. Work will begin soon on the road. Confirmation that Cities Service's have found pure crude petroleum in their second well in Salalah (6)
• Drilling at Fahud has being held up because of casing trouble (7)
• Confirming a definition of the boundary between the Cities Service's and Petroleum Development (Oman)'s concessions and an update on IPC progress in prospecting for oil and gas in Oman (8)
• Pakistan High Commissioner's talk with the senior American naval officer in the Middle East Admiral Quinn. They discussed Cities Service's activity in the southern Muscat coastal area and Britain's relations with Saudi Arabia, particularly concerning the Buraimi dispute (9)
• Cities Service third show of oil and a certain amount of gas at their second well (10)
• Boundary between Dhofar Cities Service and Petroleum Development (Oman) (11)
• Oil in Muscat and Oman has not yet been encountered in the well at Fahud which is now at a depth of 8,700 feet. They will continue to 12,000 feet (12)