Oil concessions in Muscat and Oman p.42

FO 371/120647 1956
CONFIDENTIAL

OIL IN MUSCAT AND OMAN.

Sir William Lindsay, Chief Representative in Oman of
the I.P.C. subsidiary, Petroleum Development (Oman) Limited,
and Mr.Bird of I.P.C. told me to-day that the well at Fahud
was now down to 8,700 feet in hard limestone. No oil had
been encountered. They would go on to 12,000 feet, but this
would be primarily to chart the structure.

2. Mr.Bird said it looked very much as though the well
was a dud. This did not of course mean that they would
abandon Fahud altogether, but was admittedly very
disappointing. He men tioned the surface indications in
the shape of limestone affected by contact with petroleum
gas which had induced Sir Stephen Gibson and his fellow experts to go ahead with the first well at Fahud.

(D.M.H.Riches)
October 24, 1956.

Mr.BeeZey.
Copied to: E.R.Department

Mr.Beckett, Ministry of Fuel & Power.