Page 139 - The Persian Gulf Historical Summaries (1907-1953) Vol III

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No. 6
QATAR OFF-SHORE CONCESSION
Concession agreement between Shell Overseas Exploration Company and the
Ruler of Qatar, dated November 29, 1952
In the Name of God the Merciful.
This Agreement was made on the 29th day of November, 1952, corresponding
to the 12th day of Rabie cl Awal, 1372, between His Excellency Sheikh Ali bin
Abdulla bin Qasim el Thani, Ruler of Qatar (hereinafter called “ the Sheikh,” which
expression shall include his successors and assigns) on the one part, and George
Ormsby Higgins on behalf of 44 Shell ” Overseas Exploration Company Limited,
a company incorporated under the law of England and having its registered office
at St. Helen’s Court, Great St. Helen’s, London, E.C. 3 (hereinafter called 44 the
Company,” which expression shall include its assigns), on the other part.
Whereby it is agreed between the Sheikh and the Company as follows: —

Article 1
In this Agreement unless inconsistent with the subject or context: —
44 Concession Area ’’ means and includes, subject to any rights which may be
established under any existing concession (i) all the seabed and subsoil underlying
the spring tide of the waters of the Persian Gulf which fall within the jurisdiction
of the Sheikh and which lie beyond territorial waters (as hereinafter defined) and
(ii) any and all islands, islets, shoals and bars which may after the 6th day of August,
1952, corresponding to the 15th day of Dili el Qidaa, 1371, rise from, accumulate,
build up or otherwise be created by nature or by the Company, above spring tide
of the waters within the area defined in (i) above.
When the precise boundaries of this area shall hereafter be determined a map
shall be prepared showing the agreed boundaries which shall be attached to this
Agreement and shall be a part thereof.
44 Territorial Waters ” means the waters contiguous to and extending from the
Mainland and Islands of Qatar existing on the 6th day of August, 1952, corres­
ponding to the 15th day of Dhi el Qidaa, 1371, which shall for the purposes of this
Agreement be calculated on a basis of three nautical miles from the mean low-water
spring tide level.
44 The Substances ” means crude oil, asphalt, ozokerite and natural gas and
everything which is extracted therefrom.
44 Ton ” means English ton of two thousand two hundred and forty pounds.
44 Year ” and 44 Month ” shall respectively be construed by reference to the
English Solar Calendar.
44 Date of commencement of regular exports of oil ” means the date from which
export of the Substances produced by the Company in the Concession Area first
reaches an average rate of 2,000 tons per day measured over a period of thirty
consecutive days.
44 Convention Payments ” means in relation to any period the sums which the
Company is liable to pay to the Sheikh in respect of that period pursuant to the
provisions of this Agreement (except any sums payable pursuant to the provisions
of Articles 4 and 19 hereof and by way of Qatar Income Tax and by way of
44 make-up payment ” as hereinafter defined) and any other payments, rentals,
duties, imposts and other exactions of a like nature payable by the Company to the
Sheikh in respect of such period.
44 Initial Period ” means the period, if any, between the Date of commencement
of regular exports of oil and the 31st day of December next following.
44 Exported Oil ” means crude oil produced by the Company in the Concession
Area freed of water and foreign substances and exported from Qatar.
44 Qatar Income Tax ” means in relation to any year the total amounts
receivable by the Sheikh in respect of that year by way of income tax, based on the
Drofits or gains of that year arising out of operations and transactions in respect of
Fxoorted Oil exported asphalt, ozokerite and natural gas or any of them whether
^uch income tax is payable by the Company or by any other person or body
44 Qatar ” means all the territories of the Sheikh including the territorial waters
thereof and all other areas over which he has jurisdiction.