Page 365 - The Arabian Gulf States_Neat

SUBMARINE BOUNDARIES 301
(ii) Qatar concessionary areas: The Qatar offshore concession was
obtained by Shell Overseas Exploration Company (later known as
Shell Company of Qatar). The concession covers approximately
10,000 sq. miles of marine areas. In 1962-3, Shell relinquished about
60 per cent of its original area, ‘including all acreage on the western
side of the peninsula and nearly all to the north and off the east coast
out to longitude 52 degrees’. Now Shell retains the area on the north­
east corner of its original concession near ‘Ras Rakan and the area
round Halul island and including Idd cl-Shargi field’. On 15 September
1963 the offshore acreage to the north and southeast of the peninsula
was granted to Continental Oil Company.1

(iii) The Trucial Shaikhdoms concessionary areas:
Abu Dhabi: Offshore concession rights in Abu Dhabi arc held by
Abu Dhabi Marine Areas (ADMA). The company’s rights are split:
over two-thirds held by British Petroleum (BP) and one-third held by
Compagnie frangaise de Petroles (CFP). The present offshore oil-
producing field is Umm Shaif which is located 60 miles off the coast
of Abu Dhabi.2
Dubai: Dubai offshore concession is held by Dubai Marine Areas. The
concession rights are divided as follows: BP holds two-thirds and CFP
holds one-third. And in accordance with the provision of an agreement
signed on 24 September 1963, Continental Oil now holds 50 per cent
interest in an offshore joint venture with Dubai Marine Areas. The
concession covers the continental shelf area outside Dubai’s terri­
torial waters.3
Sharjah: In August 1962, the Texas independent oil man, J. W.
Mecom, was granted a concession in respect of the western part of
Sharjah, including offshore. It was learned later that Mecom took
Pure Oil as a partner in a joint venture. They drilled a wild-cat4 in the
Abu Musa island which is located 38 miles off the coast of Sharjah.

World Petroleum Report, 15 March 1966; MEES, No. 47, 24 September 1965.
In this connection, it is interesting to note that NIOC (Iran) representative in
Tehran was reported to have protested to the American ambassador in Tehran
about the acceptance of an oil concession by Continental Oil Company from
Bahrain authorities, since Iran allegedly considers Bahrain as its ‘31st unredeemed
province’. Sec above. Chapter 12.
1 Qatar-Shcll Agreement of 1952; Ely, op. cit.; MEES, No. 46, 20 September
1963.
2 Ely, op. cit.; MEES, No. 38, 27 July 1962; Petroleum Press Service, August
1962, p. 308. The field of Umm Shaif is connected with a terminal on Das Island
which is 20 miles from the field.
3 MEES, No. 45, 13 September 1963; ibid., No. 10, October 1963; Petroleum
Press Service, No. 5, May 1963, p. 194.
4 This expression relates to an oil or gas well drilled in a territory not known to
be productive.