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SETTLEMENT OF SUBMARINE BOUNDARY DISPUTES 353
conjunction with a “local median line between the two islands”. :
i
This solution is “based, partially, on the equidistance principle and
partially on the delimitation of the territorial seas of the two islands
in the vicinity. ”1
(c) One of the main contributions of the Agreement was the
method it utilised in solving the problem of the Iranian island of
Khark, which is a large island situated 17 miles off the coast. Khark
was given half-effect in delimiting portions of the continental shelf
boundary. The half-effect principle is described as “a trade off {
between considering the island as part of the mainland (full effect)
or completely ignoring the island effect)”.2
I
2. Agreement Concerning Delimitation of the Continental Shelf Between
Iran and Qatar, 20 September, 1969.
The Agreement between Qatar and Iran on the delimitation of their
maritime boundaries was signed on 20 September, 1969, and came
into force on 10 May, 1970,3 after the formal exchange of the
instruments of ratification of the Agreement. The Agreement
comprises five Articles as follows:
Article 1 states that “the boundary line dividing the continental
shelf lying between the territory of Iran on the one side and that of ;
Qatar on the other side, shall consist of geodetic lines” linking
definitive points (points 2-6), the latitudes and longitudes of which
are defined in the Article.
Article 2 provides a practical solution to the problem of capture. It
states that if a single geological petroleum structure, or a single
petroleum field extends across the boundary line set out in Article 1
of this Agreement and the part of such structure or field, which is
situated on one side of that boundary line, could be exploited wholly '
or in part by directional drilling from the other side of the line, then
in this case:
“(a) No well shall be drilled on either side of the boundary line. . . so s •;
that any producing section thereof is less than 125 metres from the said
boundary line, except by mutual agreement between the two Governments.
(b) Both Governments shall endeavour to reach agreement to the
manner in which operations on both sides of the boundary line could be
coordinated or unitized”.
Article 3 recognises the British Admiralty chart No. 2837 as a
basis for the definition of the boundary line referred to in Article 1.
Article 4 confirms the principle that matters regulated by the
Agreement shall not affect the status of the superjacent waters or

1. Ibid, pp. 3-4, 7.
2. Department of State, The Geographer, op. cit., p. 7.
3. See Appendix No. 18.