Page 450 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (III)_Neat

42
OIL INSPECTION

(Report by Mr. G. B. Thompson, Bahrain Government Oil Inspector.)
Bahrain Production.—Development of the Bahrain producing area was continued during
1366 with satisfactory results, and the increase compared with the previous year is shown on the
attached diagram. Six new wells were drilled and some wells were converted to dual wells producing
from two pay zones. A gas supply line was run from the field to the refinery and in consequence
there was a considerable saving in burner fuel oil used in the operations of the plant. Work was
commenced on a deep test well to obtain information on'the structure below the existing pay zones,
this well will probably be carried down to something like 13,000 feet. Nett Roj'alty figures again
exceeded those of the previous year due to the higher production and the saving in the use of royalty
deductable burner fuel oil.
Arabian Crude.—During the year there was a large increase in the quantities of Arabian
crude which were received. These increases were made available by shipments by tanker, doubling
the pipeline over the land area and by improving and expanding the pumping facilities in Arabia.
Refinery Operations.—Numerous alteration to the refinery were made during the year,
to increase the throughout capacity of the existing plants, the attached diagram indicates how success­
ful these arrangements were, and shows that an increased capacity in the neighbourhood of 50%
over the figures for the same plants was obtained compared with the figures for 1364. An asphalt
plant was constructed during the year and shipments are expected to be on a commercial scale early
in 1367.
Shipping Facilities.—Additions were made to the pipeline facilities and the pumping capacity
was augmented to cope with the greater quantities of products available from the refinery for ship­
ping. Work was also started to enlarge the storage capacity at the Sitra tank farm. The record
shipment was in October when over 4,350,000 nett barrels were shipped.
Government Gauged Cargoes.—Government gauged cargoes were higher owing to the
general increase in the quantity of products which were shipped, the comparative figures are indicated
in the attached diagram covering the years 1365-1366. The record month was May, when 26 ships
involving 49 parcels totalling 283,735 long tons were dealt with. The increase over 1365 is indicated
hereunder:—

Year. No. of ships. No. of parcels^ Long tons.
1365 168 ** 338 1,696,828
1366 259 540 2.643.275