"تقرير عسكري وكتاب مسارات. الأقطار العربية المطلة على الخليج الفارسي. ١٩٣٩" [ظ‎‎٢‎٧] (٣٢٨/٥٤)

3. Oil. —In January 1934, the Kuwait Oil Company wai
formed by agreement between the Anglo-Persian Oil
Company and the American Gulf Oil Company. The
control of the Company is on a fifty per cent, basis, but
by the terms of the agreement between His Majesty's
Government and the Company British control is ensured.
This is satisfactory as the oilfields in Kuwait are strategi
cally well-placed in that naval dispositions to protect the
present source of supply in south Iran would in a large
measure afford protection to sources of supply in Kuwait.
Further, Kuwait would be a convenient alternative requir
ing little diversion of shipping or change in protective dis
positions should the A. I. 0. C. output from Abadan be
interrupted.
Early in 1935, the Sheikh granted a concession to the
Company which covered the whole of Kuwait territory.
Drilling was first commenced in May 1936, at Bahra, on
the northern shore of Kuwait Bay, but this was abandoned
after drilling had been carried without results to an
approximate depth of 8,000 feet. A second well was com
menced at Burgan, 30 miles south of Kuwait, in October
1937, and oil was struck in February, both the quality
and pressure being good. The present situation (Septem
ber, 1939), is that there are, in the Burgan area, two com
pleted and sealed wells, and a third well, in process of
drilling, has just struck oil. Prospects for oil development
are, therefore, definitely good.
There is as yet no refinery or oil pipe laid, but the
Company are proceeding with the building of a jetty at
Shuwaikh, on the coast 2 J miles west of Kuwait town,
where there is already a water pumping station. Other
developments of the Company are the Oil Personnel Camp
at Maqwa, twelve miles south of Kuwait, and buildings in
the town, at both of which the accommodation is to be
increased. At Maqwa it is intended to construct a " Service
Unit ; this is a small self-contained rectangular fort in
which reserve supplies are held and where the personnel
can concentrate in emergency, similar establishments are
to be found at the oil pumping stations on the pipe line
from Kirkuk to Haifa.