OCI 'MIDDLE EAST OIL MAP' NO. 70000

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP60-00346R000100260007-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 7, 1998
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: January 28, 1957
• Content Type: MEMO

Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP60-00346R000100260007-6
25X1A9a
Memo from to Chief, D/GG, dated 7 January 1957,
Subject. Information on oil in the Middle Ease in current-in I i Part III
Weekly Summary for 20 December 1956(CopY Part were attached also.)
Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP60-00346R000100260007-6
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ce Me~y~~ ~ ? UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
Chief, Geographic Research, ORR4DATE: 28 January 1957
Chief, Cartography avision, ORR
OCI "Middle Fast Oil Map" No. 70000
1. In August 1956, OCI approached D/GC to inquire whether
a revision of Map No. 12382 was scheduled. In cooperation with
D/GG they were informed that no revision was scheduled for at
least 6 months based on the then current work load. It appears
that a definite requirement with priority should have been
placed on D/GC where a proper map would have been constructed.
An attempt at cartography such as this is unfortunate.
2. Following are specific comments regarding the subject
a. The international boundaries between the
following countries are omitted:
1) Turkey and Greece (main map)
2) Tunisia and Algeria (main map)
3) Algeria and French West Africa (main map)
) Jordan and Syria. (inset map)
5) Ethiopia. and British Somaliland (main map)
6) Somalia and British Somaliland (main map)
b. The international boundaries are not adequately
portrayed in the following areas:
1) USSR, Afghanistan, and China (main map)
2) Gwadar (main map)
3) Yemen Aden (main map)
c. The international boundaries are incorrectly
shown in the following areas:
1) Egypt and Sudan (main map)
2) Eritrea and Ethiopia (inset map)
d. Many country names are missing on the main and
inset maps and many names that are shown do not conform
with BGN recommendations such as
1) French Africa should be deleted (main map)
2) Istambul should read istanbul (main map)
3) Somaliland should be British Somaliland (inset map)
4
Cyprus should have (U.K.) added (main map)
5) French Somaliland should be spelled out (main map)
Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP60-00346R000100J 90-A
 Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP60-00346R000100260007-6
e. Other inaccuracies may be noted:
1) The railroad alor the north boundary of
Syria should be on the Turkey side of the boundary.
2) The use of green for both railroads and
pipelines is confusing.
3) Pie chart at top left - 70.7% reads 74%.
l) Lower right chart - graphic portrayal of
production in barrels is not consistent between
Iraq and Qatar vs, Iran and Bahrein.
3. By agreement., D/GG will analyze the oil information
in more detail.
4. As a general observation, it should be noted that the
effectiveness of the map is very low primarily due to poor
cartographic principles,
25X1A9a
Orig. & 1 : Ch/G/RR
2 D/GC/RR
Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP60-00346R000100260007-6