ECONOMIC - PETROLEUM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000700210208-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: R
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 10, 2002
• Sequence Number: 208
• Publication Date: March 24, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2002/08/06 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000700210208-3
INFO
R
MATION FROM
FOREIGN DOCUMENTS OR RADIO BROADCASTS CD NO. --
COUNTRY
Algeria; French Morocco; Tunisia
DArE OF
2 5X
1 A
SUBJECT
HOW
Economic - Petroleum
INFORMATION
1952
PUBLISHED
WHERE
PUBLISHED
Daily newspaper
Paris
DATE DIST1
ar
1953
DATE
NO. OF PAGES
5
PUBLISHED
LANGUAGE
21 Dec 1952
French
R
SUPPLEMENT
EPORT NO.
TO
tills 0000NCllt CONTAINS IA/OANATION AT/ICTIS- t.t NATIONAL DIttllt[
Or tnt UNITED STATES -1,510 TIlt -SASISO Or tSSI00A0t ACT 90
U. S C.. 11 AND SI. AS A-IOOID. ITS TIIAII$NIS-IOM OA IRA A-TILATIOA
OS ITS CONTESTS IN ASS -ASSI^ TO An OAADTMOAIIIO PINION IS SAO.
Sl-li[D I1 L?r. A[IAOIDCTIOS OI TMI/ SOS- IS o...1011So
b. II CENTRAL REPORT NO.
rt r
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
PETROLEUM EXPLORATION AND EXPLOITATION
IN FRENCH NORTH AFRICA
gomment: In recent years, efforts have been intensified to
determine and exploit the petroleum resources of French North
Africa. At present, large-scale petroleum exploration opera-
tions are being carried out or projected there by a number of
local and foreign firms, with or without government assistance.
The following information, based on an article by J. Pelissier,
published in the 21 December 1952 issue of the Paris daily news-
paper Le Monde, outlines the efforts being made in French North
Africa to discover and exploit the petroleum resources in the area.
Emphasiv is placed on the government agencies and private firms
concerned, on the specific areas where important exploration and
exploitation operations are going on, and on the future prospects
of petroleum production in French North Africa.
A map showing areas assigned to petroleum companies for pros-
pecting and/or exploitation is appended]
At the opening of the ordinary session of the Algerian Assembly on 19 No-
vember 1952, the Governor General of Algeria placed particular stress on the
petroleum explorations being carried out in Algeria at an ever-increasing rate.
He emphasized especially the increase in production registered at the Wed
Gueterini oil field and the intensification of prospecting operations taking
pl,.ce in the region north of the Saharan B.sin, in the Mregion, and in the
areas located farther to the south. Mzab
A decree issued on 19 November 1952 authorized the RAP (Regie Autonome
des Petroles, Autonomous Petroleum Administration) to purchase shares in the
following companies, which are currently in the process of being organized:
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CLASSIFICATION USE
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1. The CREPS (Compagnie de Recherches et d'Exploitation de Petrole au
Sahara, Sahara Petroleum Exploration and Exploitation Company), between e. mini-
mum of 51 percent and a maximum of 90 percent of its total capital.
2. The CPA (Compagnie des Petroles d'Algeria, Petroleum Company of Algeria),
up to a maximum of 35 percent of its total capital.
A decree issued on 21 November 1952 authorized the Bureau de Recherches de
Petrole (Office of Petroleum Explorations) to purchase shares in the CREPS and
CPA up to 5 percent of their total capital.
Systematic petroleum explorations have been going on in Algeria since 1941
under the sponsorship of the Service des Recherches Minieres (Mining Exploration
Service). They have been continued since 1946 on a larger scale by the SNREPAL
(Societe Nationale de Recherches et d'Exploitation des Petroles en Algerie, Na-
tional Company for Petroleum Explorations and Exploitation in Algeria), which is
owned equally by the Bureau de Recherches de Petrole and the Government General of
Algeria.
The explorations carried out to date by the Service des Recherches Minieres
and the SNPSPAL show the following regions to be the most promising in Algeria
from the standpoint of petroleum resources (1) the Chelif, Mitidja, and Hodna
Mio-Pliocene basins; (2) the eastern section of the Constantine Department; (3)
the southern fringe of the Saharan Atlae Mountains; (4) the northern fringe of
the High Plateaus; and (5) the Sahara.
Outfitted with modern and powerful machinery and equipment, the SNREPAL
drilled a total of 30,265 meters in 1951, as compared with 26,798 in 1950 and
14,650 in 1.949. At present, drilling operations are being carried out in the
Chelif basin, the Sidi Ai.ssa region, the eastern section of the Constantine De-
partment, and the Sahara.
Particularly good results have been obtained at the Oued Cueterini yield,
in the Sidi Aissa region, where the S11REFAI. is working for the Societe des Pet-
roles d'Aumale ,Aumale Petroleum Company), a Joint-stock company which is owned
equally by the SNREPAL and the RAFAL (Societe des Raffineries Algeriennes, Alger-
ian Refineries Company). At present, about 20 oil wells ai, being worked in the
Oued Gueterini field: some of them are gushers and the remainder are pump-oper-
ated. Their total. 1952 output is estimated at between 30,000 and 35,000 tons,
as compared with 7,200 in 1951, The present rate of output, of the Ouet Gueterini
field is over 200 tons of crude oil daily, which is refined at Berre LFrancei7
where it is converted to light oil in sufficient quantities to satisfy approxi-
mately 10 percent of the total Algerian demand for this product
The SNREPAL has applied for a petroleum exploration permit covering an area
of approximately 40,000 square kilometers in the Colomb Bechar region. Mean-
while, on 16 October 1.952, this company had obtained petroleum exploration per-
mits covering an area of 1.16,000 square kilometers, which overlaps an area of
about eq?.ial nine for which exploration permits were issued on the same date to
the Compagnie Francaise des Petroles (French Petroleum Company). The total. area
to be explored by these two companies extends roughly from Biskra to El Golea
and between Figuig and the southern portion of the Algerian-Tunisian border.
Geological, grevimetric, and seismic studies are teing actively pursued.
The SNREPAL has undertaken a drilling operation with a large rig near Berriane,
in the Ghardaia region. It has also recently set up a medium=size rig near
Tarit, in the Colomb Bechar region.
Farther south, explorations will be carried cut by the CPA, a subsidiary
of the Shell Oil Company, and the CREPS, a subsidiary of the RAP.
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The CPA will be formed by the Shell Oil Company (65 percent), the RAP
(30 percent), and the Bureau de Recherchec de Petrole (5 percent). It plans
to explore an area of approximately 240,000 square kilometers, located between
the Grand Erg Occidental and the Grand Erg Oriental, south of the areas to be
explored by the SNREPAL and the Compagnie Francaise des Petroles. An exclu-
sive exploration permit was applied for by the Shell Oil Company in February 1952.
The CREPS will be formed by the Shell Oil Company (35 percent) and a group
of French interests (65 percent), including the RAP, the Bureau de Recherches de
Petrole, and the SNREPAL. In February 1952, the RAP applied for an exploration
permit covering an area of approximately 190,000 square kilometers, which ex-
tends from Adrar to the Algerian Tripolitanian border, south of the area for
whose exploration the CPA has applied.
Large-scale aerial photographic surveya have been successfully carried out
by the French Irstitut Geographique National (National Geographic Institute).
The photographs are now being interpreted with the assistance of the Institut
Francais du Petrol (,French Petroleum Institute). A program of geological studies
is already under way. A base of operations is being set up at In Salah. The
first drilling is scheduled to take place toward the end of 1953.
French Morocco
In FrerWh Morocco, petroleum explorations are carried oa by the Societe
Cherifienne des Petroles (Sherifian Petroleum Company), whose principal stock-
holders are the Bureau de Recherches et de Participations Minieres (Mining Explor-
ation and Shareholding Office) and the Bureau de Recherches de Petroles (Petroleum
Exploration Office).
The Societe Cherifienne des Petroles operates over a total. area of approxi-
mately 21,000 square kilometers in the Rharb and Prerif regions. In 1.951, its
drillings totaled 93,880 meters, as compared with 77,477 in 1950 and 65,000 in
1949.
At present, the most productive area in French Morocco is that of Oued Beth,
where many small petroleum deposits have been discovered in recent years. Other
productive areas worthy of mention are the Baton field (discovered in 1947), the
Mellah field (discovered in 1.949), the Sidi Fili deposit (discovered in 1950),
the Mers el Kharez deposit (liscovered in 1.951;, and the Bled Eddoum area, where
production was begun recently.
In 1951., the Baton and Melish fields produced 19,000 and 9,500 tons of crude
oil respectively. The Sidi Fill deposit, which yielded more than 39,000 tons in
1951, now produces about 150 tons daily. The Mere el Kharez depo~;its currently
has a daily output of about 50 tons. Total crude oil. production in French Morocco
amounted to 75,667 tons in 1951 and 53,000 tons during the first pelf of 1952.
Total daily production at present comes to approximately 300 tons.
Meanwhile, geological and geophysical surveys are being made in the Rharb
and neighboring regions, particularly in The Sais area (in the Meknes region)
where exploration drillings have already been undertaken.
The crude oil of the Societe Cherifienne des Petrole., is refined at the
Petitjean refinery, where a catalytic cracking installation is soon to be set up.
It is to be noted that the Soci^te Cherifienne des Pet.rol%:s is already
financing itself almost entirely and meeting between 10 and 1.5 percent of French
Morocco's demand fur ietroleum products.
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Petroleum explorations in Tunisia at present are carried on by the follow-
ing companies:
1. The SEREPT (Societe de Recherches et d'Exploitation des Petroles de
Tunisie, Petroleum Exploration and Exploitation Company of Tunisia), whose prin-
cipal stockholders are the Bureau de Recherches de Petrole (58 percent) and the
Tunisian government (30 percent). .
2. The CPDT (Compagnie des Petroles de Tunisie, Petroleum Company of Tuni-
sia), whose stockholders are the Shell Oil Company (65 percent) and the SEREPT
(35 percent).
3. The SNAP (Societe Nord-Africaine des Petroles, North African Petroleum
Company), whose stockholders are the Gulf Oil Company (65 percent) and the
SEBEPT (35 percent).
In its assigned area of exploration, which covers 46,240 square kilometers
and extends practically from Bizerte to Tripolitania, the SEREPT drilled a total
of 9,546 meters in 1951, as compared with 5,467 in 1950. In 1949, a high-pres-
sure gas deposit was discovered on Cape Bon. Three of the seven drillings made
there have proved productive, and it is estimated that this deposit can supply
Tunis with all the gas it needs for a period of between 10 and 15 years.
2. Central Tunisia -- The area south of Maktar, where the Djebel Bahloul
drilling recently struck oil. and gas.
The CPDT has an exploration permit ccvering an area of 15,152 square kilo-
meters, located north of the Sahel region. A drilling has already been made at
Zeramdine, near Sousse, and another is being made at Ktitir, south of Kairouan.
The SNAP, which has three exploration permits covering a total area of
19,600 square kilometers in the Sfax region and on the islands of Kerkennah
and Djerba, is currently drilling at Sainte Juliette, north of Sfax.
General Conclusions
Since 1945, a veritable petroleum exploration pol.'_cy has been developed in
French North Africa, principally under the impetus received from the Bureau de
Recherc.hee de Petrole. As a result, a new industry ha r- been developed which al-
ready comprises important firms equipped with financial, human, and technical
means on an international scale,
This effort is already bearing fruit, as economically exploitable petroleum
deposits are discovered at an ever-increasing rate in French Morocco, Algeria,
and Tunisia.
Although the success achieved thus far is still moderate, it is already en-
abling some of the companies in question to finance their new exploration opera-
tions.
In Tunisia and Algeria, some foreign groups ha?,e been induced to participate
in these operations by flexible legal provisions which reconcile their interests
with those of tl countries concerned.
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The Sahara, long considered worthless from an economic standpoint, is now
drawing the attention of many petroleum concerns, because there is a strong be-
lief that it contains hydrocarbon deposits.
he 7 November 1952 issue of the Tunis daily newspaper La Depeche Tuaisieane
reported that a well of the SEREPT had recently struck oil at Kesra, 15 kilometers
from Maktar. According to the report, large quantities of thick ;petroleum mixed
with gas had gushed forth. The report added that steps were being taken to deter-
mine the extent of the deposit discovered-7
ILLEGIB
1. Societe Cherifienne des Petroles
2. Societe des Petroles dlAuunale
3. SNREPAL (areas for which explorat.1o permits have been issued)
3a. SNREPAL (areas for which exploration permits are still pending)
4. Compagnie Francaise des Petroles (areas for which exploration
permits have been issued)
4a. Compagnie Francaise des Petroles (areas for which exploration
permits are still pending)
5. CPA
6. CREPs
7, SEREPT
8. SNAP
9. CPDT
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