MOTEMBO NAPHTHA FIELD

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01731R003100190017-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 11, 2003
• Sequence Number: 17
• Publication Date: September 26, 1952
• Content Type: MF

Approve -r Release 2003/06/17: CIA-RDP80RI#31 R003100190017-4
o C 01.5-7
X 7946
26 September 1952
STAT
AAEMORANDUM FOR: Assistant Director/Research and Reports
FROM : Assistant to the Director
SUBJECT : Motembo Naphtha Field
1. Yesterday who has been a persistent and
unsuccessful applicant for a position with the Agency came in to
leave with me a piece of intelligence which he considers of
potential importance. I have no doubt that it is "old hat" to your
people but I am passing it on for whatever you may consider it is
worth.
2. There is apparently,Naph tha field near the North coast of
Cuba, about 120 miles east of Havana, -which has been noted for some
time for the production of high-grade natural Naphtha on a small non-
commercial scale. The attached sheet from The Oil and Gas Journal
of October 18, 1941 (repeat, 1941) describes one of the more phenomenal
STAT producers in the area. point was that given the venality
of the local inhabitants he has always suspected that this supply of
natural fuel might have been used by the Germans in their Caribbean
submarine operations in the late war and has potentiality for such
use in the event of a future war. His efforts as an Army Intelligence
officer during the war to secure serious consideration for this theory
were apparently quite unsuccessful and I shall not be surprized if
your reaction is similar.
STAT 3? address here in Washington, in the event you
should want to talk with him, is
Approved For Release 2003/06/17 : CIA-RDP80RO1731 8003100 7-4
ST
ST
 or Release 2003/06/17: CIA-RDP80R01
LITTLE ABACO I.
GREAT 0"N'
Gulf of
Mexico
HAVANA
LONG 1. r I
CROOKED I.
~s MARIGUANA
ACKLIN I. . . NORTH CAICOS
PROVIDENCIALES I. GRAND
A _ W. CAICOS Oy y TURK
At LITTLE 1NAGUA GG\O'?} `y.
17 : CIA-RDP80RO1731 ROO31
[~O`~ cr Qty
 PP_
pproved For Release 2003/06/17 : ~RDP80R01 731 R003100190 -4
nrernalionai
7,583
214,233
221,816
4,971
4,971
86,662
6,530
93,192
99,216
220,763
319,979
97,193
195,071
292,264
2,023
25,692
27,715
Mr. Ginart declared that current production ing to sources in the
from the Motembo field is more than the local ther unbalance the
market requirements. He suggested that Coordi- gasoline versus the
nator Ickes use his influence with the three ma- likely induce more
jor marketers in Cuba in obtaining an outlet for the latter fuel.
Production of Distillate Increases
Production of "distillate gasoline" in the Mo-
tembo field, located in the Provinces of Matanzas
and Las Villas, has shown a steady increase in
the past few years. Current production is at the
rate of 455 bbl. daily.
According to unofficial statistics, total output
of Motembo gasoline in 1940 amounted to 135,715
A record of the well completions during May
in which these companies are interested follows:
Average Average
Area- No. i(b/da)1 tota(lft depth
Jusepin .............. 4 503 4,885
San Joaquin ............. 2 1,498 5,826
Oficina ................. 1 702 5,510
S EVERE rains, reminiscent of those of 7 or 8
years ago which established precipitation
records for Venezuela, constitute a barrier to wild-
cat Tope ntton3 in the -eastern--art of-the country..
These rains, which have persisted for the past
month, have slowed operations throughout the
area. Some test-well locations have been virtually
isolated by the almost impassable roads.
Among the drilling operations in this part of
the country which are being watched closely is
the Quiamare test of Mene Grande Oil Co. This
test, in northern Anzoategui, was reported drill-
ing at 6,700 ft. last week, still in a tight shale for-
mation. This company is also operating two rigs
in the Santa Rosa and two in the Leona-Tigre
areas.
The Texas Co. (Venezuela), Ltd., is still testing
at several intervals in the 1 Rincon Largo which
has been bottomed at 9,631 ft. The derrick has
been completed for 2 Rincon Largo, but operations
have been held up pending the results obtained
in testing No. 1.
Lake fields .. .. ......
Other western fields ...
Eastern Venezuela ......
Venezuela . .
Standard and Lago Raise
Daily Average Production
C OMBINED daily average production of the
Standard Oil Co. of Venezuela and Lago
Petroleum Corp. increased 27,715 bbl. to 319,979
bbl. in May. The combined exports of the two
companies also increased 1,101,503 to 9,018,593 bbl.
May exports of the Standard of Venezuela totaled
2,633,030 bbl. and those of Lago, 6,385,562 bbl.
A summary of the daily average production of
these companies in May follows:
(Figures in United States barrels)
Area- S.O.V. Lago Total
May total ....... .
April total ...........
Change ..............
Cuba . .
Motembo Naphtha Well
Flows 684 Bbl. per Day
P RODUCTION of 684 bbl. of naphtha in 24 hours
from Centralia Naphtha Co.'s new completion
in the Motembo field, in Lot 1, Ampliation of
Faust claim, ranks it as one of the best producers
in Cuba's most important reserve.
The Motembo field, according to a communica-
tion from Charles Ginart, general manager of
Centralia Naphtha, produces more than 1,000,000
gal. of naphtha per month. Production sells for
20 cents per gallon at the well.
Centralia Naphtha Co.'s No. 5, which gaged
684 bbl. of production in 24 hours, ignited July
15 but has been extinguished and placed on a
regular operating basis. Current output is report-
ed to be nearly equal to the initial flush.
rill
Centralia Naphtha Co.'s new distillate producer in the
Motembo field in Cuba ignited shortly after it was com-
pleted for initial of 648 bbl. daily. The well since has
been brought under control and is now on regular pro-
duction for one of the best in the field
bbl., compared with 104,170 bbl. in the preceding
year, with estimated production during 1941 at a
rate in excess of 166,650 bbl. At present there
are about 200 wells in operation in the Mdtembo
field. Approximately three wells must be drilled
in order to obtain one productive well.
Since 1935 Motembo distillate has accounted for
a progressively increasing proportion of the motor
fuel sold in Cuba, amounting to 10.5 per cent of
the total in 1940. The competitive status of refined
gasoline has been adversely affected by the large
spread between the taxes applied on refined gaso-
line, and those collected on distillate produced in
Cuba. The increased sales of Motembo distillate
during recent years have been made only because
of the very substantial price differential favoring
the domestic natural product. In this connection,
it is interesting to note that one of the provisions
of the tax-reform bill under discussion in the
Cuban Congress, would modify the relative tax
status of the various types of gasoline and fuel
mixtures, and if enacted into law would, accord-
competitive position of this
Turkey ,
-
Motor - Fuel Consumption.
Mostly From Rumania, Gains
G ASOLINE imports during the first 3 months
of 1941 totaled 103,055 bbl., compared with
93,255 bbl. in the corresponding period of 1940,
eor4j)2&.,to official Turkey statistics. Rumania
was the principal source of supply, with 87,015
bpi- bBalestine followed, furnishing 11,755 bbl.
Gasoline is from the United States declined
to less than 10 bbl., from 50 bbl, in the first 3
months of 1940.
Arrivals of kerosene into Turkey reached
147,015 bbl. during the 1941 first quarter, in com-
parison with 111,800 in the same period of 1940.
Imports from Rumania increased to 130,565 bbl.
against 42,565 a year ago. No kerosene was re-
ceived from the United States during the first
quarter of 1941. Turkish imports from the United
States during the corresponding quarter of 1940
are recorded as 53,390 bbl.
Turkish imports of light fuel oils declined to
46;79 hhl. d,*+eb g-the -first 3-months of _1p41, from
80,500 bbl. in the same months of 1940. Egypt
and Rumania were the leading suppliers, with
20,015 and 19,300 bbl., respectively (3,290 and
58,820 bbl. in the 1940 period). While the United
States was not a source of supply during the 1941
period, it furnished 15,885 bbl. during the first
quarter of 1940.
An important gain was shown during the 1941
first quarter in heavy fuel oil imports into Tur-
key of 26,640 bbl., over 1940 first-quarter imports
of 6,095 bbl. Rumania furnished 26,600 bbl., com-
pared with only 4,760 bbl. in the first 3 months
of 1940. The United Kingdom supplied 35 bbl.
(none in the 1940 period).
Burma. ,
Crude Production Declines
Slightly, Official Data Show
C RUDE-OIL production of 7,737,900 bbl. for
1940 was recently reported in official figures
from Burma. The production last year was slightly
below that o 1939 which totaled 7,873,455 bbl.
Production in the third quarter of 1940, exclud-
ing the Kyaukpyu field, data for which are not
yet available, amounted to 1,947,815 bbl., compared
with an output of 2,032,820 bbl. in the third quar-
ter of 1939. In the September quarter of 1939,
the Kyaukpyu field produced 75 bbl.
Burma's crude production during the first 9
months of 1940, excluding Kyaukpyu, is recorded
as 5,849,100 bbl., in comparison with 5,701,100 bbl.
in the corresponding months of 1939. Production
of the Kyaukpyu field amounted to 240 bbl. dur-
ing the 1939 period.
Production during the first quarter of 1940
amounted to 1,888,750 bbl., against 2,172,330 bbl.
in the fourth quarter of .1939.
THE OIL AND .GAS JOURNAL
? Approved For Release 2003/06/17,A-RDP80R01731 R00310019,7-4
 Approved 6 Release 2003/06/17: CIA-RDP80R0if 1 R003100190017-4
J ? E ? SITTERLEY 8 SONS, INC.
/O(WORLDS BUSINES6
Assistant to th4 Director
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington 25, D. C.
Dear I
August 26, 1952
Ely reasons for wishing to have a
confidential meeting with the Director any time
at his convenience are better, in my opinion
than the excuses you have advanced in your letter
of the 22nd as to why I am to be denied an appoint-
ment with him.
Approved For Release 2003/06/17 : CIA-RDP80R01731 R003100190017-4
 ApproaFor Release 2003/06/17: CIA-RDP8601731R 003100190017-4
STAT
STAT Dear
your utter addressed to Adkdral Sidney W. Souk dated 29
Julys wshereby you attached a resume of your experience and Val"
.ficati or s relative to possibl* sqploymnt, with this Agency? h**
been referred to this office for appropriate setion.
I bays read your resume with interest. However, in
that we may have a complete picture of your qmalif icatic n s, * uld
you be good enough to complete and return the enclosed foray to-
getner with three passport size p iotagreptus of yourself at your
at your earliest conveni e. Your persone3. data will, then be
reviewed by appropriate divisions within our organisation and you
will be advised with all possible speed regarding the disposition
of your case.
Thank you for your interest in this
sneerer yours,
ST
cc:
Adnd.ral Sousrs
PPD/JAC;hwa ( 3$ Sugust 1952)
Distribution;
L0/DCI
1-Subjects' File
1-Chrono
],..Admiral Souers
1-Front Office Correspondence
Approved For Release 2003/06/17: CIA-RDP80ROl731 R0031I001~90p1 ~-4
 APOW? IS ele R nb*117ca f Pl } 11 66S{do
4
CENT
RAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
OFFICIAL ROUTING SLIP
IN LS
DATE
DD/I
2
AD/RR r s
~~`C^a
?
~~
5
25X1
FROM
INITIALS
DATE
I
Asst to the
Director
REL/?
9/26/52
2
3
=APPROVAL
Ee INFORMATION 0 SIGNATURE
I iACTION
= DIRECT REPLY RETURN
=COMMENT
= PREPARATION OF REPLY 0 DISPATCH
IICONCORRENCE
L-IRECOMMENDATION Ii FILE
REMARKS:
PPCt !Qd Forrvfp',g 2OA6/O6/17ESdPo4-R@?80RQlIWWO(>0:F1W
001
FORM NO. 30-4
SEP 1947