OILFIELDS IN KUWAIT 4 DEC 90

File: 970327_dec96_decls34_0001.txt
Page: 0001
Total Pages: 3

Subject = OILFIELDS IN KUWAIT  4 DEC 90                                   

Folder Title = 1ST MARDIV INTREPS  DEC 90  SEC 1 OF 2                                                          

Parent Organization = 2 MEF       

Unit  = 1ST MARDIV  

Box ID = BX600079

File Cabinet = Week-51 

File Room = dec96_classified    




       Ik                            UNCLASSIFIED
                                                                           4 DEC 90
          MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD


          FROM: MAJOR PETERSON
          TO:   AC/S. G-21


          SUBJ: OJLFIELDS IN KUWAIT  (U)


                 THE FOLLOWING NOTES ARE BASED ON DISCUSSIONS WITH AN EMPLOYEE
          OF AN OIL SERVICE COMPANY WHO RECENTLY WORKED IN KUWAIT, AND IS MOST
          FAMILIAR WITH THE AHMADI, BUROAN, AND MINAOUISH FIELDS.

          2.     AS A "VEY POINT", IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT "OILFIELDS" BE
          BLOWN (IGNITED) BEFORE TROOPS ENTER THEM. THIS MEANS BLOWING UP
          WELLHEADS  ("CHRISTMAS TREES", WHERE THE OIL COME9 OUT OF THE GROUND),
          GATHERING CENTLRS (WHAT THEY CALL GOSPS IN KUWAIT), AND ALSO THE TANK
          BATTERIES  (THE COLLECTION OF LARGE OIL STORAGE TANKS). WHY SHOULD WE
          BLOW THEM?
                  A. RESULTING EXPLOSIONS AND FIRE WILL KILL ENEMY.


                  B.  FIRES WILL BURN OFF ANY OF THE TOXIC HYDROGEN SULFIDE GAS.

                  C.  FIRES WILL CLEARLY MARK DANGER AREAS THAT WE WILL
          AUTOMATICALLY AVOID (AS OPPOSED TO WANDERING NEAR A BOOBY TRAPPED
          WELLHEAD).


                  D. F)RE WILL CONSUME SPILLED OIL SO THAT IT SHOULD NOT FORM A
          (300EY QUAGMIRE.


                  I . FIRE WILL CONSUME OIL THAT MAY ENTER PIPELINES; THEY SHOULD
          THEREFORE BE MOSTLY EMPTY, AND CAN BE CROSSED/CRUSHED SAFELY.

                  F. JRE WILL CONSUME ALMOST ALL OIL IN T@4E AREA, D1-NY:IQ(; TIP:
          CNEMY ITS USE FOR FIRE TRENDiES OR OTHER SIMILAR OPSTACLES.

                  G. JF BLOWN EARLY ENOUGH AND ALLOWED TO BURN OFF, YHFRE F-HOL11
          Br FEW "FIRE OBSTACLES", BUT RATHER HOT (AND COOLING) MACHINERY AND
          @IACXENED SOIL. THIS MAY TAKE SEVERAL DAYS. WHAT MAY BE LEFT PURNING
          WOULD BE INDIVIDUAL WELL HEADS WHICH CAN BE EASILY BYPASSED (500 -
          100(2) METER SEPARATION DEPENDING ON SIZE.OF FIRE).

          3."aea@-THERE IS NO COMPELLING REASON NOT TO "BLOW THE OILFIELDS". OIL
          COMPANIES ROUTINELY DETONATE AND IGNITE WELL HEADS AND GOSPS/GATHERING
          CENTERS THAT SUFFER HAjOR DAMAGE -- ITS THE ONLY WAY TIO CONTROL THE
          HYDROGFN SULFIDE, AND IS NOT CONSIDERED AN UNUSUAL EVENT. THE AMOUNT
          OF OIL THAT WOULD BE WASTED, AND THE DAMAGE TO THE OILFIELD
          INFRASTRUCTURE IS IRRELEVANT 114 THE LONG TERM, AND KUWAIT IS AssUmING
          THAT ALL THE FIELDS WILL BE-BLOWN ANYWAY. THEY ARE-CONTRACTING WITH
          MAJOR OIL FIRE AND REPAIR CORPORATIONS TO CLEAN UP THE MESS AFTER T14E
          WAR. *T MAY TAKE YEARS, BUT THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE, PARTICULARLY
          SINCE IT IS ASSUMED THAT THE ENEMY HAS PREPARED MOST OF THE WELL HEADS



                                                     MP-*-t-


                                   UNCLASSIFIED



                      DECLASSIFIED
                      -ON'- D3 MAR 97'---'
                      BY: DON GWDP IAW OPNAVINST 5513. SERIES

Document 3 f:/Week-51/BX600079/1ST MARDIV INTREPS DEC 90 SEC 1 OF 2/oilfields in kuwait 4 dec 90:03249710492735
Control Fields 17
File Room = dec96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-51
Box ID = BX600079
Unit = 1ST MARDIV
Parent Organization = 2 MEF
Folder Title = 1ST MARDIV INTREPS DEC 90 SEC 1 OF 2
Folder Seq # = 30
Subject = OILFIELDS IN KUWAIT 4 DEC 90
Document Seq # = 7
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 24-MAR-1997