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1934
First geological survey of Dammam Dome completed
Schuyler B. "Krug" Henry and J.W. "Soak" Hoover complete their survey and structural
contour map of the Dammam Dome, the location of the first oil field discovery in Saudi
Arabia.
Early American geologists rely on Bedouins to guide them from one place to another.
The most famous guide is Khamis ibn Rimthan, from the Ujman tribe. His expertise
becomes indispensable and his cross-desert navigational talents leave the geologists
awestruck.
1935
First well drilled
The first test well is drilled at Dhahran into the Dammam Dome.
1936
Texas Co. acquires 50% of the concession
Texas Co. (now Chevron Corporation) acquires a 50% interest in Socal's concession.
1937
Max Steineke crosses Saudi Arabia for the first time
Max Steineke arrives in Saudi Arabia in 1934, and becomes the company's chief
geologist in 1936. In 1937, he crosses the Saudi Arabian peninsula and gains insights
into its geological profile. Steineke and his partners also identify surface features that
lead to the discovery of major oil fields including Ghawar, Abqaiq and Qatif.
1938
Commercial quantities of oil discovered at Dammam Well No. 7.
The success of the Saudi Arabian oil enterprise rests on Well No. 7. After five years of
fruitless drilling, Well No.7 seems like a dead end. Socal department heads seek advice
from renowned geologist Max Steineke. Drawing on years of fieldwork in the Saudi
desert and his own encyclopedic knowledge, Steineke tells them to keep drilling. Finally,
on March 4, 1938, Dammam No. 7 starts producing 1,585 bpd at a depth of nearly 1½
kilometers.
1939
First tanker load of petroleum exported
In May, King 'Abd al-'Aziz travels to Ras Tanura for a ceremony to mark the first export
of crude oil from Saudi Arabia, loaded onto the D. G. Scofield. The ship, named after a
co-founder of Socal, holds just under 1/20th the load of a modern supertanker.
1940
Abqaiq field discovered
While drilling continues on the Dammam Dome, chief geologist Max Steineke leads
teams to study an apparent uplift in the Abqaiq area. Steineke, J. W. "Soak" Hoover and
Jerry Harriss use this camp as their base of operations in 1936. Abqaiq Well No. 1 hits
oil in early 1941, with flow rates indicating a major new oil field.
1941
Tea kettle refinery shuts down
A 3,000-bpd refinery opens in Ras Tanura, but is closed six months later due to
shortages caused by World War II.
1942
Field mapping suspended
Field mapping is suspended due to wartime limitations of manpower and equipment.
1943
Wartime shortages spur innovation
Due to difficulties obtaining automotive parts, camel transport is used to supply the
distant Jauf camp with diesel oil, gasoline, drilling muds and cement.
1944
Casoc becomes the Arabian American Oil Company
On January 31, to more accurately reflect the Kingdom's newfound prominence among
oil-producing nations, our name is changed to the Arabian American Oil Company,
which becomes better known by its acronym, Aramco.
1945
Ras Tanura refinery begins operations
The arrival of a shipment of steel turns Ras Tanura into a beehive of industrial activity
as we begin constructing a major new refinery. The U.S. government, which sent the
steel, intends for the refinery to supply fuel for Allied war efforts in the Pacific, but the
war ends before refinery begins operations.
1946
First wing of administration building opens
The first increment of the permanent administration building is completed and occupied
in Dhahran.
1947
Ras Tanura completes first year of operations
From its humble origins as a 'tea kettle' refinery to a 50,000 bpd facility, Ras Tanura
Refinery completes its first full year of operation.
1948
Aramco acquires additional owners
Standard Oil of New Jersey and Socony-Vacuum (both now ExxonMobil) join Socal and
Texaco (now Chevron Corporation) as owners of Aramco.
1949
Oil production hits 500,000 bpd
1950
Tapline
The 1,212 kilometer Trans-Arabian Pipeline (Tapline), is completed, making it the
longest in the world. Tapline links eastern Saudi Arabia to the Mediterranean Sea,
sharply cutting the time and cost of exporting oil to Europe. Tapline remains in operation
until 1983.
1951
Safaniya offshore oil field discovered
After two years of exploration in the shallow Arabian Gulf waters, the Safaniya field is
discovered three kilometers offshore and 225 kilometers north of Dhahran. The field
proves to be the world's largest offshore oil field.
1952
Aramco headquarters moves from New York to Dhahran.
Aramco management makes the decision to move the company's headquarters from
New York to Dhahran, reflecting Saudi Arabia's central role in the company's future.
1953
First company publication in Arabic
In March 1951, three company translators propose an Arabic publication akin to the Sun
and Flare, the English newspaper then issued by the company. Two years later, in
October 1953, the first issue of Qafilat az-Zayt (The Oil Caravan) makes its debut.
1954
Oil production hits 1 million bpd
In May 1954, oil production exceeds 1 million bpd for the first time.
1955
Exploration work well under way in the Rub' al-Khali
Large Kenworth vehicles haul vital supplies to work crews deep in the desert every two
weeks. Seismic, gravity magnetic and reconnaissance surveys lead to exploratory and
structural drilling by the end of the decade.
1956
Malaria eradicated
When explorers first arrive in Saudi Arabia in 1933, malaria is endemic in the eastern
region. In the early 1940s, in cooperation with the Saudi government, we launch an anti-
malaria campaign, educating residents about preventing the spread of the mosquito-
borne illness and spraying villages to kill mosquitoes. By 1956, the disease has
disappeared.
1957
True size of Ghawar revealed
After ascertaining its full size, the Ghawar field enters the record books by becoming the
world's largest known oil field, with reserves estimated at the time of 80 billion barrels.
1958
Oil production exceeds 1 million bpd annually
Over the course of 1958, the company averages more than 1 million barrels of oil per
day for the first time.
1959
Two Saudis join the Board of Directors
'Abd Allah H. Al-Turayqi and Hafiz Wahbah become the first two Saudis to join the
Aramco Board of Directors when they are elected on May 20, 1959.
1960
OPEC formed
Officials from Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela form the Organization of
Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
1961
Exporting of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) begins
The first shipment of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is loaded onto a tanker at Ras
Tanura.
1962
Crude oil production hits 5 billion barrels
Cumulative crude oil production reaches 5 billion barrels.
1963
Aramco granted patent for oil sweetening process
We create a patented oil sweetening distillation process that removes hydrogen sulfide
and reduces vapor pressure, making the crude oil safe for shipment in tankers.
1964
First Aramco-built government schools for Saudi girls
The first Aramco-built government schools for Saudi girls open in al-Khobar and
Rahimah. Formal schools gradually replace the informal method of home schooling in
which generations of girls had been tutored in private homes.
1970
Agricultural Assistance Program achievement
Our Agricultural Assistance Program, in cooperation with the Saudi Arabian Ministry of
Agriculture and Water, helps farmers move broccoli and sugar beets from the
experimental farm stage to the marketplace.
1971
Record shipments from Ras Tanura
Shipments of crude oil and petroleum products from Ras Tanura surpass a billion
barrels per year for the first time.
In December 1972, the fourth Sea Island is completed, adding two more berths for
tankers.
Following increased petroleum production, shipping and industrialization in the Gulf, the
company begins a five-year survey of plant and animal life in the Gulf region. The
results form a biological baseline against which future changes are measured.
1973
Saudi government buys 25% interest in Aramco
The Saudi government buys a 25% participation interest in Aramco, increasing it to 60%
the following year.
1974
First Saudi vice president
In August 1974, Faysal M. Al-Bassam is named vice president of Public Affairs, the first
Saudi to be appointed vice president.
1975
Design begins on the Master Gas System
We are commissioned by the Saudi government to create Saudi Arabia's Master Gas
System, a multi-billion dollar nationwide system designed to supply all the Kingdom's
gas needs and fuel major export industries.
1976
First to produce more than 3 billion barrels of oil in a year
We become the only company to produce more than 3 billion barrels of oil in a year.
1977
Berri Gas Plant begins operations
On October 29, 1977, the first of the Master Gas System plants opens. Berri NGL
Center supplies treated gases as fuel and chemical feedstock to the industrial complex
at Jubail and natural gas liquids for export.
1978
Qurayyah seawater treatment plant completed
Qurayyah Seawater Treatment Plant, the world's largest, supplies 4.2 million bpd of
treated seawater, replacing saline aquifer water for injection in the Ghawar field to
maintain reservoir pressure.
1979
Yanbu' Industrial City dedicated
Following a 1975 Royal Decree, the industrial city of Yanbu' is linked by pipeline to
Aramco's Master Gas System for a ready and low-cost supply of fuel and feedstock.
1980
Saudi government concludes purchase of Aramco
The government increases its participation interest in Aramco's crude oil concession
rights, production and facilities to 100%, with retroactive financial effect to 1976.
1981
Data processing begins at EXPEC Computer Center
Data processing begins at the EXPEC (Exploration and Petroleum Engineering Center)
Computer Center, one of the world's largest geoscience computing facilities.
Two pipelines are completed, linking oil production facilities in the Eastern Province with
Yanbu' on the west coast. One line transports natural gas liquids (NGL) from Shedgum
and the other delivers crude oil from Abqaiq. The two pipelines are the most advanced
computer-monitored hydrocarbons pipelines ever built.
The discovery well, Dammam No. 7, is shut in after producing almost 32.5 million
barrels of oil over 45 years.
1983
Exploration and Petroleum Engineering Center (EXPEC) inaugurated
On May 16, 1983, King Fahd ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz inaugurates the EXPEC building in
Dhahran. The facility helps us move to the forefront of world-class technology in
exploration, drilling and reservoir engineering.
1984
Vela International Marine Limited is founded
Our subsidiary, Vela, begins operations with four crude oil tankers that ship the
company's refined products and crude oil.
1985
Aramco's first female petroleum engineer
After receiving a master's degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Tulsa
in Oklahoma, Na'ilah Mousli becomes our first female petroleum engineer. She goes on
to mentor many other Saudi women employees and becomes the company's first
female manager, overseeing Reservoir Engineering.
1986
Original concession area reassigned
In the years following the original 1933 concession, and the supplemental 1939
concession, our exploration area is reduced through a series of relinquishments. In
1986, the government requests that we expand our exploration activities to include
areas had previously relinquished.
1987
New Aramco Exhibit opens in Dhahran
We replace our original exhibit, which opened in Dhahran in the 1950s. The new facility
opens in 1987 to help educate the public about the oil industry.
1988
Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) is established
On November 8, 1988, the Council of Ministers approves a charter for a new national oil
enterprise — the Saudi Arabian Oil Company. A Royal Decree issued by King Fahd
ratifies that decision, establishing a new company to take over all the responsibilities of
Aramco.
1989
First oil discovery in central Saudi Arabia
The first oil discoveries in central Saudi Arabia — at Hawtah and Dilam, south of Riyadh
— are announced.
1990
Saudi Aramco helps stabilize world markets
On August 2, 1990, Iraq invades neighboring Kuwait. We focus on helping to stabilize
world energy markets, bringing on additional production capacity. By year's end, our
average daily production is running at an astonishing 8.5 million bpd, up from 5.4 million
bpd in July.
1991
35% interest acquired in Korean refinery
1992
Oil and gas discovered on the Red Sea coastal plain.
Exploration efforts along the Red Sea coastal plain yield results in 1992 with the
discovery of sweet gas and condensate at Midyan, near the Gulf of Aqaba.
1993
Government facilitates merger of Samarec and Saudi Aramco
Headquartered in Jiddah, Samarec is responsible for refining, international product
marketing and the distribution of petroleum products throughout the Kingdom. In June
1993, King Fahd issues a Royal Decree sanctioning the Council of Ministers' decision to
merge the operation and facilities of Samarec into Saudi Aramco.
1994
40% interest acquired in Petron
A Saudi Aramco subsidiary acquires a 40% equity interest in Petron Corporation, the
largest crude oil refiner and marketer in the Philippines.
1995
Vela completes program to build 15 supertankers
In 1992, Vela embarks on an ambitious shipbuilding plan to add 15 new very large
crude carriers (VLCCs) to the fleet, each with the capacity to carry more than 2 million
barrels of oil. The three-year project is completed in March 1995, when the Alphard Star
is transferred from its Danish builder to Vela.
1996
First European joint venture
We announce our first joint venture in Europe — the purchase of a 50% stake in
privately held Greek refiner Motor Oil (Hellas) Corinth Refineries S.A., and its marketing
affiliate, Avinoil Industrial Commercial and Maritime Oil Company, S.A.
1997
POWERS developed
We develop POWERS (Parallel Oil-Water-Gas-Reservoir Simulator), a high-resolution
reservoir simulator to model and predict the performance of super-giant reservoirs.
1998
Shaybah field comes on-stream
Although discovered in 1968, the Shaybah oil field, 800 kilometers south of Dhahran,
requires the passage of 27 years for economic conditions and improvements in drilling
and other technologies to make development of the field feasible. Development begins
in 1995 and in July 1998, one year earlier than planned, the Shaybah oil field comes on-
stream.
1999
Major upgrades completed
The Ras Tanura Refinery upgrade, completed in 1998, increases the percentage of
high-value products that the refinery can produce from each barrel of crude oil.
Concurrently, we bolster our domestic product network, increasing operating efficiency
and eliminating approximately 1,650 tanker trucks daily from the highways, thereby
improving traffic safety.
2000
Research & Development Center (R&DC) opens
Company scientists get their own home in November 2000: the state-of-the-art
Research and Development Center (R&DC) in Dhahran. R&DC spearheads the
development of cutting-edge surface upstream and downstream technology.
A fresh look
We introduce a new logo with the new millennium. The new corporate identity is
unveiled in Dhahran on April 24.
2001
Hawiyah Gas plant begins gas production
The Hawiyah Gas plant begins operations with a processing capacity of 1.4 billion
standard cubic feet of non-associated gas per day. The plant boosts the Kingdom's gas
supply by more than 30%, fuels electricity grids and water desalination plants, and
feeds the country's petrochemical industry.
2002
Company subsidiary acquires Texaco's interest in Motiva
Saudi Refining Inc., a subsidiary of Aramco Services Company, takes a 50% interest in
Motiva, the refining and marketing company operating primarily in the eastern United
States. The other 50% interest is owned by Shell.
2003
Haradh Gas Plant opens
Located at the southern tip of Ghawar, Haradh Gas Plant is our second facility to
process only non-associated gas. Designed to process 1.6 billion standard cubic feet
per day of a combined raw feed of sweet and sour gas, the plant comes on-stream in
June.
2004
Company acquires interest in Showa Shell
A company subsidiary acquires a 10% shareholding in Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K., a
Royal Dutch/Shell refining and marketing arm in Japan. We agree to provide Showa
Shell with a minimum of 300,000 bpd of oil. The equity stake is later increased to nearly
15%.
2005
Joint venture with Sumitomo Chemical Co.
We form a joint venture with Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. of Japan, to develop an
integrated refining and petrochemical complex in Rabigh on the Red Sea coast.
2006
New technologies at Haradh III
Haradh III is the first major addition to production capacity —at Saudi Aramco or
anywhere else in the world —to bundle the latest drilling and production technologies
and apply them to a drilling program developed for a particular field.
2007
Equity ventures in China
Company subsidiary Saudi Aramco Sino Co. Ltd. (SASC) sign agreements with
ExxonMobil, Sinopec Corp and the Fujian Provincial Government of China to form two
joint ventures: Fujian Refining and Petrochemical Co. Ltd. (FRPC), a refining and
petrochemicals venture, and Sinopec SenMei (Fujian) Petroleum Co. Ltd. (SSPC), a
marketing venture.
2008
75th anniversary
We support the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center, a future-
oriented independent research and policy institution committed to energy and
environmental exploration and analysis, due to be completed in 2012.
2010
GigaPOWERS unveiled
In June, engineers from our EXPEC Advanced Research Center demonstrate for the
first time that specialized nano-agents can be injected and produced under live field
conditions in an observation well. Developers envision that Resbots will be able to
measure, report and interact with the reservoir environment to monitor and alter
reservoir properties to maximize oil recovery.
2011
Sadara joint venture formed
We team with award-winning filmmakers to showcase the wonders of the Red Sea and
Arabian Gulf. "Desert Seas," narrated by Sir David Attenborough, captures the
Kingdom's unique marine ecosystem. A second film, "Seas of Change," documents our
environmental stewardship.
2012
YASREF formed
Non-associated natural gas produced from our offshore Karan field has helped boost
the Kingdom's gas production capacity by 18 percent. The project, completed ahead of
schedule, reached its full production capacity of 1.8 billion cubic feet per day in time to
meet peak summer demand.
Cultural Program
Our annual educational and cultural program attracted more than half a million visitors
in Dhahran, Riyadh and Jiddah.
iDiscover
In November, we launched a program to deliver innovative math and science
workshops to 2,000 students and 1,000 teachers across the Kingdom. The goal of the
program is to reach 2 million Saudi youths by 2020.
2013
Construction is completed in SATORP
The Saudi Aramco total refining and petrochemical company(SATORP), a joint venture
with France’s Total, SATORP is a 400,000 bpd, conversion refinery, with integrated
petrochemical production, converting Arabian Heavy crude oil into high quality products,
including: gasoline, kerosene and diesel, as well as petrochemical products, such as
benzene and propylene. The SATORP refinery is also the first producer of petroleum
coke and paraxylene in the Kingdom.
Saudi Aramco launched its first project in the Tabuk region in the Kingdom’s Northwest,
where procurement and construction work for a gas plant in the Midyan gas field is
underway. When the facility is fully operational, it will be capable of producing and
processing 75 million scfd of nonassociated gas and 4,500 bpd of condensate.
We added three new oil and two gas discoveries to our portfolio, this included Al-Haryd
oilfields in the Red Sea, in addition to our previous gas find at Shaur, and in our core
operational areas, we found oil in Duhul and Salsa, and discovered new conventional
gas fields at Turayga, in the Rub’ Al-Khali and at Mihwaz in Central Saudi Arabia. These
discoveries are integral to supporting our critical gas business, which is geared toward
meeting the Kingdom’s domestic energy needs and powering industrial development.
2014
YASREF began commissioning
Our exploration program discovered eight new fields, Abu ali, Faras, Amjad, Badi, and
Faris, two oil fields, Sadawi and Naga, and one oil and gas field, Qadqad. This brings
our total number of discovered fields to 129.
2015
Sadara commenced first production
Sadara is our joint venture with the Dow Chemicals company, it is the world’s largest
chemical complex built in a single phase, ushers in a new era of economic
diversification and growth for the Kingdom, bringing with it new products, new jobs, and
new knowledge. Located in Jubail Industrial City on the Arabian Gulf Coast, Sadara will
be the first chemicals complex in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to crack
naptha, which will support the manufacturing of diverse products not previously
produced in the Kingdom. The complex includes a mixed feed cracking unit, capable of
processing 85 million scfd of ethane and 53000 bpd of naphtha as feedstock, to
produce 3 million tons of performance plastics and high value chemicals per year.
We discovered three oil fields in Faskar, offshore in the Arabian Gulf, and Janab, and
Maqam, in the Rub’ al-Khali. We also discovered two nonassociated gas fields: Edmee,
and Murooj in the Rub’ al-Khali.
We launched our IKTVA program that is designed to double the percentage of locally
produced energy related goods and services, contracted by Saudi Aramco, to 70% by
2021, driving investment, economic diversification, and job creation in the Kingdom.