Ghawar

Makkah

RiyadhYanbu‘ Abqaiq

Dhahran

Ras TanuraTarut Bay

al-Hasa

The Amazing JourneyExploring Saudi Arabia and Saudi Aramco

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The Amazing JourneyExploring Saudi Arabia and Saudi Aramco

“Great job on your win today, boys,” says Khalil’s father, Hisham. “It was a very exciting game, but I’m sure nothing will compare to your trip around the Kingdom.”

“I can’t wait,” says Khalil. “Dad, thanks so much for letting me go with Max’s family.”

“We’ll have a terrific time,” says Max’s mom, Diane. “The kids have seen very little of the Kingdom.”

“I am so excited,” adds Max. “We’ve been stuck in Dhahran ever since we got here. I can’t wait to see the desert!”

“Well don’t forget, boys,” adds Max’s dad, Alain, “one purpose of this trip is for me to visit parts of the company I haven’t seen yet. My new job is to make sure the company is doing everything safely at the plants. But don’t worry, something tells me you may find the trip pretty cool.”

“We’re so happy you’ve joined Saudi Aramco, Alain,” adds Hisham. “And even happier the boys have hit it off so well already.”

“That was a great party,” says Max.

DHAHRANThis is my very first entry from my new home in Dhahran. People from all over the world come here to work for Saudi Aramco, like we came from Canada. Aramco built cities like Dhahran for us to live in. Mom’s an Aramco Brat—they call her that because she grew up here when her dad, Grandpa Andy, worked for Aramco.

Written by Susan Kehnemui DonnellyIllustrated by Claire Louise Milne

Copyright © 2010 by Aramco Services Company.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording

or otherwise, without prior permission in writing from Aramco Services Company, except by a reviewer, who may

quote a brief passage in review.

First EditionISBN-13: 978-1-882771-20-2

ISBN-10: 1-882771-20-6Library of Congress Control Number 2008933495

Produced by The History Factory14140 Parke Long Court

Chantilly, VA 20151www.historyfactory.com

Published by Aramco Services Company9009 West Loop South

Houston, TX 77096-1799www.aramcoservices.com

3

After dinner the next night, Khalil tells his parents how excited he is to be going with Max’s family on their trip.

“I can’t wait! It will be great to visit Aunt Noura and Uncle Fares, too,” says Khalil with a smile. “And Baba, it will be nice to be with Max as he explores the rest of the Kingdom. I don’t think he knows how different all the parts of the country are.”

“Son, you must show Max that Saudi Arabia is a vast land that mixes traditional and modern life,” Khalil’s father says. “Remember a most important proverb of ours: ‘Believe what you see and lay aside what you hear.’”

The following weekend, Max’s family and Khalil are all packed up and ready to go.

“What’s that for?” Khalil wonders aloud.

“I want to keep a record of all the neat things we see,” Max replies.

“I think it is a great idea,” adds Diane.

“Me, too,” says Khalil, smiling.

“I am so excited we have a break from school!” exclaims Max. “Did you guys see the journal I got especially for the trip?”

A Few Facts About Saudi Arabia•SaudiArabiaisthelargestcountryintheMiddleEast

•95percentofthelandisdesert• Population:24,573,000•ThereligionIslamisthebasisofthelegalsystem

and government•Arabicisthenationallanguage,butEnglishis

widely spoken•SaudiArabiawasfoundedin1932byKing

‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman Al Sa‘ud•Riyadhisthecapitalcity,wherethefamous

KingdomTowerislocated.

5

“Well, here we are!” exclaims Max’s dad.

“But Dad, we barely went anywhere,” whines Sara, Max’s younger sister.

“I know,” says Max’s dad. “But this stop is important. This is where the company first found large amounts of oil. The well was drilled in 1938 and it’s called Dammam Number Seven.”

“It does,” adds Khalil. “My great-grandfather started working for the oil company in 1933, when he was only 17. Before that, his family members were village merchants who bought and sold food and other goods to make their living.”

“Saudi Arabia was a very different place before the discovery of oil,” adds Alain.

“So, did it just shoot out of the ground one day?” asks Sara.

“Not quite.” Alain smiles.

Max’s father then explains how oil is found today.

After taking pictures of the Prosperity Well monument, the group drives north to a beach near Ras Tanura.

“That well was really cool, Dad,” says Sara excitedly.

“Actually, that’s why we’re here,” replies his dad.

“At the beach?” wonders Max.

“No, son.” Alain laughs. “Way over that way is the Ras Tanura Refinery. I’ve got to make a stop there after we finish our picnic.”

“I have a friend who lives in Ras Tanura,” says Khalil. “It’s another big Saudi Aramco community.”

“Yes, it is, Khalil,” says Alain. “After we tour the refinery, we’ve got another exciting treat in store. Do you see those ships in the distance?” Alain points at the supertankers anchored offshore.

Max peers at the tankers. “Those tiny ships? What about them?”

“Well, they’re a lot bigger up close, and this afternoon we’re going to get a much better view of them,” Alain says.

Max’s eyes widen with excitement. “Well, let’s hurry up then!” he exclaims.

“Yeah,” says Max, “but what happens after the oil comes out of the ground?”

“Saudi Aramco has a very rich history, kids,” explains Max’s mom.

Wow! Oil actually comes from tiny dead animals and plants. Their remains turn into oil underground, but it takes a really long time for that to happen. Then deep wells are drilled to get it out of the ground. Dad says the oil is called “crude” when it comes up because things like gas are mixed in with it. But then it goes to processing facilities where they use heat to remove all the extra stuff, kind of like cleaning it.

Sand & Silt Rock

Oil & Gas Deposits

76

After their picnic, the group heads to the refinery for a tour with Saad, an electrical technician.

“I’m so glad that you came to visit us here today,” says Saad. “Did you kids know that Saudi Arabia has about 260 billion barrels of oil, the largest reserves of any nation?”

With a smile, Saad tells the kids more about the petroleum industry and how it supplies energy to the world.

“That’s a lot,” says Max.

“The refinery is basically a factory made especially for oil,” says Saad. “And we use pipelines to transport oil in and out.”

“We’ll actually see a pipeline later on our trip, kids,” adds Max’s dad.

“Don’t forget to take one of these pamphlets, Max,” says Diane. “You can do a report on it when you get back to school.”

“Oh, Mom!” Max sighs.

RAS TANURASaudi Arabia’s oil is REALLY important to the world! And without oil we would not be able to do or make a lot of things. TheKingdomhassomuchoilthat if Saudi Arabia gave away 120billionbarrels,itwouldstillhave more oil than any other country in the world.

WhatIsCrudeOil?Crude oil is made up of many elements. And it’s used for so many different things! Saad said that even my sneakers and Sara’s crayons are made from petroleum.

Carbon—84percentHydrogen—14percentSulfur—1to3percentOxygen—lessthan1percentMetals—lessthan1percentSalts—lessthan1percentNitrogen—lessthan1percent

Crude Oil

98

“One thing to remember, kids,” cautions Max’s dad, “is that even though oil is natural, it can be dangerous to the environment. That’s why people like me and Khalil’s father are responsible for making sure we are processing everything safely.”

“That’s right, Khalil,” says Max’s dad. “We don’t want pollutants to get into the air or the water. We also limit the waste we produce and study how it and the oil are handled. We certainly don’t want any oil spills or pollution to ruin our world.”

“Wow, Dad, who knew you were so important!” Max grins.

“Why don’t we move on to our next stop, Alain,” adds Max’s mom. “I think the kids are ready for the supertankers.”

“Yes, we are!” Max, Khalil and Sara exclaim in excitement.

After thanking Saad for his tour, the group heads to the Ras Tanura Port Control Center.

“My dad said you even test the air,” adds Khalil.

“But what do you actually DO to the oil?” asks Khalil.

“Good question,” Saad says. “There are three main steps: separation, conversion and treatment. When crude oil is taken from the ground, natural gas often comes with it. The natural gas has to be separated from the crude oil at a Gas Oil Separation Plant, or GOSP. Gas is becoming more and more valuable to the world because it can be used for energy.”

“We use chemicals and heat to separate oil’s many components from one another,” explains Saad, “and with further treatment, special blends are made for specific uses.”

“But I thought oil was just used for cars,” says Max.

“Not quite, Max,” says Alain. “It’s a natural resource that all sorts of industries—from farming to medicine—rely on.”

“Here, let’s take a look at this chart on the wall,” says Saad. “It shows some of the many things oil is refined into and used for.”

“But what happens to the oil?” asks Max.

After being refined, crude oil can be used to heat our homes, help cook our meals, fuel cars and planes, even produce asphalt and tar to pave roads.

Natural GasGasolineKeroseneGas OilLubricating OilHeavy GasResiduals

Boiler

Crude Oil

Distillation Column

1110

At the Ras Tanura Port Control Center, the group sees huge supertankers coming and going in the beautiful turquoise waters of the Arabian Gulf. They are greeted by Hasan, an officer at the center.

“Hi, everyone! Welcome to the largest crude oil export facility in the world. From this tower, 60 meters up in the air, we monitor all of the ships that use the port area.”

“Good question,” says Hasan. “Those are all part of a system we use to track the position and speed of approaching ships. We also monitor things like weather, tide, current and wind speed.”

“You really have to track all of those things?” asks Khalil.

“Of course,” replies Hasan. “Guiding a huge supertanker is very difficult and takes precise calculations. Take a look into these binoculars for a better view.”

“Hey!” shouts Max as he looks through the binoculars. “I can see the refinery from here!”

After everyone has a chance to look through the binoculars, the group thanks Hasan and leaves for their next adventure.

“What are all of those computers for?” asks Max, pointing at the many display screens in the room.

The group makes its way to Tarut Bay, an area not far from Ras Tanura.

“Who knew we’d see so many neat animals on the way to the mangroves!” Sara exclaims. “I love the bright pink flamingos!”

“We learned about mangroves in school last year,” says Khalil. “They’re shrubs and trees that are habitats for shrimp, birds and other sea life.”

“That’s very good,” adds Max’s dad. “Mangroves are really important. They protect lots of species and prevent the coast from washing away during storms.”

Max anxiously looks toward the water. “Do you mean the whole country could just wash into the sea without them?”

“Well, that may be a little extreme,” says Max’s mom with a smile. “But it certainly is important that we keep the mangroves to protect our environment.”

After a look around, Khalil, Max and his family spend the rest of the day planting seedlings in Tarut Bay.

TARUT BAYTarut Bay was awesome. We planted seedlings that will grow into mangroves. The mangroves protect all kinds of animals like crabs, shrimp and fish. Birds and turtles build nests here too.

1312

As the group is looking around, they’re approached by a friendly young man.

“Hello. My name is Ghaith. Are you interested in camels?”

“Oh yes,” exclaims Max. “Do you race camels?”

“I am a trainer,” Ghaith answers. “I start working with camels when they are a very young age. First I help them get used to the rope and saddle. Then we go for long walks so they stay fit. And eventually, they practice running on a track with other camels.”

“I didn’t realize it took so much work,” says Max.

“That’s not all,” says Ghaith. “Camels are fed a special diet of oats, bran, dates, honey and milk to keep them healthy and strong. Would you like to ride a camel?”

Max’s eyes light up with excitement. “Can I, Dad?” he asks.

“Sure,” replies Alain. “Just be careful and listen to Ghaith.”

“I will,” says Max.

After leaving Tarut Bay, the group travels inland to the Janadriyah Festival, just outside Riyadh.

“I know, it’s great, isn’t it?” agrees Khalil. “My family tries to come every year. It’s our National Heritage and Cultural Festival, so there are tons of great things here to learn about the Kingdom.”

“Each pavilion is dedicated to a different province in the country,” explains Max’s dad.

“Hey, look!” shouts Max. “There are a bunch of camels over there.”

“That’s the camel market,” explains his dad. “Come on, we can take a look.”

“WOW!” exclaims Max. “This festival is the coolest place I have ever seen.”

JANADRIYAH(outside of Riyadh)Today at the Janadriyah Festival we saw

craftsandexhibitsfromallovertheKingdom.

Saudi Arabia has so many different parts.

Infact,longago,theKingdomwasn’teven

aKingdom,justlotsofdifferenttribesofpeople.ButKing‘Abd al-‘Aziz brought

everyonetogetherinonecountryin1932.

Ialsosawmyfirstcamelstoday,whichwere really cool! Next, we are headed to the

King’sCamelRace.Khalilsaysthetrackis

morethan20kilometersaround.Plus,there

areover2,000camelsandriders!

1514

No one wants to leave the amazing views from the Al Faisaliyah Center, but Max’s parents promise to bring them back again, this time at night so they could see the lights of Riyadh reflecting off the glass ball. It’s time to catch a plane to Yanbu‘, where Max’s dad has some work to do.

“It sure is,” agrees Khalil. “Maybe I will live here when I grow up.”

“Boys, take a look out the window,” says Max’s dad. “Can you see those humps in the desert? They are part of the Saudi Aramco pipeline system. What you see below is part of the East-West Crude Oil Pipeline. It goes out to Yanbu‘, on the coast of the Red Sea.”

“Wow! Does that mean there is oil in there?” asks Khalil.

“You bet,” says Alain.

“Riyadh is such a neat city,” says Max as he settles in for the plane ride.

RIYADHTodaywasanawesomeday.Iactuallygottoride

acamel,andeatlunchwayupinthesky.Ican’t

wait to come back to Riyadh. Dad says there are

some really important places here, like government

buildings, an international airport, universities and

evenazoo!Dadsaysmorethen5.8millionpeople

live in Riyadh; that’s way more than where we

live in Dhahran. Besides all of the cool buildings,

Khalilsaystheyplayimportantsoccermatchesat

theKingFahdInternationalSportsStadium.The

stadium is one of the biggest in the world, and it’s

right outside of Riyadh.

The excitement at the camel market makes everyone hungry, so the group drives to Riyadh for lunch in the glass ball at the top of the Al Faisaliyah Center.

“It feels like I can see all of Riyadh from here!” exclaims Max as he looks out the restaurant window.

“I feel dizzy,” says Sara, who turns back to her lunch after a quick glance.

“Well,” says Diane, “we are almost 200 meters up in the air.”

“It was,” answers Alain, “until the Kingdom Tower was built in 2001. The Kingdom Tower is also in Riyadh. In fact, it is directly aligned with this building. That’s it, right over there.”

“Is this the tallest building in Saudi Arabia?” asks Khalil.

RIYADHTOYANBU‘Today from the plane we saw the East-West

CrudeOilPipeline.Itcarriesoilallaroundthe

Kingdomandeventotheseaports!Mydad

says there are a lot more pipelines in the north

and south too, used to carry either oil or gas.

SaudiAramcohasabout340ofthemtotal!If

you stuck them all together, you would have a

pipelinelongerthan14,000kilometers!

17

After arriving in Yanbu‘, the group rests up for their next day’s visit to the shipping terminal. They wake bright and early to meet a harbor pilot, who is going to show them around while Max’s dad heads off to do some work.

“Ahlan wa sahlan. Welcome to the Yanbu‘ Crude Oil Terminal,” says the pilot. “Or, as I like to call it—home.”

“Yes, thank you,” adds Max with a proud smile. “I’m starting to understand Arabic a little.”

“I am Captain Al-Nasser, but you may call me Ahmed. I am a harbor pilot. My job is to guide the supertankers into the loading berths so that they can pick up the products we need to ship out.”

“We visited the Port Control Center in Ras Tanura,” Max explains, “and we got to look through the binoculars at the tankers in the harbor. They were huge! How do you fit them in such small spaces?”

“Actually, it is very complicated,” answers Ahmed. “Harbor pilots go through years of training to be able to do what we do safely. And sometimes the tankers are so big, they do not even fit. In that case, we have to pipe the oil to platforms before we can load it onto ships.”

“Shukran jazeelan,” Khalil replies.

“Ahmed, I have a question,” says Diane. “When we were at the control center in Ras Tanura, I saw a lot of helicopters flying around the harbor. Where were they going?”

“Some transport the harbor pilots to the tankers offshore,” Ahmed says. “Others take workers to drilling and production platforms.”

“You really have a neat job,” exclaims Khalil. “First you ride in a helicopter, then you pilot the supertanker!”

“Yes,” agrees Ahmed, “it is exciting. But it is also very difficult, and we take it very seriously. After all, if we do not bring the ships in and out safely, the oil won’t go anywhere.”

“Well, Ahmed,” says Max’s mom, “people all over the world should be very thankful that you do your job well. Without harbor pilots, many people would not have the products and the energy they use every day.”

YANBU‘While we visited the port today, Dad was busy doing some work called groundwater monitoring.This means he was checking for water pollution.It’spartofSaudiAramco’sEnvironmental Protection Program, which helps protect the earth from being hurt by the oil industry. All sorts of safety tests are done to keep the environment safe.

LEAVINGYANBU‘After we left Yanbu‘, we flew by the Holy City of Makkah, where the Prophet Muhammad was born. Makkah is really important to Muslims all over the world. Everyyearmorethan2millionMuslimpilgrims travel to Makkah.

1918

After leaving Yanbu‘, the group flies to the Rub‘ al-Khali to meet Khalil’s aunt and uncle.

“You bet,” replies his dad. “This will be quite different from the cities we have seen. Khalil’s aunt and uncle will be taking us camping in an area called the Empty Quarter.”

“Why is it called that, Dad?” asks Sara. “Is it really empty?”

“Well, it is one of the largest sand deserts in the world, and the extremely hot climate and harsh winds in the summer do make it pretty tough to live there. But Khalil’s family is familiar with the Bedouin lifestyle, so they will show us how to adapt,” Alain reassures his daughter with a smile.

“Hey, I think I see them,” shouts Khalil. “Khalti! Khali! Over here!”

Khalil’s aunt Noura and uncle Fares welcome the group warmly. Everyone piles into a 4x4 SUV and heads out for a camping expedition. As they roll over the giant sand dunes, Aunt Noura and Uncle Fares tell the group about their family’s Bedouin ancestry.

“So now we are really headed into the desert, aren’t we?” asks Max.

RUB‘AL-KHALIKhalil’sauntanduncletookustoaBedouincamp in the desert. Bedouins know a lot about the desert, like where to find water and how to use plants for medicine and food. And the Arabic word bedu actually means “desert dweller.” Bedouins travel around a lot and live in tents. And they herd animals like sheep, goats and camels.

20

After a roller-coaster ride over the sand dunes, the group arrives at the camp.

“Welcome,” announces Aunt Noura. “Would you like some coffee and dates?”

“Why thank you, that would be lovely,” replies Diane.

“Let me show you around,” says Khalil’s uncle. “You may already know that we herd camels,” he says, “but did you know that we use them for many more things, like making water bags from their hides?”

“No,” replies Uncle Fares. “Lots of people think these tents are made from camel hair but actually they are made from goat hair. But we do make carpets and clothing from camel hair. They’re very useful.”

After their tour around the camp, they all enjoy a traditional dinner.

“Are we going to sleep inside a camel-hair tent tonight?” asks Max.

RUB‘AL-KHALIThiswasoneofthebestnightsIhaveever had! After a really delicious dinner, Khalil’suncleFarestoldpoemsaboutBedouin heroes while we sat around the campfire.Khalilsaidthetalesarepasseddown from generation to generation through the poetry. He explained that Bedouin poetry has always been admired. IknowIcertainlylikeit.

22

After two nights in the Bedouin camp, the group says goodbye to Khalil’s aunt and uncle.

“I know, it was really neat,” adds Khalil. “I’ll have to go back and visit my aunt and uncle there again.”

“Now I understand why it’s called the Empty Quarter,” adds Sara. “It felt like we were all alone out there, but the Bedouins made it seem less scary.”

Her mother nods in agreement. “They really do make the empty desert a home,” she says.

As they fly out of the Rub‘ al-Khali on their way to Hofuf, they pass over Ghawar.

“Kids, come look,” says Max’s dad. “We’re passing over Ghawar, the largest oil field in the world.”

“But I don’t see anything,” says Max.

“Exactly,” responds his dad. “It looks just like the rest of the land. That is why early explorers had no idea it was here! Today, this area produces more than five million barrels of oil a day.”

“What’s that?” asks Khalil as he points at something on the ground.

“We’re passing over Haradh GOSP-3,” responds Max’s dad. “That’s a Gas Oil Separation Plant. Remember Saad in Ras Tanura explained that a GOSP is where the oil is separated from the natural gas? Once separated, the oil is sent to refineries or loaded onto tankers. If you keep looking, you’ll soon see where the gas goes.”

“Is that it?” yells Max excitedly. “Where the lights and towers are?”

“Very good, son.” His dad smiles. “The Haradh gas plant is one of the places where natural gas is processed. It is also part of the Master Gas System.”

“That reminds me,” says Max. “I picked up a pamphlet about the Master Gas System a few days ago. Let’s take a look at it before we land in Hofuf.”

“I wish we could have stayed longer,” says Max.

Highlights on the Master Gas System (MGS)•Itisanetworkforcollecting,treatinganddistributinggas that is gathered from wells•Itincludesmorethan11,650kilometers(7,270miles)of pipeline•Ithandlesmorethaneightbillioncubicfeetofgasdaily•SaudiAramcoisoneofthetoptencompaniesingasproduction worldwide

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The plane lands safely in Hofuf, a major city in eastern Saudi Arabia. After some rest, the whole group sets out for a farm in the al-Hasa oasis.

“Mom, what exactly is an oasis?” asks Max.

“It’s a fertile place in the desert,” she explains. “The water here helps plants grow.”

“Yes, it is,” says Max’s mom. “Many things grow here, including barley, tomatoes, onions and melons.”

“But the al-Hasa oasis is famous for its dates,” says Khalil, “which have grown here for more than 4,000 years!”

“Cool! Can we pick some?” asks Sara.

“Date season is in the summer,” replies Max’s dad, “but we can buy some dried ones at the market.”

“And, this is the largest oasis in the Kingdom,” adds Khalil.

AL-HASAThere are way more animals in the desert than

justcamels.Welearnedaboutdesertmice,lizards,oryxandgazelles.Ican’tbelievethey

actually get water from dew and plants. That

is way cool! We saw a gazelle and it could run

andjumpjustlikeasoccerplayer.

27

After leaving al-Hasa, Max, his family and Khalil stop in Abqaiq, home to another Saudi Aramco community and a processing plant.

“Yes, it is,” says his dad. “This is the world’s largest oil processing facility, where oil from a big portion of Saudi Arabia is processed.”

“That’s right,” says a Saudi Aramcon who has joined their group. “This place is at the heart of the Kingdom’s oil industry.”

“Oh, hello,” says Max’s dad. “Kids, this is Jamal. He works here at the plant and is going to show us around.”

“Hello everyone,” says Jamal. “I am a systems analyst. I study the machines and equipment that separate and process the gas and oil. I also use new technology to improve our work. I’d like to show you some of the advances we are making.”

“Great!” Sara grins.

The group makes one final stop outside Dhahran to meet with a geoscientist doing some seismic testing in the desert.

“Hello, everyone! My name is Najla. I am a geoscientist for EXPEC, which is Saudi Aramco’s Exploration and Petroleum Engineering Center.”

“That sounds cool,” says Max.

Najla smiles and continues. “I study seismic images of the earth to find the best places to drill for oil.”

“How do you get the images?” asks Khalil.

Najla explains. “First, planes fly over an area and use sensors to collect information about its surface. Then special thumper trucks—like the one behind us—come in and thump down on the ground to send vibrations through the earth. The vibrations then come back, like an echo, and tell us more about what is underground. We feed this information into computers, which then create the images.”

“What do the images tell you?” Max responds.

“Well,” says Najla, “the type of rock that is underground, and if there is likely to be oil trapped there. The work done at EXPEC makes it easier for Saudi Aramco to find the oil and get it out of the ground.”

“This place is really big!” Max exclaims.

ABQAIQAbqaiq had so many computers. Jamal says Saudi Aramco uses computers for everything, even to seeifthere’soilunderground.It’slike they can look right into the earth!MaybeonedayIwilluseahigh-tech computer to drill an oil well or captain a supertanker.

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After their tour of EXPEC, the group heads to Khalil’s house. His parents have been eagerly awaiting their arrival.

“How was the trip?” asks Khalil’s dad.

“There is plenty of oil left in the world,” answers Khalil’s dad, “but we still need to conserve energy and all of our natural resources.”

“This trip really showed me how important your jobs at Saudi Aramco are,” Khalil adds.

The two fathers smile at each other. “We just do our part to help provide energy to people all over the world,” explains Max’s dad.

“And don’t forget how cool Saudi Arabia is,” says Max. “It is so much more than just desert and camels!”

Khalil’s father smiles proudly. “Max, now you have truly learned something very special. Welcome home.”

“It was great!” Khalil responds. “But I have a question. Will the Earth ever run out of oil?”

31

Timeline 3000 B.C.E. Mesopotamians use oil for adhesive, ships, roads and medicine.

2000 B.C.E. Chinese refine crude oil to use for heating and lamps.

570 C.E. The Prophet Muhammad is born in Makkah.

1744 First Saudi State is established.

1859 Oil is discovered for the first time in the United States.

1872 First official international soccer match takes place between Scotland and England.

1890s Due to increased automobile production, there is more demand for gasoline.

1902 The Teddy Bear is introduced to the world.

1932 King ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman Al Sa‘ud establishes the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

1933 Standard Oil of California is allowed to begin looking for oil in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom.

1938 Oil is discovered at Dammam Well No. 7. The well was renamed Prosperity Well by King ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz in 1999.

1939 First tanker load of Saudi crude oil is exported.

1945 Ras Tanura Refinery opens. First Aramco school for American children opens.

1946 First permanent Aramco school building opens.

1947–1950 Trans-Arabian pipeline (Tapline) is constructed.

1948 Ghawar, the world’s largest oil field, is discovered.

1951 Safaniya, the world’s largest offshore oil field, is discovered.

1969 First manned landing on the moon.

1973 Saudi Arabia acquires 25 percent of Aramco.

1975 The Master Gas System project is launched.

1980 Saudi government acquires 100 percent of Aramco.

1982 Exploration and Petroleum Engineering Center (EXPEC) opens in Dhahran.

1983 Compact disks are released for the first time.

1984 Aramco gets its first four supertankers.

1987 East-West Pipeline is completed, boosting capacity to 3.2 million barrels per day.

1988 Saudi Arabian Oil Company, or Saudi Aramco, is established.

1989 The World Wide Web is born.

1993 The European Union is established.

1998 Oil production begins at Shaybah, the first facility built in the Empty Quarter.

2003 Haradh Gas Plant is completed.

2008 Saudi Aramco celebrates its 75th anniversary.

Arabic-English Dictionary Ahlan wa sahlan welcome

Al Hajj Muslim pilgrimage to Makkah

Assalamu alaykum “peace be upon you”; a Muslim greeting

Baba father

Barak Allahu feek God bless you

Bedu desert dweller

Jeddi my grandfather

Jedditi my grandmother

Khalti my maternal aunt

Khali my maternal uncle

Shukran jazeelan thank you very much

Suq market

Wa alaykum assalam “peace be upon you”; reply to assalamu alaykum

Ghawar

Makkah

RiyadhYanbu‘ Abqaiq

Dhahran

Ras TanuraTarut Bay

al-Hasa

The Amazing JourneyExploring Saudi Arabia and Saudi Aramco

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