Narrative & Original Photographs of a 1987 Oil Exploration Visit to Jordan by Amoco Corporation Geologists
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Three-ring binder (11.25" x 11.5") containing a typed report (31 pp, including text, diagrams, and illustrations), 185 color photographs (most about 3.5" x 4.5", a few panoramas), and five 8.5" x 11" maps. The report is photocopied; the photographs are all original, and most have typed captions beneath them. The report begins on page 3, and is apparently lacking the title page and table of contents; otherwise complete and in very good condition. In 1986, Jordan granted the American oil company Amoco (then a division of Standard Oil), a seven-year agreement concession for oil and gas exploration in two regions with a total area of about 4,200 square miles. This report describes an April, 1987, visit to Jordan by a group of Amoco scientists for purposes of developing relationships with members of Jordan's Natural Resources Authority (NRA), collecting data, and making field observations on regions covered by the agreement. Part I of the written report provides a day-to-day itinerary of the scientists' activities, detailing who they met with in Amman, what facilities they toured (including the cutting sample and core storage facilities of the NRA; geochemistry and paleontology labs; and the base of oilfield services company Schlumberger), what data they requested from whom, and their field visits to the areas covered by their concession. Part II provides a more detailed account of their time in the field, which was intended to provide "a first hand view of the topography, vegetation, and location of rock outcrops for future field work." They made three excursions, to the Azraq area, the Jordan Valley, and Aqaba and southern Jordan. The report comments on geologic formations, soil and rock types, mineral deposits, agriculture, accessibility issues, concerns relating to regional conflict, and more. The photographs document all aspects of the trip, including scenes from Amman and its suburbs, the Schlumberger facilities, oil rigs and drilling equipment, archaeological sites (including Jerash and Petra), small desert towns, roads, geological formations, and topography in various regions. In all, an interesting gathering of material offering insight into American oil exporation in the Middle East in the 1980s.
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Narrative & Original Photographs of a 1987 Oil Exploration Visit to Jordan by Amoco Corporation Geologists: https://rarebookinsider.com/rare-books/narrative-original-photographs-of-a-1987-oil-exploration-visit-to-jordan-by-amoco-corporation-geologists/