History Daily The Search for Saudi Oil Begins
6 snips
Sep 23, 2025 In 1933, geologists from Standard Oil of California launched a quest for oil in Saudi Arabia, facing challenging conditions and initial failures. Their persistence led to a groundbreaking discovery at the Dhamam Dome when Well No. 7, known as the 'Prosperity Well,' struck oil in 1938. This momentous find transformed Saudi Arabia into a wealthy nation, enabling the rise of Aramco and expanding its global influence. The podcast reveals how oil royalties reshaped the kingdom's finances and infrastructure, altering its destiny forever.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Arrival In Jubail
- Robert Miller and Skyler Krug Henry arrive in Jubail on September 23, 1933 to quietly begin oil exploration for SoCal.
- They disguise themselves and meet Carl S. Twitchell before heading into the desert convoy to search for oil.
Field Work At Dhamam Dome
- Krug and Robert travel by car and camel into the desert, mapping prospects like the Dhamam Dome and looking for anticlines.
- They mark promising surface signs but know only drilling will confirm oil presence.
Early Failures And Hardship
- Early field life proved brutal: unreliable maps, sparse supplies, extreme heat, and slow progress without heavy rigs.
- Drilling crews and new geologist Max Steinecke arrive in 1934 but initial wells show only small, inadequate flows.
