This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 001101 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
STATE FOR TASK FORCE 1 - EB ACTION OFFICER 
STATE ALSO FOR EB/ESC AND NEA/ARP 
TREASURY FOR OASIA 
USDOC FOR 4520/MAC/AME 
DOE FOR IE - L. COBURN AND C. WASHINGTON 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 1.6 X5, X6 
TAGS: EPET KU
SUBJECT: KUWAIT OIL UPDATE -- MARCH 26, 2003 
 
REF: KUWAIT 1078 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: DCM Frank C. Urbancic for reasons 1.5. (B) and (D) 
 
¶1. (U) Local press reports on 3/26 noted the visit of the 
acting Minister of Oil, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Fahed Al-Sabah to the 
Ratqa oil field where he met with the Kuwait oil firefighting 
team.  The press report notes the cooperation of the Kuwaiti 
team with an American team could result in all the fires in 
the Rumaila field being extinguished within ten days.  The 
report also states that work was delayed 3 hours on Tuesday 
because of poor weather; no work was scheduled for Wednesday 
to allow the teams to integrate their efforts. 
¶2. (C/NF) Embassy notes that despite earlier statements that 
KOC would increase production from the Ratqa field in 
northern Kuwait by up to 30,000 bpd in order to reduce 
reservoir pressure and advance firefighting efforts in the 
southern Rumaila field, KOC numbers over the last few days 
have shown a drop in production from the north.  When Embassy 
began receiving KOC reports, KOC North production was 423,432 
bbls (March 17).  Today's figure for KOC North is almost 5.5% 
below that (400,265 bbls).  Separately, post notes that 
stocks of Kuwait Export Crude have grown from 4,502,279 bbls 
on March 17 to 5,816,692 bbls on March 26 - a 29% increase in 
nine days.  While we suspect this is well within normal 
operating limits, it could also be interpreted as a slowing 
of regularly scheduled tanker loadings.  Post is seeking 
clarifications on these issues. 
 
¶3. (C) Following is unedited data set received from Kuwait 
Petroleum Corporation afternoon of 3/26/03.  Explanatory 
comments follow. 
 
(Begin Report) 
 
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation 
Daily Crude Production 
All figures in bbls 
 
This report covers activities from 0500 3/25/03 to 0500 
3/26/00 
 
Total Kuwait 
Production        2,445,041 
 
KOC Proper: 
  South East:     1,370,404 
  West:             353,878 
  North:            400,265 
        Total:    2,124,547 
 
Wafra Joint Operations: 
  R/B to KOC        147,333 
  R/B to KNPC             0 
  R/B to SAT              0 
  R/B total         147,333 
  Eocene             32,661 
 
KGOC: 
  Khafji            120,500 
  Hout               20,000 
 
KEC Receipt        2,254,008 (API 30.6, Salt PTB 25.8) 
KEC Stock          5,816,692 
KEC Ullage         8,377,039 
 
(End Report) 
 
4.(C) Explanatory Comments: 
 
Wafra Joint Operations refer to onshore concessions in 
Saudi-Kuwait divided zone operated by Saudi Arabian Texaco 
(SAT).  R/B refers to the two producing reservoirs -- Ratawi 
and Burgan. 
 
KOC is Kuwait Oil Company 
KNPC is Kuwait National Petroleum Corporation 
 
KGOC is the Kuwaiti successor to Arabian Oil Company (AOC), 
which previously operated a concession in the offshore 
portions of the Saudi-Kuwait divided zone -- AOC still 
operates the fields under a service agreement. 
 
KEC refers to Kuwait Export Crude, the country's export 
blend.  Salt PTB refers to pounds of salt per thousand 
barrels of crude oil. 
JONES