Memory Lane
Memory Lane: Exploration heads south, new lines in al-Khobar, rescue vehicles, and dental
In 1967, new phone exchanges were planned for al-Khobar, Dammam, Hofuf, and Qatif.
A look back to the Sun and Flare and The Arabian Sun provides a view of progress made over decades in the Kingdom, from expansion of our oil operations to communications and health care expansion.
Here are some interesting headlines over the past 70 years.
EXPLORATION HITS THE ROAD
On Sunday afternoon, August 24, a Triangulation Party and a Structure Drill Party from Exploration passed out Dhahran’s Main Gate. They were headed south, to the Rub’ al-Khali, and as the trailers and light cars set out, another annual trek to the field began for Aramco’s field Exploration group. Some 80 Americans and about 230 Arabic speaking employees constitute the total personnel.
The special trailers, drill rigs, Kenworths, pickups and sedans will be rolling out for the next 10 days or so. There are 14 drilling rigs, 29 specialized camp trailers, 59 Kenworth trucks, 100 dollies and trailers, and 130 light cars, sedans, pickups, and power wagons involved in the move. Many of these vehicles and most of the equipment they carry are highly specialized, designed in some cases specially for exploration work in Saudi Arabia.
PROGRESS IN COMMUNICATIONS
A Telephone Exchange for an automatic dialing system in al-Khobar is now under construction, part of a countrywide project of the Ministry of Communications. Due for completion next April, the three-story building will have outlets for 10,000 lines. Similar systems are planned for Dammam, where construction will begin this month for a 20,000 line operation, and later for Hofuf and Qatif. The concrete double-roofed structure was specially designed by the architectural firm Dar al-Handasah of Beirut to withstand the rigors of the humid, salt-air climate.
SIX NEW MOBILE RESCUE VANS JOIN ARAMCO'S FIRE FIGHTING FLEET
Aramco's Fire Protection Department added six new mobile rescue vans to its firefighting fleet last week.
These units, with seven easily accessible exterior storage compartments, house almost 50 different emergency tools, from a K-12 power saw fitted with interchangeable blades capable of cutting through concrete and steel to dry-chemical foam extinguishers.
Furnishings include two extension adjustable spotlights mounted on the rear, an electrically operated winch with a pulling capacity of 8,000 pounds, a 3,000-watt generator, and a portable power supply pack.
ABQAIQ, AL-HASA DENTAL CLINICS OPEN
Two new dental clinics with state-of-the-art equipment recently opened in Abqaiq and al-Hasa.
The new Abqaiq clinic consolidates all dental services into one facility with 16 treatment rooms. The al-Hasa dental clinic has 20 treatment rooms and a pediatric dentistry surgical room to provide dental treatment under general anesthesia.