SECURITY GAPS IN QATAR'S ONSHORE OIL FACILITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DOHA 000163

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2017
TAGS: ECON EPET QA ASEC PTER
SUBJECT: SECURITY GAPS IN QATAR'S ONSHORE OIL FACILITY


1. (U) Summary. On January 30 Ambassador and Emboffs visited
Qatar Petroleum's Dukhan compound and oil field. Qatar
Petroleum is undertaking a major infrastructure upgrade at
Dukhan to improve the administrative and living spaces. No
armed guards were present at the compound and the area was
protected with inconsistent fencing. End Summary.

--------------
ENERGY RESOURCES
--------------


2. (C/NF) Qatar Petroleum's (QP) Onshore Operations Manager
hosted the Ambassador and Embassy officials during a visit to
Dukhan. Dukhan is Qatar's oldest oilfield; it supplies
335,000 barrels per day (b/d) of oil -- about 40 percent of
Qatar's total oil production. Dukhan also produces 115,000
b/d of raw natural gas liquid, 36,000 b/d of stabilized
condensates, and both associated and non-associated gas. In
the area there are 208 standard oil production wells, 181
power water injection wells, and 14 gas injection wlls. All
of the energy resources supplied out o Dukhan are moved via
pipeline to Mesaieed port.QP is using some water injection
to maintain the ressure in its oil wells and has limited gas
injection to boost oil production. They also are working on
an effort to minimize gas flaring.

--------------
DUKHAN UPGRADES AND EMPLOYEES
--------------


3. (SBU) The Dukhan compound itself is currently undergoing a
USD 536 million renovation; the area's first construction
dates from the 1950's. Construction on new employee housing,
office space, recreational facilities, and a beautification
effort are underway. QP officials told Emboffs that Dukhan
employees about 1500 people and about half of the senior
staff are Qatari. The British are the largest expatriate
group within the senior staff. Most of the Qatari employees
were educated in the West, particularly the U.S. While the
expatriate employees reside on the compound, the Qatari
employees often commute back and forth from Doha at least
twice a week.

--------------
SECURITY
--------------


4. (C/NF) Dukhan's limited security measures have only been
in place since 1990. The security division is responsible for
the entire field and surrounding township. According to QP,
the security division provides both stationary and roaming
guards, is in charge of incident investigation and reporting,
and liaises with the local police and military authorities.
Outside of the compound there are no checkpoints along the
road, and the main entrance is poorly staffed with a few
guards who did not appear armed. The guards are responsible
for visually checking incoming cars for suspicious activity
with undercarriage mirrors as is the normal security
procedure at some residential compounds in Doha. The main
gate itself appeared to be a substantial wrought-iron fence,
but it does not go around the entire entrance.


5. (C/NF) Inside the compound there are additional security
checkpoints. At the main administrative building an unarmed
guard controls access to the building with another
wrought-iron fence that surrounds the area, and additional
security officers were present roaming the area. When asked
about the security procedures at Dukhan, the Operations
Manager claimed that the company does take protecting the
facility very seriously as evidenced by the Qatari police
presence directly outside of the main entrance. (Comment:
Emboff did observe a small police station outside of the
entrance but could not ascertain the level of staffing or
whether the staff is armed.) In the event of a security
incident the Operations Manager is directly responsible and
involved in resolving the situation.


6. (C/NF) Around the oil and gas production areas there are
chain-link fences to prevent unauthorized access. Emboffs
visited one major gas production area during the tour which
was protected by three unarmed guards. Throughout the area
Emboffs observed exposed pipelines that were protected in
some areas by electric fencing. Upon leaving the area Emboffs
observed the same electric fencing protecting the field along
with cattle grates, probably meant to keep animals away from
the area.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


7. (C/NF) Although it is Qatar's major oil production area,

DOHA 00000163 002 OF 002


Dukhan is surprisingly short staffed in the security arena.
Emboffs did not see one armed guard during the entire visit
nor any consistent fence protection. Security does not seem
to be a major concern to the senior management at Dukhan,
perhaps due to the fact that much of the area's investments
are old, with the country's main focus now on gas facilities
in the north. Emboffs did not confirm whether the central
government agencies contribute to the protection of Dukhan,
but given the minimal security present, this seems unlikely.
Post plans to continue its survey of major energy
installations to assess Qatar's existing security
infrastructure in subsequent cables.
UNTERMEYER