EXTENT OF RUMANIAN OIL RESERVES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A001100350008-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 20, 2003
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: April 22, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2003/12/10 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA001100350008-3
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CENTRAL-. INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form 1s prohibited..
SECRE
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SUBJECT
Extent of Rumanian Oil Reservep
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REPORT NO.
DATE DISTR. 29 April 1953
NO. OF PAGES 2
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVI.
(FOR KEY sit REVERSE)
It Estimates of the Rumanian Geological Institute show that Rumanian oil reserves,
in the areas now being exploited, are now of relatively email import. This is
.due to the fact that since 1857, a total of 180,000,000 tone of oil have been
extracted. On the other hand, the Institute?s reports show that there. are
still 100,000,000 tons of oil in the southern part of Moldavia, where there
has been much less exploitation thus far. This was due to the higher price of
getting the Moldavian oil out of the ground. Each sounding reaches a smaller
quantity of oil here and drilling is much more difficult. Hence extraction is
more expensive.
2. Rumanian annual extraction reached its maw (8,700,000 tons) in 1936. Since
that date, it has fallen continuously. This was especially true after the
Soviet forces came in. At this time Rumania was out off from the West and
unable to import the machinery necessary for complete operation. The 0machosa
slovak machinery promised by the Soviets did not get there promptly. Finally
it was necessary to commandeer the Rumanian factories at Bucharest (23 August),
at Ploesti (I May), and the Banat (Resita), to make oil drilling machinery.
But these plants were not equipped for the kind of production needed.' Neither
did they have the necessary etas]l, supply. Naturally, they turned out a very
inferior product.
3. In spite of this, however,, production went from 3,810,000 tone in 1947 to
4,000,000 in 1950 and to 4,400,000 in 1951. During 1951 there were 2,100
exploratory drillings. In 1952, 92 additional drills were put to work., For
1953, 480 new drills have been ordered to avoid deficient oil production. The
five year plan provides a Rumanian annual production of lO,OOO,000 tons,
though specialists who know the realities of the situation regard this figure
as extravagant.
SEORET~
STATE IX ARMY X, NAVY X AIR IX
(Nola W.ohinoton CIs1ribul pn proved or 'F'te~ease ~V6!r/' /1 v":CIA-RDP80-00810A001100350008-3
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4.. Rumanian Communists have no choice but to obey Moscow's orders. These orders
are always for greater and greater production in all regions and especially
in Moldavia. Since the demand is for greater production, no matter what the
cost, Rumania is scraping the bottom of the oil deposits, no. matter-.how dif-
ficult the extraction may be, to satisfy her Soviet patrons.
5o Great things are expected from the soundings at Brunache: (sic) which are ex-
pected to reveal new deposits shortly. New wells are to be drilled there with
speed. The Soviet engineer, Ivan Vashinsky, has gone to Moldavia at the ead
of a commission of experts, to oversee the work? Nobody, however, thinks that,,
even with all this effort, the Soviet demands can really be met,.
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Approved For Release 2003/12/10 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA001100350008-3