REPORT ON IRAQI OIL TANKERS AND DESALINIZATION PLANTS

File: aabfx_01.txt
Page: 01
Total Pages: 2
SUBJECT:  REPORT ON IRAQI OIL TANKERS AND DESALINIZATION PLANTS
        
    
January 10, 1991
    
                                           Report on Iraqi Oil Tankers
                                          and Desalinization Plants
    
                                          Capt Dan Taylor XOXW(E)
    
    Background:
    
    Iraq reportedly has two oil tankers, with a capacity of 20,000 barrels each, an-
    chored in the Persian Gulf, east of Kuwait. There is concern that Iraq could
    pump the oil from the tankers into the water as a means of sabotaging Saudi
    and allied desalinization operations affecting military and civilian water re-
    sources.
    
    Discussion:
    
    1. There is little threat to water purification equipment that provides water used
    for military operations.
    
           Most of this equipment is being operated using some of the 917 Saudi well
           sites.
    
          About 95% of the water used by the military comes from these well opera-
          tions.
    
    Only two Army operated Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Units (ROWPU)
    barges currently draw water directly from the gulf.
    
         The barges can be protected by the employment of oil spill equipment; fuel/
    water separators, etc., which is commercially available in the AOR.
    
      
                                                                                                                                                  1