SERIOUS OILFIRE GAS AND SMOKE DANGERS

File: 970313_jun96_decls1_0004.txt
Page: 0004
Total Pages: 35

Subject: SERIOUS OILFIRE GAS AND SMOKE DANGERS                           

Unit: VII CORPS   

Parent Organization: ARCENT      

Box  ID: BX000249

Folder Title: ENGR PLAN INTEL                                                                                 

Document Number:          9

Folder Seq  #:         84



                                                        UNCLASSIFIED





                                                                                              AST-266OZ-148-90
                                                                                               9 January 1991




                                                            PREFACE


               (U) tg IQOPOIM Will           This Desert Shield report was prepared to provide an
               analysis of the rapidly developing fire, smoke, and toxic-gas threat to US/Ally
               ground forces throughout the southern front of the Kuwaiti Theater of Operations
               (KTO). Owing to Iraqls defensive "scorched earth" plan for Kuwait, the overall
               Kuwaiti oil infrastructure presents a serious hazard to advancing ally ground
               forces. There is overwhelming evidence that once ordered, the Iraqi forces will
               initiate demolition of oil wells, oil-gathering centers, oil-storage depots,
               pumping stations, large tank farms, refineries, and oil/product loading
               terminals. Demolition of these facilities and complexes will result in massive
               fires--'Burning Kuwait.'
               (U) OR plappmol 4 'RI          ra addition to this planned demolition, Iraqi forces
               plan to ignite prepared fire trenches, to flood lowlands with crude oil, for.-aing
               swamps and bogs, and to generate highly toxic and highly flammable associated
               gas clouds to hinder the advance of allied forces.

                          rardi NM           This report was compiled from multiple sources and types
               of information.        The raw Intelligence compiled to support this report is
               considered reliable and accurate.           From this data assessed dangers associated
               with potential massive oil-well fires, toxic gas, smoke, and fire trenches are
r, these hazards most likely will be experienced
               throughout Kuwait, and military planners, managers, and commanders should be
               informed of these hazards.
               (II) i - -,orpaii-i i lif     This report is a qualitative overview, which was quickly
               prepared for timely dissemination and support of Desert Shield. Assessments
               made in this report are conservative and are oriented to maxinize sa@leti and
               minimize injury to personnel and damage to materiel. There is a margin of a                  afety
               bui It into these assessments to protect personnel f rora unexpected changes in wind
               direction and velocity, or from possible side venting and flaring around burning
               wellheads.
               (U) (o !Isp@io; 4m;[.         This report was prepared without access to quantitative
               data bases, which contain statistical data concerning the mechanics and dynamics
               of wellhead fires. Therefore, no computer simulations of these fires could be
               produced.      Information In support of this report was derived from open-source
               publications, telephone conversations with professional oil-well firefighters,
               and both HUMINT and PHOTINT sources.




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                                                       UNCLASSIFIED

Document 35 f:/Week-24/BX000249/ENGR PLAN INTEL/serious oilfire gas and smoke dangers:0128971851472
Control Fields 17
File Room = jun96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-24
Box ID = BX000249
Unit = VII CORPS
Parent Organization = ARCENT
Folder Title = ENGR PLAN INTEL
Folder Seq # = 84
Subject = SERIOUS OILFIRE GAS AND SMOKE DANGERS
Document Seq # = 9
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 13-FEB-1997