LITTLE DID the Kingdom know that a concession granted by Saudi Arabia to the Standard Oil Company of California (Socal) - today known as Chevron - to explore for oil in the Eastern Province would plant the seed for staggering hydrocarbon development.

Following a concession award in 1933, several years of frustration followed, as little evidence for oil and gas deposits was garnered in the numerous exploration wells which were drilled.

After five dry, uneventful years, Socal was all set to pack up for good. But one final, more risky attempt was made, drilling into a much deeper zone.

Chief geologist Max Steineke, refused to give up the search for oil. In March 1938, at some 600m deeper than earlier holes, wildcatters hit oil in the Arab Zone of Dammam No.7. The well produced 4,000 barrels per day (bpd).

The risk paid off. Dammam Well #7 proved the presence of oil, and was the spark which ignited one of the most remarkable success stories in industrial history. Following the first strike came a sustained series of new discoveries - more than 75 major oilfields in all - which today encompasses a quarter of the world's known reserves.

The intervening years brought unprecedented opportunity for Saudi Arabia's growth. Oil and natural gas became the backbone of the Kingdom's industrial development, providing for the transfer of tools, technology and training to help the nation pursue self-sufficiency at home and create competitive growth abroad.

While Saudi Aramco continued to explore further afield, it also provided technical expertise and supervisory help for the development of the Kingdom's infrastructure, particularly in the Eastern Province. This extended to educational facilities, transportation, power generation and water treatment, as well as areas to support industrial development, training and social services.

By adopting high standards and applying proven management methods, Saudi Aramco has contributed substantially to the high rate of growth achieved in the Kingdom during the middle and late decades of the 20th century.

From the start, men with vision, know-how and enthusiasm have had a significant impact on Saudi Aramco. Bert Miller, Krug Henry and Soak Hoover were among the first Americans, while Saudi Khamis ibn Rimthan was a pioneering guide, helping locate the first oilfields, and later honoured by having an oilfield named after him.

On May 16 1983, almost 50 years to the day after the original concession agreement was signed, King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud inaugurated the Exploration and Petroleum Engineering Centre (Expec) in Dhahran. Later that year, Ali Al Naimi was named president of Saudi Aramco, the first Saudi to hold the company's top operational position.

In the past decade and a half, the company has changed from Aramco to Saudi Aramco. Under full Saudi management and control, Saudi Aramco has embarked on a bold plan of development led by its diversification into international markets, its drive to accelerate the transfer of technology and successful crude and natural gas expansion projects.