Out in the Blue is Tom Barger's story of his first three years exploring the deserts of early Saudi Arabia for an embryonic oil company that had yet to discover oil. In his travels he visited ancient places that have now all but disappeared and met Bedouin living a pre-Biblical nomadic life that was soon to irrevocably change in the face of modernization. Told through the letters he wrote home to his young bride of only two weeks before he left for the Kingdom, Out in the Blue is the story of Saudi Arabia before there was oil.
Thomas Barger was a geologist who was sent to Saudi Arabia in 1937 to explore for oil. He was one of the earliest geologist who described its rocks. He worked for CASOC company with the famous geologist Max Stieneke the discoverer of the first commercial oil in Saudi Arabia ( Dammam#7- 1938). Thomas speaks highly of Stieneke describing a man with great spirit and full of energy with characteristics led him to transform the shape of the world economy by his discoveries in Arabia.
He also worked with Kahmis Bin Rimithan the Famous guide. ( Aramco name Rimthan field after him due to his valuable service to Aramco). He gives very interesting stories about his sharpness.
The book is a collection of letters sent to his wife Kath ( who married her in secret because his parents won't let him to do so). In his letters, he gives day to day details about his activities in the desert giving very interesting stories.
He was on of the earliest geologist to be in Rub Al Khali and work there. He visited a lot of places that which until now, few Saudis have been to. During his mapping work in Layla area, he mentions that he swam in the biggest lake in Arabia ( Lake Layla). In 2012, I was in a seismic crew in the same area, and saw the lake, but there was not a single a drop of water in the lake. In fact, it was a very dangerous place where subsidence can occur any moment and pull you down to tenth of meters.
Thomas spent 32 years in Aramco full of achievement and hard work.
The book is very touching and inspiring. It was an easy read and I have enjoyed it a lot.
قصة جيولوجي من أوائل الجيولوجيين الذين اتوا عند أكتشاف النفط في السعودية. القصة تتمثل في الرسائل بينه وبين زوجته التي يروي لها أحداث عمله من خلال هذه الرسائل