One of the artefacts is the wellhead from the first oil-producing well from the Fahud field in the ‎north of its concession area. Others include copies of the invoice recording the first export of ‎Omani oil in 1967 and a signed letter of appreciation and thanks from Sultan Sayyid Said bin ‎Taimur Al Said to PDO staff congratulating them on the achievement.‎

PDO is also providing old photos of its people, operations and exploration efforts, geology ‎books, and samples of fossils, rocks and oil.

The purpose of the museum, which is currently being built in Wilayat of Manah, Ad Dakhliyah ‎Governorate, is to tell the story of Oman from pre-history to the present day, with a focus on the ‎period from 1970 when His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said ascended to the throne.‎

The bestowal of the exhibits was marked in a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) ‎signed by His Excellency Hamood bin Mohammed Al Mahrooqi, Head of Royal Estates Affairs, ‎Royal Court Affairs, which is building the museum, and PDO External Affairs and Value ‎Creation Director Abdul-Amir Abdul-Hussein Al Ajmi.‎

His Excellency said: “The Oman Museum: Across Ages project is a great national project. The ‎preliminary works have been completed and the construction works, such as concrete and steel ‎structures, have started.  It is expected to be the largest museum in the Gulf.” ‎

‎“We thank PDO and other government and private sectors for their support for this outstanding ‎national project.”‎

The MoU signing is one of a number of highlights of a landmark year for PDO in which it ‎celebrates the 50th anniversary of the first export of oil and the 80th year since its inception.

Al Ajmi said: “I’m delighted that PDO’s history in serving this great nation will be showcased in ‎the splendid new museum and that we were able to announce the donation of these important ‎artefacts and objects in our double anniversary year.”‎

‎“These items encapsulate an important part of our journey from humble beginnings to the ‎modern, pioneering and globally respected company you see today.”‎

The wellhead, which PDO is donating to the OMAA, comes from Fahud-2 well which in 1964 ‎confirmed for the first time there was commercial oil in the field. The well produced up to 12,500 ‎barrels of oil per day until it was finally shut in 1983. The wellhead has been exhibited at PDO’s ‎Knowledge World building since 2005.‎

The invoice – or bill of lading – records the first export of Omani crude oil on 27 July, 1967 ‎delivered by the tanker Mosprince from Mina Al Fahal to Japan. The cargo of 543,800 barrels (at ‎US$1.42 a barrel) was valued at US$750,000, or US$5.5 million today.‎

To mark the occasion, His Majesty’s father sent the type-written message of appreciation and ‎thanks to PDO staff, which will now also be exhibited in the OMAA. Part of this stated: “The ‎successful completion of all this work within the time schedule planned by the Company reflects ‎great credit on all who have worked hard and loyally.”‎

‎“We are thus on the threshold of a new phase in our country’s history and we wish you therefore ‎to continue your good work which by its nature is the foundation upon which the future progress ‎of our country and our people will depend.”‎

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Note to editors: Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) is the major exploration and production company in the ‎Sultanate. It accounts for about 70% of the country's crude-oil production and nearly all of its natural-gas supply. ‎The Company is owned by the Government of Oman (which has a 60% interest), the Shell Group (which has a 34% ‎interest), Total (which has a 4% interest) and Partex (which has a 2% interest). Gas fields and processing plants are ‎operated by PDO exclusively on behalf of the Government. ‎