Chapter 381 Confidentiality

The exploration work was carried out step by step.

The exploration methods of this period were relatively backward, mainly because computers had not yet developed in this era... Computers at this time were still in their infancy, that is, the "super secret" used by the UK to decode, but this primitive computer could definitely not be used to assist in data analysis.

Otherwise, using seismic exploration, that is, artificially detonating explosives and then receiving reflected waves from the ground, the structure of the underground rock layer can be analyzed and synclines and anticlines can be easily found and wells can be drilled at the anticlines.

The method used in this era is the most basic geological exploration method, that is, drilling wells at different depths to take samples, analyze the composition of the samples to collect data, and then draw a geological profile based on these data to determine the location of the anticline.

This process is simple to say, but it requires a lot of work.

The hardship is that Qin Chuan clearly knows that there is oil under his feet, but he sees this group of exploration workers busy sampling, analyzing, and calculating on the surface...

But then again, these tasks are also necessary, otherwise it would be harder than climbing to the sky to find oil if he hits here and there like a headless fly.

Qin Chuan was more concerned about keeping secrets at this time.

It was certain that they would find oil if they continued like this... There was oil underground, and Professor Buckhaus was not a person seeking fame and reputation. Moreover, even if Professor Buckhaus and others had no knowledge and just hit it randomly, the probability of finding oil underground was very high. Unless Qin Chuan's modern memory was wrong.

Therefore, Qin Chuan thought that he should consider more about what would happen after finding oil.

Refining oil would not be a problem.

At this time, Germany lacked oil the most, and most of its oil had to be imported from Romania. However, even so, Germany's fuel was still insufficient, which directly led to Germany having to refine oil from coal (Note: Coal refining is to decarbonize and hydrogenate coal. Germany had mastered this technology during World War II, but the cost was very high).

In this case, if Hitler knew that oil had been found in Africa, he would even use the power of the whole country to build an oil refinery and other related facilities here at the fastest speed.

It might even change Hitler's strategic focus... One of the reasons why Hitler attacked the Soviet Union was to seize the Baku oil field. If oil was found in Africa, the strategic significance of the Eastern Front would be weakened, and the importance of North Africa would rise sharply.

So, these are not what Qin Chuan needs to worry about.

What Qin Chuan needs to worry about is how to keep this secret.

Using radar stations to provide cover for drilling like now?

Qin Chuan doesn't think this can hide anything... It's okay if the oil is not pumped out, but can it be concealed after the oil is pumped out? The transportation of oil and the construction of refineries will clearly tell the British the location of the oil field.

So Qin Chuan found Colonel Slaine.

"Colonel!" Qin Chuan said, "Have you ever thought... that after we find oil, we won't be able to continue hiding it with radar stations?"

Colonel Slain poured coffee for Qin Chuan and said, "Captain, isn't it too early for you to worry? We haven't even seen the shadow of oil yet! Maybe... oil is just a mirage for us!"

Mirages are not uncommon in the desert, especially in the area of ​​the Gabes Line where there are salt lakes.

"But I think we should take precautions before it happens!"

"How do we take precautions before it happens?" Colonel Slaine looked at Qin Chuan with an incredible look: "You mean... we can still hide the oil from the British after we find it? Please, it will not be a secret then, unless we do not use this discovered oil field, understand? Otherwise, people all over the world will know where it is!"

Colonel Slaine is right, and this is the same as what Qin Chuan thinks: once this oil field is put into use, the next step is a long queue of trucks all the way to Algiers, and then from Algiers to France, Italy and then Germany. The British don't even need spies. Aerial reconnaissance planes can see that the end of the "long dragon" is the oil field.

Therefore, using radar stations to disguise drilling and all confidentiality measures are only temporary. The purpose is more to protect the exploration team, and the other is not to let the British know that the African Corps is so short of oil that they need to find oil on the spot... Otherwise, they are likely to launch a large-scale attack again.

But Qin Chuan didn't say this.

"Colonel!" Qin Chuan replied, "I didn't mean the location of the oil field when I said confidentiality!"

"What would that be?" Colonel Slaine looked at Qin Chuan in confusion.

"There is oil in the interior of North Africa!" Qin Chuan replied.

"But you are not sure if it really exists!"

"What if it is confirmed?" Qin Chuan said, "If oil is really found, as we said before, after the British know this, they will look for oil in the interior of Libya and Egypt instead of along the coastline, and they will find much more oil than us!"

Colonel Slaine almost laughed out loud: "Come on, Captain! You are the only one here who thinks that North Africa is full of oil! Even if we run to Montgomery and tell him... we found oil in the desert, you can try it! Do you know what will happen? He and all the British will think it is a trap, or they will think we are crazy!"

Qin Chuan can understand Colonel Slaine. This is a limitation of the times, just like talking about airplanes with primitive people will also be denied.

But Qin Chuan had to insist because this not only involved the Anglo-German war, but also involved Japan and China.

Germany attacked the Soviet Union for oil. The strategic error came from the fact that the Germans did not know that there was oil in North Africa, otherwise there would not have been this war.

Similar to Germany, Japan attacked the United States for oil. The strategic error came from the fact that Japan did not know that China had oil, otherwise there would not have been a US-Japan war and the United States might not have even joined the war.

Simply put, both Germany and Japan were sitting on a mountain of treasures but returned empty-handed.

In the final analysis, it was because of the misunderstanding of oil in this era that oil would only be found near the coastline and focused on exploration along the coast.

What if Japan also realized that there was oil in inland China and adjusted its exploration focus?

Qin Chuan did not dare to think about what would happen next...Japan might discover the Daqing oil field, and then they would be in the same situation as Germany, and their strategic significance to the United States would decline. They would focus on building the Northeast, and then build Northeast China into a military machine like Algeria.

This is ironic. What Qin Chuan did in North Africa to survive seemed to affect his motherland on the other side of the ocean.

Qin Chuan must not let this happen!