Robert ("Bert") Miller: One of the Very First Geologists

A historical icon, Robert ("Bert") Miller was a member of the first geological party to arrive in Saudi Arabia to begin the exploration for oil. Having arrived in Bahrain in 1932, Miller and colleague Schuyler B. Henry, in agreement with the Saudi Arabian government, traveled to Jubail to begin search efforts.

Within the first week of their arrival, Miller and Henry, both experienced geologists and travelers, logged over 75 miles along the coast of al-Hasa. A visible geological feature the two witnessed from Bahrain Island was located and named the “Dammam Dome”. In finding the land and terrain similar to Bahrain, both geologists had strong instincts that told them this area too would produce large quantities of oil. Their intuitions were correct, as this exact site was eventually used for commercial oil production years later.

During his time in the Kingdom, Miller grew a beard, adopted the Arab headdress and learned phrases of Arabic to enable communication with the Saudis. He directed surface geological studies of the region, and traveled vast distances relying on his experience living in tents in the Arctic Circle, Sicily, Spain, Colombia, Venezuela and Africa.

In later years, Miller went on to serve as manager with the California Arabian Standard Oil Company (Casoc) and traveled in similar exploration efforts in Italy, Colombia and India. When he returned to Saudi Arabia in 1956, he was able to witness the vast transformation of the Kingdom as a result of his early efforts, twenty years prior.

Living to the age of 91, Miller had a full life with travel, adventure and an impressive ability to survive on the road, in tents and in the desert, His contributions are not forgotten, and to this day are respected and revered by the company.