‘Captured’ Iraqi fuel tested for use Published June 26, 2003 By 2nd Lt. James Madeiros 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM (AFPN) -- As the mission in Iraq shifts daily toward stabilization, finding ways to reorganize and power the country’s infrastructure become more important, according to officials.The capture of large stores of Iraqi fuel at Baghdad International Airport and Kirkuk and Tallil air bases will aid in the rebuilding process. It will also help U.S. and coalition forces accomplish their missions more efficiently, once it is analyzed for safety and quality. “Everything hinges on fuels,” said Maj. Brian Quillen, Air Force petroleum office commander at a forward-deployed air base in Southwest Asia. “If you don’t have the fuels in place, you can’t execute your missions.”The amount of fuel at the three locations is substantial: more than 2 million gallons at the airport, 192,000 gallons at Kirkuk AB and 18,000 gallons at Tallil AB. The fuel at the airport and Kirkuk AB will be used in jets, while the fuel at Tallil AB is suited for conventional use. Airmen of the 447th Logistics Readiness Squadron and Iraqi workers restored the fuel system at the airport. The system is functioning at rate of 60 percent after having not been fully operational since 1991. It is now capable of filling fuel trucks. “We’ve increased the fuel storage capacity by 500 percent, which greatly enhances our ability to service coalition and humanitarian aircraft,” said Senior Master Sgt. Sam Varnicle, the superintendent of the squadron’s petroleum, oils and lubricants section. “Because of the crew’s hard work, we accomplish something new every day.”Before the fuel can be used, it must be tested to detect any corrosive material. The fuel is also tested to ensure no one added chemicals to the fuel that would make it harmful to engine systems, said Quillen. The petroleum office acts as the quality control and surveillance agency for Air Force petroleum products, including jet fuels, lubricants, oils and hydraulic fluids. The office deployed a laboratory and staff to the theater in November. Lab workers increase efficiency in testing fuel samples, according to officials. Before the arrival of the lab, samples were sent elsewhere for testing, which took more time.“We were sending samples to Aviano (Air Base, Italy,) or (Royal Air Force) Mildenhall, (England) labs, and it could take 45 days to get results back,” said Senior Master Sgt. Joe Mangum, coalition area fuels superintendent. “Now we can get fuel samples back within a one-week window.”Once the Army secured the Iraqi airfields where the fuel was located, an Air Force fuels team completed airfield assessments by analyzing fuel systems, and taking samples of the fuel.Finding the fuel was “a huge benefit,” said Mangum. “We’re getting ready to turn it over to three (domestic) airlines to begin flights in and out of Baghdad International (Airport). Because we found that fuel, we’re going to be able to support them with their own gas.”