OIL IN TARANAKI

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2577, 4 February 1910, Page 5

OIL IN TARANAKI

MOST ENCOURAGING PROSPECTS.

ANOTHER OIL-BEARING VEIN STRUCK.

rPEit Press Association.. <3 NEW PLYMOUTH, Feb. 3. Tlie progress of events in connection with (petroleum operations continues most encouraging, and everything points to the belief that a permanent supply has been struck. Two days ago .tlie manager shut off the supply from the vein which was also struck at 2620 feet, by lowering the casing past it, in order to bore deeper. Boring in the sandstone every foot showed that another vein was ATot far away,, and at midnight last nighty at a ‘depth of 2670 ft, a new oil seam was tapped, which, before tlie mouth or the bore could be capped, and the flow diverted into the tanks, hurled oil and silt high above the 50ft derrick, and covering everything within a radius of 100 ft. After a display of over an hour, this pressure at the Kioutli of the well was successfully capped, and the flow diverted into the reservoir. It has continued almost without intermission ever since. As ‘near as can be judged, this vein is also producing at the rate of between 40 and 50 barrels of pure oil per 24 hours. It will probably be also allowed to flow uninterruptedly for a few days, and, when opportunity offers, an attempt will be made to push the casing past it, to enable the hole to ho drilled deeper. As soon as the hole has been prospected to a greater depth, the casing will he perforated opposite each vein, and the full oil capacity of the whole well will be utilised.

Pumping operations have been resumed at No. 3 bore, and from eight to ten barrels daily are being secured. Deeper boring will probably be commenced at this boro also shortly. It is likewise expected that No. 1 will be producing in the course of a few days. The company has 'now over forty thousand gallons of crude petroleum in stock, and is awaiting confirmation of an order for 500 barrels from the Government.

The local market is very firm, holders refusing to quit.

The “New Plymouth News'’ states: The energy of the well has to be seen to he appreciated, but it is only giving the cold truth to state that while •the blow-out is on, a “solid” stream is being literally , hurled from the full capacity of a two-inch pipe. Commencing with a great roar of gas, the oil and salt-water is ejected at first slowly, but increasing every minute until after a quarter of an hour the rate of outflow is limited only by the capacity of the p'ipe. This is kept up for probably ten minutes, and thereafter the well gradually sinks back into quiescence again for three-quarters of an hour, during which the only reminder of the late activity is the roar of the gas from the mouth of the pipe. Measurements taken showed that an average of 14 to 15 gallons a minute \vas being ejected during the halfhour’s play. Of course the greater ■proportion of this is salt water, hut correct tally is being kept of tlie oil. the water being run off from a tap at the bottom of the tank as the Imre empties itself in at the top.