TARANAKI OIL-FIELDS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2741, 21 February 1910, Page 2

TARANAKI OIL-FIELDS.

HOPES BEING REALISED

GOOD FLOW AT NUMBER TWO

NEW PLYMOUTH, Feb. 10. Prospecting for petroleum on what are known as the Taranaki oil fields in the vicinity of New Plymouth has been carried on more or less energetically for upwards of forty years (writes the travelling reporter of the New Zealand “Times”). Bore after bore has been put down, but beyond emitting in a most spasmodic manner a lew barrels ci : oil, and advancing the price of shares by a. point or two, only to fall back at the next call, the bores, without exception, proved to be blanks—bitter, disappointing blanks. The long unbroken run of bad luck —the tendency on the part of the bores to “give out” just when indications seemed most favorable—was disheartening to those who bad put their faith—and money—into oil boring speculations. A great many investors, believing it wise to make the first loss the last loss, sold out their shares and withdrew from the concern. Shares in these oil companies were for many years a drug on the market, and could' he bought for a mere song.. But despite the many disappointments and consequent losses, there are still a few bold spirits who never lost faith in the Taranaki oil fields, and who believed it to be only a matter of time —and .money—before a reservoir of oil would be tapped. With indomitable pluck and perseverance they continued to prospect for petroleum, all undaunted am! with their faith unshaken by previous failures. After many years oi prospecting — years barren of all good results—when the most optimistic were beginning to despair and lose heart, a rich vein of oil was tapped, about four years ago by the number one bore, or Birthday Well as it is commonly called. About fifty barrels per- day flowed of its own accord from the bore, and though only a vein with the main reservoir still to be located, the result was considered to be most satisfactory ; interest was stimulated, and a fillip was given to prospecting. The depth at winch the vein was struck in tile Birthday Moll is a little over two thousand four hundred feet, but no attempt to reach the reservoir by boring beyond that level has been made. The well was •abandoned for the time being, and a start was made to put down what is known as the number two bore, about six chains to the west of the Birthday Well. Work in connection with sinking the now bore has been steadily proceeded with ; several minor veins were tapped at different levels, and a little over a fortnight ago a big vein was opened at a depth of two thousand six hundred feet, and since then about two 'thousand gallons of oil per day has 'flowed from the bore. Though the bore is not what is known as a “gusher.” it throws the fluid to a great Height, often as high as 30ft above the 50ft derrick. The tripping of this vein is without- doubt the most encouraging event in the history of oil prospecting in Taranaki.

There is nothing charming or impressive to bo seen at the oil diggings at Motorua, yet scores of visitors arc shown over the works each day. Half-a-dozen tall pyramid-shaped derricks, several tanks filled with vile smelling oil, and a few tumble-down sheds are all that is to be seen. Everything is liberally bespatted Avith oil. even to the to]>-most plank of the sUft derrick. From the Number 2 bore, on" of a dark brown color, like thin molasses, comes gurgling, with regular pulsations, into the tanks, giadng off "a most offensive smelling and highly inflammable gas. A great quantity of thin mud and salt water comes up with the oil, but the brine is regarded as a very hopeful sign. “No brine, no oil,’-' is the rule. So freely, and in such large quantities, has the oil flowed during the past few days from the bore, that every tank is filled to overflowing, and to cope with the flow several more underground tanks are being nut down. Tbe sight of a dirty fluid oozing from a bole in the ground—even though that dirty fluid is petroleum, and the hole’ in the ground is three thousand feet deep—is hardly more than interesting to the ordinary individual, but it is food and Avine to those avlio have all along believed that the Taranaki oilAvere no myths, and who supported their beliefs in a- practical manner. To see the tank filled to overflowing with fresh oil is to them as the .realisation of a dream. After an unbroken succession of blanks, they have at last drawn a prize, and in reality have “struck oil.” ;As soon as the storage tanks are ready, a start will he made to tap the main reservoir, by extending the depth of the -present bore, in 'the opinion of experts, another four hundred feet Avill need to he bored before the reservoir is tapped—a tasK that will take some months to accomplish. Just to Avhat extent New Zealand will benefit hv the tapping of an oil reservoir is hard to estimate, but one thing is certain, it will open Avide fields of employment, and give illimitable vistas to enterprise.