THE SOUTH PACIFIC OIL WELL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1734, 13 December 1887, Page 3

THE SOUTH PACIFIC OIL WELL

Gibbornb, December 12. Great excitement prevailed on tho receipt of news that there was an overflow of 25ft of oil from tho South Pacific Company's well. The pipe ia 4£ia m diameter, and tho volume of oil the Bi'ze of the pipe. This intelligence Las sent shares up, and they are now purchusablo m the local market. On Wednesday tho full depth of tho bore was 1321 ft with 1206 ft of 4£in pipe. From Wednesday until Friday work was nt a Btandfltill. On the hitter day (-team was got up, and Mr Weaver, manager, proceeded to measure the depth of tbo well. tie sent the tools down wlien n, Btroutn of oil ehot up 25i't m the air, and immediately the oil ignited. Mr Woavor, who wus nt tho mouth of tho woll at tho time, mado a rapid flight from tho spot. Tho iiro took placo at 10,30 and burnt until 430 it is c-ilculutod £100 will repair tho damngo by the lire. An opinion is oxprossod that the ignition waa caused by a rush of gas lv tho direction of tho boiler-houto, and that coming into ooutaot with the furnaoe caused the oil, whloh cama simultaneously from tho mouth of the pipe, to ignite, as a euddon flash appeared to p-wo from the furnace to tha mouth of the pipe. Mr Frank Weaver had a narrow escape from It! jury, Tho burning oil m Its descent set fire to the back of his waistcoat, burning It. Mr Weaver dooß not expect the oil to flow for any considerable length of time oat of the 4£ln pipe. Tbo weight of liquid In the pipe is over four tone, and It lo not 6xpectod suoh volume will be contlnoualy raised to the Burfaoe by gas alone. He , intends, as hood ao the first flow Bhall ! coaao, to ineort a 2in tnbo within fcfao 4-Vn pipe. To tho bottom of this 2in pipe "an Inner rubber packer is Ecrewed on ; a pressure of gas iuß'de expands tho robber to the full extent of tho 4Mn pipe, and by this means I* is anticipated thoro will be a steady flow of oil for a considerable period.