LAKE OF OIL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 226, 24 September 1928, Page 5

LAKE OF OIL.

THE ROMA FIELD.

AUSTRAIiIA’S ONLY BORE.

AMERICAN EXPERT’S VIEWS. “There is every prospect that the Roma oilfield will be able, not only to provide the Commonwealth with all the petrol it requires, but New Zealand as well,” said Mr. W. G. Allenden, an American oil expert, who arrived by the Aorangi this morning on his way to the United States, where he intends to secyre the best modern machinery for drilling. Mr. Allenden said that Roma was the only place in Australia where oil had been definitely located, and he had been engaged on behalf of the companies to Investigate three blocks of land, coniprising 25,000 acres. There was already one producing well where they had bored to a depth of 3707 feet. A gas flow was struck in the early stages, and it had been used as an illuminant, A plant was now being installed to absorb petrol from the gas. “I am going to Australia.” This is what Mr. Allenden said in America when he was shown some yellow-green crude oil, and learned that it had been pro. duced in the Commonwealth at Roma, which is over 300 miles inland from Brisbane. He added that the possibilities of the Roma oilfield had been known for a long time, but the drilling methods were not satisfactory, and at great depths an inflow of water was a barrier to progress. This could be obviated by the most modern methods of drilling, and a start was to be made as soon as possible to put down a number of bores.

Mr. Allenden admitted that boring at great depths was somewhat of a speculation. The cost was from £3 to £3 10/ a foot, and a bore, even if it were resultless, might cost anything from £lO,OOO to £12,000. It was for that reason that considerable capital was necessary to work a prospective oilfield. In America there had been a tendency of over production, with, in California alone, an output of 600,000 barrels and upwards a day, while a feverish search was going on to locate new resources. In addition British interests were searching the world for future supplies. Mr. Allenden said that the indications at Roma were . that deep down there was a subterranean lake of oil, and if it could be tapped it would play a wonderful part iu meeting the needs of a country which was at present dependent upon outside supplies. “I am satisfied from what I have seen,” said Mr. Allenden in conclusion, “that Roma has all the ‘earmarks’ of a big oilfield.”