OIL FIELDS & BORES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1593, 9 November 1912, Page 8

OIL FIELDS & BORES.

AN INTERVIEW. EXPERT ARRIVES BY S.S. MOANA. Mr. J, H. Robertson, who arrived in Wellington from California by thoMdana yesterday, under engagement to,tho Donithon Freehold Petroleum Company' Extended," is an experienced oil-seeker, and can "talk oil" from the fullness of his experiences on the Fullorton oil-fields, in Southern California. Oil, according to Mr. Robertson, who was interviewed by a representative of Tue Dominion yesterday, has had a great past, a- greater present, and a magnificent future, for tho valuable by-pro-ducts of the crude stream from the oilbore —benzol, gasolene, and so on'-wcfe in increasing demand. Tho oil-seeker, explained Mr. Robertson, is guided in 'his discoveries by tho general character of.tho surface soil, a'nei it ■is shale that the prospector looks for. Having located a likely "field," the next business is to got down to the oil, and boring operations commence. A derrick is rigged, and the drill started. I'or tho Bonithon field tho rotary drill has been adapted, and tho plant Will arrive next month. The bore itself is usually six inches in diameter, and as the lead of the drill woj-ks its way downwards the spoil, gravel,' sand, and water, is forced out. i'lie first indications of the proximity of the oil is the appearance of tho oil sand, and then comes the oil itself, generally ivitha rush. In the Eullerton oil-field, in California, tho pressure is tremendous, and file oil >soars skyward as if shot out from a geyser. Mr, Robertson mentioned ■] a pressure of 12001b; to the Square inch, which h> enormous. IhTarantiki, tho pressure, generally speaking, is low, more a "seepage" than a spouting. With a proper system of control tho Oil is easily .prevented from spreading or soaking over .the surface soil. Then a- casing is let into the bole, and this ends' the first clap* ter in. tho 'history of the -enterprise. In America pipe'line? arc constructed— Mr:> Robertson mentioned one 1 that traversed COO miles—for the conveying of the crude oil to the refineries, the second phase of the oil -industry. The pipe lino is a trunk artery,'-with feeder ducts- from the various derrick's—tug refiner gets delivery of the tk& material right St the derrick, practically. speaking. The Tarariaki. industry is, 'or course,, concerned with tlie: production and sale-, of the raw material, but'given an adequate fUttv of oil, refining machinery will be imported before- long. .-■',-. 'Mr. W. M'teart (secretary, ;■{ the I'onithon Company) and Mr. Robertson leave for the scene of operations by the New Plymouth express this morning. OIL FIELDS & VOLCANOES. INTERESTING THEORY. ■ "In my opinion,". observed Mr. Leslie H. Reynolds; C.E., dui'ing- tlio course of a-conversation on' the subject of tho future exploitation-of the crude oil fields in New Zealand, "tho Taranaki oil fields, which 'are at present being worijed on the western side of Mount TSgmont, are the residue of vast oil deposits which at some time or other' were .consumed by a volcanic disturbance directly ciused by tho ignition of the oil. Ad incidental result was tbo ■ 'formation' of Mount Egjhont. My theory of tolcanio action, leads. ;mo to , the conviction that .such disturb^: : ances aro principally duo to the spontaneous ignition of oil deposits subjected to enormous pressure. The .popular idea that volcanoes, geysers, .and so forth are simply safety-valves to relievo tho .pressure in the interior of the' earth does' not impress me as a satisfactory explanation., for it sfcms to me to bo inc'inecivable : that these tremendous, forces could possi-* •My ho regulated by the existing so-called': safety-valves.' Tho proximity. of oil fields b centres.of volcanic activity has alwiiyg ■seemed to me of cUme significance, and that there • is ■ an active connection be* tween tha two seejns to me to be certain, Tho great, oil aTea, of New Zealand,. Mr. ! Reynolds J atldedl '"extends 'clown, t'he'eountry south-east- Qf-Egmont; from Danne-Lvirke;-eastward to..the sea, and. fhence to Gisbofhe; '■■' ' : '' '' "' ' ', '