OIL WELLS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1999, 5 March 1914, Page 3

OIL WELLS.

PROPOSED REGBUtIONI \ As the result of a, defnitatioiV that recently waited on the Minister of 3?nfv lie Works (Hon. W. Fraser), tho Government Geologist, Mr, Morgan, was dispatched, to New Plymouth fat mate a 'thorough investigation, of tho' alleged flooding of a Watertight well, from 'ali adjacent well that was said list to be watertight,, with to report gcneraliv on laws governing oil: fields, -Mr. Moigan (omul in regard to the, alleged flooding that tho evidence was not conclusive, hut with a view to reducing tho risk of : any possible danger in that respect, he.' makes tli3 (following teeonimeiidatioiis: (!) That oil bores bo..subject to. inspection, by !a Government offickl, {2} That regulations be made reuniting 'the proper shutting off of water in wells now beiag bored or producing oil, and the proper plugging -of abandoned wells. (3) That no bore bo cofflmeiic-ed in future without the Government ias-pee-' ..tor being.notified. J (4) That plans of surveyed areas, and sections of all bores ho -supplied to the inspector; also details of bore sections 1 .showing the sifce of casing*', points ?t' which water and oil have been encoun-: tered, a'iid the Jiaturo of the strata passed through, (5) That proper legs of all botes bo kept, and; topics of same to-be supplied to the ttosteotor. - (6) That no casing he put into a bore. without first obtaining . tho permission of the inspector. (?) fha* on a well being abandoned, notice of strob; intention be given to the inspector. {8) That all drilJers m charge of boring ■operations bo certificated. (9) That all bores bo situated at defined distances from reals, buildings, and boundaries of adjoining lands. (10) That BS well bo allowed to be bored' within a defined distance of any other operating well. - (11) That all lights used .iterat ; tke derrick and oil tanks bo electric lights. (12) That penalties ho imposed for smoking in. tlio vicinity of a haw producing ©il or inflamnmMe gas. With regard to tho atevo it-is stated that they are in. effect similar to those in operation -in some other oil-producing countries. Tho Mines Department .has been asked to. ascortaria from Great Britain and ,A»eriea what are tire latest regulations. It is -probable that the .Department will not wait for the Teplissj "but will_ immediately draft regulations on the lines of those suggested 1 by .jSfr, Morgan.