SEARCH FOR OIL

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 287, 2 September 1942, Page 8

SEARCH FOR OIL

Test Bores Sunk On West Coast Dominion Special Service. CHRISTCHURCH, September 1. Test bores are probing the earth near Kumara for the vast store of oil which the expert staff of the Superior Oil Company confidently expect' will be tapped there. The area mapped out. originally has been gradually reduced, till the most likely ground has been selected for the bores. If results, are satisfactory, main boring will begin In the effort to add vital fuel to the resources of the Allied Nations. It is early yet to make predictions, but the Americans are. confidently awaiting developments to justify largescale expenditure involved. There is speculation as to the state of-affairs which will be revealed when oil is struck. The well may be of the “gusher” type, so common on the American oilfields, in which sufficient gas is stored by Nature below ground to blow .the oil to the surface, and probably give rise to a difficult job in “capping” the well. On the other hand, water may be present in quantity sufficient to make it' necessary for pumps to be used to ■bring the oil to ground level. The opinion has been expressed that, though the pumping method involves higher costs, the oil supply is more satisfactory. While details are not available, it is understood that a long trail was followed by the Amerfcan geologists before they decided that the Kumara district was their “promised land,” and that many- leagues of the West Coast were covered. There is a possibility that the oil may- be: located mainly under the seabed, but experts, prefer to pin their faith..to the area where boring is now in progress. They are cautiously confident that they will make good.