SEARCH FOR OIL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20083, 1 November 1939, Page 11

SEARCH FOR OIL

FIVE COMPANIES AT WORK STAFF OF 118 ENGAGED MINISTER GRATIFIED Five of the seven oii-prospecting companies in New Zealand are now operating in their fields, and the expectation of the Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb, is that drills will be working soon in different parts of the country. A geologist and an assistant are working at Kotuku, on the West Coast, for Oil Concessions, Limited, but the Murchison Oil Company has not begun operations. An English company, Divine Oil Wells, Limited, has also taken out a ’license for the Danncvirke district, but is not working yet.

Gratification at the way in which various oil companies were making the search for petroleum was expressed by Mr. Webb in Westport at the week-end.

‘'We are fortunate in having a large number of the world’s best oil experts engaged in different parts of the country on geophysical and geological work preparatory to drilling operations,” said the Minister. "If the work being done gives sufficiently encouraging results, it should not be long before the drills are operating. Reports are to hand from companies that they are obtaining from their geophysical and seismographic work results which are at least promising. Difficult Country at Totangi

“The New Zealand Petroleum Company has advised that it has ordered a new drilling plant for the Taranaki area and the plant should be operating before long. Unfortunately,” said Mr. Webb, “this company struck bad luck with its Totangi bore.” It was now down to 5400 ft. through the most difficult country ever experienced by drillers.

Altogether 118 persons are at present employed by the oil companies. The largest pay-roll is that of the New Zealand Petroleum Company, with 56, in addition to administrative and office employees. The company has 24 in the drilling department, eight geologists, seven surveyors and a palaeontologist.

Next on the list is the Superior Oil Company, which has Californian support. It employs 34, including 10 geologists and 10 key-men in the geophysical division. A field staff of 10 is working for New Zealand Oil Exploration, another 10 being on the administrative and office staff. Northern Oilfields, Limited, which is drilling by contract, has six employees.