A PROVEN FIELD

Grey River Argus, 19 April 1911, Page 8

A PROVEN FIELD

WELLINGTON COMMENT. ■, (Taranaki «Herald.) About a month ago the Wellington i-'ost, commenting- on the visit of Mr J. D. Henry and his expressed conviction that "New Plymouth is an absolutely proven oilfield," waxed a little sarcastic and talked )about a mixture of rron, oil, and milk, and went on to say: — "It is a trifle too soon for the public to grow exerted about that pronouncement. Mr Henry's evidence has yet to be checked by the Government geologists. The people have to get some assurance about the ''lie' of the strata far oelbw. Much information has been put before Mr Henry, in addition to the evidence which he gained for himself, and the result was a rosy prophecy by him that English capital would be disposed to look kindly on Taranaki. The expert has to call at various countries en route for London, and in; the .meantime the Government will have his special report to study. The geologists have a delicate responsibility ahead of them. The late Sir James Hector reported unfavourably on the Taranaki 1 oil country many years ago, but his deductions have been questioned. It seems the duty of Sir James Hector's successors now to go over his report in the light of the data gained during the past few years, and also to make an independent investigation." Mr A. E. Watkins at once wrote to the Post, explaining the grounds upon which the convictibh is" 1 based that there is a rich oilfield underlying this locality. Our contempory declined to insert his letter, which he has now asked us to. publish. It read as follows: — in reference to your remark as tothe exhilaration caused by Mr Henry's advent, which you say is a trine too soon for the public to grow excited about, and his . statement that "Taranaki is a proven oilfield.',' i may nere state that we have good reason to be well pleased, as it only Dears out the opinions of other well•Known world's experts, which are as i\ofiows : — "Sir Boverton Redwood, who i's associated with Mr G. Adams thinks very highly of the prospects in laranaki, -and he, has reported .favourably, together with Mr G. Adams, on the field. Sir Boverton Redwood writes to Mr Fox, June 6, iyUY :— 'Just a few lines to say that Mr G. Adams is a personal fritend of mine and you may with confidence accept any statement from him in regard to petroleum in New Zealand. I have seen him more than : once since his return to New, Zealand, and thrnk highly of the prospects.' He confirms Mr Geo. Adams' report on Taranaki." I may say that Sir Boverton 'Redwood is England's premier oil, expert. He is advised on petroleum to the Admiralty and the Home Office, also special adviser to the Indian Govgcrnment on matters, pertaining to petroleum. He is also author of that standard . work on oil, "Petroleum rind its .Products." . : i give you briefly- Mr. Geo. Adams' report on the Taranaki oilfield. Mr G. 'Adams visited New . Zealand in 1007, and when in New Plymouth Mr Geo. Fox put to him; the following question: "What opinion had .he loaned re the possibilities of our oilheld- (Taranaki) ?" He. replied: /'lt is the biggest prospective field I have ever seen, and your possibilities are i enormous/-' -Mr Adams states:— My impression is that the oil is . here.. Where you, are goiing: to -get it, how you are going to get it, and in what quantities,, only the drill will prove. It is impossible for . any scientist to know exactly, where, a bore should 0c driven, especially; in (a country that has been so disturbed by volcanic movement, as New Zealand. Throughout the" world oil zones generally run north-west and south-east. There are indications that this is the direction in New Zealand." Speaking from his large experience he says: — "in developing oilfields in new territories the first thing, for ' an expert to do is to decide whether* he is justified in inducing capitalists to engage in boring as a profitable undertaking. He must judge this from the surface indications and the geological conditions of the territory, fie (Adams) finds that the surface conditions . indicate that there is , a wide foil-bearing zone." He compares- Taranaki with Java, where they have many millions invested in the inaustry. Mr Adams- finds that, •this country (Taranaki, New Zealand p "differs greatly from others in which oil is found, in -that the indications are so widespread.. 'Elsewhere the oil makes its appearance, perhaps, at intervals of 50 miles. Here indications are found in all directions." Mr A.dams thinks that ft is not the . small companies now exploiting, the industry that will make much money. out of it. .The time will, come, he believes,, when the small companies will find themselves hampered for lack of funds. ; (This is what is now happening.) ■ He was asked whether he considered the well from what he had seen, was a payable one. He states in . reply that he. had no doubt of it, and that conj sidenng tne treatment it had had, the. result was very good indeed, and that it was a payable one even as then running. Mr A"dams also'state'd that "plenty of outside capital can be obtained." . -Since the above was written great' changes have taken place in regard ' to the quantity of oil recovered. One \ of the wells has been flowing- continuously at the rate of 20. barrels per day since January 5, 1910: You also remark that Mr Henry's statements will have to be checked by the. Government geologists. I fully recognise that these 'gentlemen can largely assist in survey work, which work will ' 'found useful; I but at the - same time I fail to see 1

how .they ,'can express a reliable opinion without first being petroleum experts, and having specialised this one subject. I know they have not the time to do this, 'as their reports embody all classes of minerals, etc etc. You will find that our (geologists will in no way wish to criticise the opinion of such an authority as Mr J. D. Henry. ' As. to the lie of strata, until boring proceeds over a large area this, will not be known, as the overlite is considerable, and it is only in a few places that any defined formation can be seen, viz., to the east of New Dr Bell states that the indications here are similar to those of California oilfields, and he "considers Taranaki prospects are, so far, superior to any in New Zealand. He also states :— "The chances of oil in Taranaki .may in general said to be as. good as in any imperfectly tried field, land it is hoped that, after the observations of the survey are complete, the industry will be pushed' as vigorously as surface indications seem to warrant." He also; says that when the survey is completed and his re^ ports are published, it will be the means of inducing much outside capital to be invested here. In your comments reference is made to the late Sir Jiames Hector's unfavourable 'report lon jTarjanaki oil country many years .ago; but his deductions have been questioned. Now this said report was made in" 1867. It was not a comprehensive report by any means, especially as we do not see how he could have gained V knowledge oF "petroleum -ifi elds that ■ • virtually non^tarisftent iat that period. I quote one portion: — "I discovered four different formations, and emphasised the absence at the surface of alternating beds of sand and clay that are found in the chief oil districts of the world." The reason is obvious, the overlie (tufa) covers up those beds. The only survey of the Taranaki oilfields has just been completed by Dr Bell and Mr. E. de O. Clarke. When you read these it will at once remove any erroneous . impressions that you may now have. P-S. — I must congratulate bur Gov- '■ eminent in asking Mr J. D. Henry to write an independent report on the New Zealand oilfields. ' Plymouth.