OIL PROSPECTING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 227, 7 September 1933, Page 5

OIL PROSPECTING

REPORT ON W.A. PROPERTY. RESULT OF AERIAL SURVEY. PERTH, Aug. 30. The Frcney Kimberley Oil Company has obtained the services of Dr. Arthur Wade, an eminent British geologist with a considerable experience of oilfields, to make a close geological survey of all oil structures in the company’s areas. Dr. Wade is expected to arrive in Western Australia in about two months. The company has received a report by Dr. Woolnough, geological adviser to the Commonwealth Government, on aerial geological survey operations carried out in Australia last year with the co-operation of the Royal Australian Air Force. Referring to the Mt. Wynne district, about 70 miles from Derby, where the company was boring some years ago, Dr. Woolnough stated that, since the existence of petroleum in rocks had been proved by boro, further experiments on the same structure were reasonable. The outstanding feature of the aerial results, the report stated, was the indication of the existence of a major domal structure of spectacular dimensions and underlying flat country to the north-east of the hilly region. It was entirely devoid of surface manifestations w'hich could be recognised by any but the aerial method of approach. If complete, this dome would measure something like 12 miles from east to west and about six miles from north to south. Its eastern half was complete in every detail. Just west of its central point, but leaving the core of the dome intact, it was intersected by a fault running nearly north and south along Mt. Wayne Creek and “throwing” to the west. It appeared likely, Dr. Woolnough proceeded, that there was a sufficient .dip closure, even towards the west, to justify intensive exploration. The character and arrangement of the rocks of the undisturbed part of the dome was almost ideal. He had no hesitation in recommending that a series of trial bores be sunk by coremaking methods at or near a point just east of Mt. Wynne. He could not stake his scientific reputation on the commercial success of the venture, but he knew as yet of no geological structure in Australia which had so many features in its favour as a site for prospecting operations for oil.