COMBUSTIBLE GAS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 June 1924, Page 3

COMBUSTIBLE GAS.

DISC OYEIiY AT N APIER. XAI’! ER. .1 tine l(i.

At a depth of Jfill feet the oil-pros-pectors who are conducting experimental drilling nperat ions at the Napier breakwater met with indications of gas, and last week sufficient had accumulated to allow of a test to ascertain whether the gas was rnmbustilile (says I lie “Daily Telegraph’’). As a result it was definitely decided that the gatnpi>ed was inlliimmiihle. and a further demonstration proved indisputably the presence of a gits so < omliU'tible that its existence is regarded as a promising italic:.lion of oil. A REDDISH FI.A.ME.

The gas which | crc.ilatcs into the •ore accumulates (luring the night's inactivity and it was tills which, tested before work began in the morning, alforded such sit iking evidence of its inllammnhle nature. Frothy. milky-lcoking water was pouring fourth from :t horizontal pipe connected to the main bore, and when a lighted match was applied to tile mouth of this pipe there at once appeared a lliekeriiig. reddish flame which brightened and strengthened with the increasing llow of ga.-. Although Unwind wi:-. strong there wits sufiiricnt ol the gaseous fuel to mniiilain an exixili••ive 12-ino|i tin me burning at the mouth of the nipe lor some minutes, .mil the cole of the llaltte was of that ruddy Into which according to authorities is n favourable indication ol the presence of petroleum. DOWN IT) FEET The bore has so far been sunk to a depth of 1(10 feet, and is at present operating in very hard eompaet sandstone so rocky Inai tor halt an hour one day the drills could make practically no progress. A fair llow ol water. about 2D!) gallons a day. wa« struck at one point, and the presence of gits wax indicated therein by its excessively frothy nature, while incidenlully tin- same witter has a peculiarly mineral taste, and hrnwni-li tint, altet it has been standing. In the trough, furthermore, iiuo which tins water is discharged, there is an oily scum which is pointed to as a lurthor iudientio.i that oil is present in some lorm. The sinking of the test bore to a still greater depth is proceeding, and meanwhile the gas tapped hv the drill is to he carefully analysed.

“I refill'd »In* j-'ji'' ' v, ‘ struck a very ijivournble indication oi oil. v;ild ili<* promoter o' tin l venture. .Mi 11. A. Mcl.onn. to si “Toloi'iiipir re-