OIL STOPS

Hokitika Guardian, 13 February 1929, Page 3

OIL STOPS

JN BLENHEIM BORE. (By Telegraph—Press Association). NEW PYMOUTH, Feb. 12. Asked by a Press Association representative to make a definite statement regarding the results of the operations at the Blenheim oil bore, the Chairman of Directors, Air W. 13.I 3 . Martin, issued a report to-night as follows: On Feb. 4th. when the bore was uncapped for the purpose of ineastirin:.. the flow, the oil flowed at the rat of four thousand gallons an hour fo a. period of about a minute and a-hall. The flow then ceased. This was due, ii is surmised, to what is known as a gas lock. Oil luis not since flowed from the bore. On February sth : two lengths of seven-inch casing were withdrawn in the hope of inducing oil to flow up inside the seven inch, casing, instead of. as before, between the seven and ten-inch easing, because of there being no means of leading the oil from the mouth of the bore to the tanks when emerging from between the two casings. Investigations showed water and solid matter to have been driven some distance up the seven inch casino oy pressure of gas and ever since February sth. the drilling out of this debris has been persevered with, in conjunction with tbe bailing out of water, with the object of lowering the water pressure. This, it is hoped, will result in the oil being induced to flow up the seven inch casing when it is sufficiently cleared. The work of drilling and bailing is now proceeding .night and day. A Press representative paid several recent visits to the bore, and on all

occasions a similar state of affairs existed. Benzine fumes flow constantly from the bore, which all the time rumbles, with petroleum gas rising rapidly through the water at the bottom. As the plunger ascends, water mixed with petroleum .matter pours out in violent geyser like hursts driven by gas pressure, and gives forth a pungent benzine odour, at times almost overpowering. The results, therefore, undoubtedly disclose the presence of oil. Whether it exists in any quantity that will flow up the bore can only be conjectured.