POVERTY BAY PETROLEUM.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 82, 27 August 1873, Page 2

POVERTY BAY PETROLEUM.

The following report will be read with satisfaction by shareholders and others interested in the development of the Petroleum Springs of Poverty Bay. According to the analysis of Mr. Skey there is every indication of the re-ult of the working of the company being remunerative in an eminent degree; the quality is undoubted, and compares favorably with the celebrated American oils. It only remains for the shareholders to put to practical proof the possible quantity that may be obtained, to bring this district into the foremost rank of any in the Colony :—

Geological Survey Office, Wellington, August 13, 1873.

Sir, —In reply to your note of the 28th ultimo forwarding samples of petroleum from Poverty Bay for analysis, I have the honor to enclose Mr. Skey’s report, with a sample of the kerosene which he has prepared from it. From this report you will observe that the commercial products which can be derived from the petroleum are — kerosene, 60 per cent. ; paraffine, 16 per cent. A further examination of the sample is in progress, and the result will be communicated to you in due course. —I am, &c., (Signed) James Hector. Arthur Baker, Esq., Wellington.

Geological Survey Laboratory. Results of analysis of specimens of petroleum, forwarded by Arthur Baker, Esq. Locality — Poverty Bay. Received July 30, 1873. Reported on 11th August:—

Two tins containing about one gallon of oil. These two samples have the same specific gravity and general appearance, and, being most likely from the same spring, have been treated as one sample. Characters—As received, opalescent and thickly interspersed with minute flaky particles of a white color. The specific gravity in this state was 875’1 at 50 deg. Fahrenheit. By warming the oil gently these particles subsided, and the oil then assumed the following characters : —

Translucent in masses of considerable thickness. Color, red by transmitted and blackish green by reflected light. It flows readily giving off the usual odour of crude petroleum. Its boiling point at common atmosphere pressure is about 290 deg. Fahrenheit; the temperature at which its vapor inflames, 230 deg.; and its specific gravity, 871’3 at 50 deg. Fahrenheit. Like the sample received in 1866 from the same district, it passes into a gelatinous form at low temperature, owing to the quantity of paraffine it holds in solution.

Particulars as to the quantity and specific gravity of the oils obtained from petroleum of this nature by distillation, and the temperature at which they are severally given off, having been already stated (see Laboratory Report for 1866-7, pages 20 to 29), it has not been thought necessary to repeat these processes, and attention has been directed solely to estimating the quantity of oil suitable for burning in the common kerosene lamps for illuminating purposes, Which can be distilled from the sample now submitted. For this purpose one pint of the petroleum was retorted (over a gas flame), until all the light oils had distilled over, and 67'5 per cent, of the charge (by volume) was thus removed, leaving a residue in the retort of paraffine and heavy oil in about equal proportions. This distillate was then well agitated with two per cent, of concentrated sulphuric acid, and the oil drawn off from the tarry resulting liquid was afterwards mixed with three per eent. of a solution of caustic potash of specific gravity 130. The oil separated from the caustic solution was well washed and again restored. The first portion of the distillate being that which came over at a very low temperature was kept separate. It ’amounted to about two per cent, of the crude oil, and had a specific gravity of 805. ’