QUEENSLAND OIL

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 164, 1 October 1927, Page 12

QUEENSLAND OIL

TESTS AT ROMA ENCOURAGING RESULTS Encouraging reports continue to be received from the Roma oil bore. The Queensland Minister of Mines, Mr. Jones, received a telegram from Mr. A. .Ball, oil geologist at the bore, to the effect that light oil had been found dripping from the gas tubes, and iliat these drippings were regarded as signifying the occurrence of natural petroleum. Tests of gas that have already been made indicate that the quality of the petrol contained in it is greater than that which was found in the gas from the original bore. Mr. Jones was also in telephonic communication with Mr. »Ball, Mr. J. Henderson, Government analyst, and one of the local directors. Mr. F. Timbery. From these he learned that the surplus gas was now being laid under the boilers on the job, and in future would be utilised as fuel instead of wood. This surplus’ gas is being blown off from the bore *in order to keep down the pressure. Mr. Henderson advised that with the small absorption plant that has been taken up to do testing work he had extracted petrol from the gas, and althoTo-h this extraction had been done under unfavourable conditions he was of opinon that the gas would contain, more petrol per 1,000 cubic feet than the gas obtained from the previous bore. Mr. Henderson added that further tests would be made, when the definite quantity of petroleum in the gas would be determined. Commenting on the reports. Mr. Jones remarked that the oil geologist, Mr. Ball, regarded the drippings of oil as most significant. The point that remains for final determination is whether the petrol that

is dripping from the gas tubes is a condensation from the gas output or whether it is natural or crude oil from ari oil well or reservoir. Further investigation will be necessary before this important point is finally determined.