PETROLEUM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8143, 28 June 1906, Page 2

PETROLEUM.

INTERVIEW WITH AN EX. AMERICAN EXPERT. Captain Harry Andrews, now in business in Wellington, but at one time closely associated with American oil-fields, is at present in New Plymouth. Yesterday he inspected the Moturoa wells, and was afterwards interviewed by a Daili News representative.

* In answer to a pointed question, Captain Andrews said he had had over 20 years experience in petroleum producing, and had operated in Pennsylvania, California, and Texas. " Yes, I have met Mr Fair, and 1 certainly think that the Taranaki Oil Company should be congratulated on possessing so good an operator as Mr Fair, whose Canadian me,hols of drill, ing are much the same as those used in the United States."

Asked what he thought of the well, he said it was to be regretted that the company did not possess more storage capacity, so that tho well could have been kept going, and given full play. However, one important point was fully proved—that this is a petroleum producing colony. But the great well of the district had yet to be bored. He did not think the presont one would prove tho largest. Somo oil of a lighter grade would yet be struck. Tho Captain expressed much surprise at not finding many artesian well borers from Christchurch and Australia here, posing as oil-well experts. In the oil regions of Pennsylvania and vicinity, more wells have been sunk than in all other parts of the world together, and since Col. Drake put d"wn the lirst well in 1859, more than 150,000 wolls have been drilled in Pennsylvania and the adjoining States. The first well was drilled 68J feet, and the deepest, as far as he knew, was ■1613 feet.

Asked his opinion as to the extent of our o'l firl I, he would only venture at present his conviction that tho bell ran out to sea in one direction from the producing well, and under New Plymouth in tho opposite direction. All oil bolts were, however, limited in width as well as length, and the only way was to go down and find its limit. Asked further how much dependence could be placed on surface indications he replied that had their been no surface iudieations near the site of the present well, there certainly would not now be a producing well. Notwithslanding this, however, surface inlications were generally very misleading and could not be relied upon, except on tlic evidence of those who liad cxt tnded experience in this direction, and thousands of pounds could be sq'iairlcreil in following surface inlications unless advised by those com;)etant to judge The best plan w now they kail found the petroleum belt, to follnv i' a 1 closely as. posiibl", hind in this the valuo of experience

I'ould scarcely be overrated. Nearly all belts rim crooked, like most small rivers, and their width varied at different stages. Captain Andrews waß also very emphatic on the value of concerted action hi petroleum development, and sugge ited that a Petroleum Exchange on ihe lines of a Chamber of Commerce should be at once inaugurated, a iecretary appointed, and a reading room established where tho latest periodicals and books pertaining to petroleum oil producing should be accessible to the members. This would s ion bei one the centre for obtaining all information pertaining to oil. " Why," said the Captain, " I once joined such mi exchange in Titusville (Pennsylvania) of which Col. E. L. Drake, the first petroleum producer, was a momber. I paid a small membership fee, the number of members being limited to 200. Five years after, when leaying that localilj, my membership was put up at auction and sold for three hundred and fifteen dollars." Such an institution was a fino place for mutual improvement iu petroleum knowledge, and would soon become tho cmt.'o of oil interests.

Ho sai'd ho would favor a much higher derrick than was now being erected. Many derricks in California >vcre non' being erected as high as •jig'i ty feet. He also noted that therr was quite a difference iu the loca l methods of granting leases. " Why," •laid the Captain, " I have paid, time and again, one thousand dollars bonus, and' given one-half of the oil produced in fee simple, paying every •xpcM-y myself from :tirt to finish, for f he lease of only one acre, while here [ heard of thirty-five: crjs being ljascil for fire per cent, of the oil and nn bonus."

Asked regarding the possibility of action being taken by tho Standard Oil Company in the direction of monopolising the field, Captain Andrews said his advice was to first get the oil in quantity snflhent to protect, and then ask for protection. In conclusion, he expressed his pleasure at having been afforded tho opportunity of inspecting the Moturaa wells, the splendid prospects of which, ho believed, were destined to make Now Plymouth a petroleum centre.