PETROLEUM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 319, 9 January 1909, Page 5

PETROLEUM.

TAIiANAKI I'KTKOLEL'M COY.S Rlit'OKT. We are ilnlcbtcd to the i-liniruinu of directors of the Taranaki Petroleum Co. (.Mr. I). Hurry) for the following report: —On resinning work v.i u." 4tli inst. ill, No. 2 bore it was furnid that the oil had risen in the casug u> within about 100 ft of the top. The work of taking some of this oil out with the sand pump was therefore put in: hand, with the result that on .Mondavi •25 b.rrreis were taken out. On Tuesila;. 20 ten-Is were lifted, and on Wednesday 10 barrels only \\fie taken, a? lb* two big tanks were [nil and the nwna-; ger found it necessary to eask up a lot so as to tlml space for it. On Thursday the work of splicing the cable, etc., if' readiness for drilling was proceeded with. (In Friday morning the oil had again risen some 200 ft, so some ten or eleven casks were taken oil'. This lowered the oil but little. The gas, which was very strong, sent a considerable, quantity of sand with the oil. It was decided to proceed with the drilling so as to get down to the expected big mil as quickly as possible. No. 3 bore is now entirely clear, and it is expected that by about Tuesday night a string of casing will be doviilj, which, it is hoped, will shut oil' the, water. The directors at last night's meeting resolved to make provision at No. 2 bore in ease of striking a large How of; oil lower down. For this purpose more casks arc to be procured, a.id the chairman, vice-chairman, and the manager were appointed-a committee to consider the question of providing still further* tankage. This may take the form of a large excavated tank puddled with clay, roofed in and covered on top with claol or earth, so as to prevent evaporation of the spiritous parts of the product. These earth tanks are largely used bj Russia and other parts of the world.