OIL DERRICK WRECKED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 183, 7 September 1909, Page 3

OIL DERRICK WRECKED.

m. • ■ SERIOUS FIRE AT NO. 3 BORE. OVERFLOW OF OIL. BORE BELIEVED TO BE UXDAMAGED Disaster overtook the Taranaki Petroleum Company's Xu. 3 bore shortly before 0.30 last, evening, when the derrick and all the wooden gear were completely destroyed by lire. It appears that the manager (Mr. Simpson; and staff left tu<j bore at six o'clock, after a busy day's operations, during which oil had Oeea flowing .very freely. On Saturday the whole of the casing had been lowered into position, and the work of testing to prove that the water was shut off had been commenced. From yesterday's indications there was the strongest reason to believe the hopedfor result had been achieved. In the afternoon the oil commenced to flow of its own volition, and up till 6 o'clock over nix barrels had been secured.

It appears that shortly after the night-watchman came on duty at six o'clock the oil recommenced to flow, and he set about securing it. One barrel was filled in a few minutes, and he then, it is understood, opened the southern door of the denies ill order to bring in more empty barrels. In that instant a volume of flume enveloped the whole structure.

It is surmised that a gust of wind, rushing in as the door was opened, carried the strong head of gas, which was issuing from the mouth of the bore, into the boiler-house, where taere still remained some lire in the boiler. No human endeavor could then save the structure, saturated within and without with petroleum, from destruction. Within a few minutes gangs of men were at work, and a considerable stack of barrels of oil was removed to safety, as was all the plant that could be safely I reached. ,

The flames rapidly mounted to the top of the huge derrick, and, burning with great fierceness, presented a fine spectacle. The grandeur of the scene was enhanced when the outer walls of the structure collapsed, showing the huge jets of flame that were mounting Btxuight into the qir from the vent in the bore, from which was issuing a strong volume of gas. Every few minutes a giant gusher of oil and water was hurled skyward from the well, adding to the impressiveness of the destructive scene.

On several occasions large portion# of tie paddock, over which oil was flowing, j ■ad fencing surrounding the property, caught fire, but were fprtunately extinguished before damage was done to the adjacent; houses! Within an hour the whole structure was but a mass of burning ruins. The special efforts which were made by the manager and staff to ensure tiie safely of the bore itself were apparently successful, and so far as could be ascertained this most important portion of the plant is quite safe. During the progress of the fire, and while Mr. Simpson was tvorking at tnc mouth of the well, uideavuring to en-: velop it in wet sacks, the huge workhg! beam fell right across the top of the bore, a moment after lie had been warned of the impending danger. It isf impossible to say whether the engine and other important portions of the plant are seriously injured. The directors are to meet at 9 o'clock this morning, when it is certain steps will be taken to immediately reconstruct the structure. At least a delay of four weeks must ensue before the work of developing the well can be resumed. The disaster, though untimely, will but cause temporary' inconvenience and delay the thorough testing of the field. This is the second time a fire has occurred at this bore, the previous occasion being when operations were under the management of Mr. 0. Samuel.