PETROLEUM NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 193, 18 September 1909, Page 5

PETROLEUM NEWS.

THE TARANAKI COMPANY. The stafl' of tiie Taranaki Petroleum Company lias used considerable expedii tioii in the reinstatement of the derrick at Xo. a well, and things are now almost in readiness for the installation of the new plant ordered. The direcoiv have received advice of the shipment of the belting and tubing for Ue pump, the latter having arrived. Minn line whither ami the arrival of the material, operations*should be resumed by luesday or Wednesday, liefore this'can be done the boiler whose packing was damaged by the fire, must be certified to h.v Mr. S. Dalrymple, Government Inspector of Machinery. The directors met'lust night and decided to ask Mr. Dalrymple. in the event of his not being able to be here early in the week, to issue a 'permit to usv one of the company's other boilers. In connection with the forthcoming visit of Dr. Hell, Government Geologist, it was decided to communicate with tile other companies in the district, witli a view of making the best use of his services whilst here.

Rumor is busy with the No. 2 well, where Mr. Berry is carrying out his test, under penalty of a forfeit of cash in the event of his' not securing 20 barrels of oil daily for a period of days, lit is freely alleged that the casing has been over-perforated, and that there is a persistent and serious sand trouble.

IMr. William E. Akrold writes as fiilows to the Hawke's Bay Herald, under I date 9th September:—"Sir, —The obtaining of a flow of petroleum in the Gisborne Oil Company's Waitangi bote |o n Saturday last should go a long wav to revive interest in oil-production in Poverty Bay. There cannot at presert be an estimate formed as to the quantity likely to be obtained at the present depth, but the data available provide us with the following information at least: First, that the oil is of a splendid quality, and one which will ho easily distilled or r efrned, being free from sulphur. Second, that the depth at which the first oil-bearing sand was struck is only 653 ft, which compares very favorably with the Moturoa wells, Taranaki, at over 2000 ft. Hence production may be expected to be much less expensive. Third, that there is the requisite impervious cover overlying the pervious formation, which is the essential requisite for the accumulation of petroleum in the earth's crust. Those who have studied that district as a whole from a geological standpoint are well aware that many localities could be named where this sequence can be found combined with surface indications of oil. .Hence there is every reason to expect that the same results will be fouad under like conditions. While there may be much to lie proved to satisfy those who have not niade a study of petroleum production in other lands, there is I no doubt in the minds of men like Dr. I J. M. Bell and Messrs. H. Hill. H. A. I Gordon, F. Rich, and J. H. Adams, who have geologically examined the above district, that in Poverty Bay an oilfv-M ! is lying dormant, awaiting development. From thj time when I first became (as a driller) interested in oil (now some 24 years ago), I have never doubted that sooner or later Poverty Bay would come < to the front as a producing centre. My : faith and knowledge make me believe the fruition is in sight." 11