PETROLEUM NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 272, 23 December 1909, Page 3

PETROLEUM NEWS.

THE TARANAKI COMPANY. Sines lus appointment as manager of tie Taranaki Petroleum Company Mr. L. Keith has been engaged in overhauling the plant at No. 2 and No. 3 bores, and making certain improvements which in his opinion would facilitate the working of the bores, and as far as pos. aible min i ~ I lie risk of accident. :? BORE. The pump ana tubing at No. 3 gate him a good deal of trouble, but it has now been working satisfactorily for a week or ten days, with the result that from, six to eight barrels of oil per day we being secured. The cost of producing this, now that everything has been put in order, will be reduced considerably, as it is now possible for two mm to supervise operations, which are being continued by day and night shifts. The volume of gas coming from (this bore has been turned to such practical purpose that only about 561bs of j coal is required daily for firing purposes. The manager has every hope that constant pumping will increase the amount of oil derivable from this bore, and it ha« been decided to give this a definite trial of pumping fight up to tke date of the adjourned annual meeting on 24th of January. Amongst the improvements effected is a system of changing the cups in the nump, which can now be done in from 20 to 30 minutes, as against from four to six hours prevJotaly. The operations at No. 3 bore have proved {Eat fSe water has been shut Off. SO. 2 BORE. At No. 2 bore drilling is being proceeded with, and the depth is now 2406 »el. The drill Is meeting fairly goi.l • -untry, and it is intended to push on •th the work as expeditiously a 9 pos--•",)le, wltff the hope of coming across a ■ ore parable oil vein than those J . ■, struck.

THE,BIRTHDAY WELL. The manager in this week's report strongly recommends the directorate fro ■take in hand the cleaning out and rtcaaing of-.No. 1 bore with Bin casing, a large amount of which the company has in stock Upon this work being successfully accomplished, he is of omnimi that the well should be mink about 250 to 300 feet deeper tfian at present, as this work could be done by practical';.' the same staff as now employed. Owing to the oil which is constantly coming from this liore, it is felt to be necessary that something should be done to prevent the waste and turn the well to some account, as it is known that in the early stages of life development of the comnany this well £»flve every premise of being a big producer.