PETROLEUM NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 238, 13 February 1911, Page 4

PETROLEUM NEWS.

Engineer Lieutenant E. D. Sydenham, K.X.. the Admiralty coal inspector at Austin linn itnd Xew Zealand mines, with headquarters at Westport, was jn New Plymouth at the week end, and visited the oil wells officially. Lioutenant Sydenham expressed himself as being highly pleased with the prospects of the industry. The oil in its present crude state, however, is not suitable for the requirements of the Admiralty, as it contains a very large percentage 01 parrofln, with tiie' result that the oil congeals readily when the temperature falls. Lientfilant Sydenham explained to a News mail 'that the oil fuel is stored in the warships in double bottoms, and is separated from the sea water by about-hall'-iuch easing, and this would soon he reduced to the temperature of tnc water, which would have the eifect of congealing it. The oil should, therefore, he liquid with the temperature at freezing point. Lieu- 1 tenant: Sydenham said the oil from the •Moturoa wells was very rich in paraffin! in fact the oil in storage was all congealed in the tanks, hut he understood that oil from other wells in the district was of a more liquefiable nature. The oil would he suitable for the Admiralty if the paraffin and wax were extracted, as it was the residue of the oil that was required for fuel. The whole matter rested in the erection of a refinery, and the point was whether there was siillieieiit oil to wnrrant this being done. Lieutenant Sydenham said lie could not, of course, disclose the nature of his report to the Admiralty.

TARAXAKI COMPANY. Xo. M well is now down 3480 feet; During the week the bore has been flow* . ing more freelv than usual. At Xo. "> drilling is down to 050 feet, and good country is being penetrated. Xo. 2 is flowing as well as ever. KOTUKU FIELD. Mr. J. I). Henry visited Kotuku on Saturday, anil is more than pleased with the indications. The Kotuku syndicate », have SO,OOO acres of boring rights. Plant and men are on (he way, tin J will arrive « shortly. The indications are fairly widespread, but the formation is not well exposed. The field runs north east and south-west. The Kotuku people have 120 barrels of oil stored, but none has been shipped. ,» THE GISIiORXE FIELD. At a meeting of directors of the Gisborne Oil Company on Feiiruarv 4, the chairman 'slated that lie visited the well the previous day, and he was pleased to be aole to report there had been a change in the strata. Mr. Young, the manager, had reported to him that he " had met a harder formation and the best, that had been struck for the last 300 feet. The new strata comprised sand overlaying a bard rock formation. The change occurred at a depth of 1484 feet. It was the nrst sand obtained since oil was struck at (SOo feet. It was not exactly the same class of saild, having more resemblance to beach .sand. There was a large amount of gas com- . inv from the bottom of the welk'aiirf sufficient gas came up with one, lift of the pump to bum for two minutes. The casiiig had been lowered to withiiijfonr feet of the new strata. The ehaiminn went oil to ,stnto it was impossible toiwiy ' for what extent or distance the cluijniict would last, but still there was a redded change, and one which they hj.ilJ)eeh wanting for a considerable time p.ifl; It w:is deci.led to issue the balance of 2100 preference shares, to be offered, in tho first in-tonce, to present shareholders, in ' the articles of association.