PETROLEUM NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 210, 11 March 1912, Page 4

PETROLEUM NEWS.

AN ENGLISH DISCOVERY. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London, March 8. Petroleum has b,een discovered at Willesden at a depth of 1600 feet, and at Newark at a depth of 2500 feet. BIG BLOW-OUT AT NO. 3. THREE FLOWING WELLS'. Much has been said and written in connection with the local petroleum industry, and evidence is not wanting that there is a growing interest and a growing enthusiasm in the developments which are taking place. It is but a few days since that No. 5 was brought into prominence by a tremendous outburst of natural gas, mineral Water and oil, and ever since the public has been inquiring, "Is No. 5 still flowing?" Should a morning pass without any reference being made to operations at this well, the /question is at once asked, "Has No. 5 ceased to flow?"

In referring the other day to No. 3 bore we stated that owing to the casing becoming completely blocked with parafin wax (that all valuable commodity which is to be found in large quantities in all our oil), the bore had ceased to flow, and before it could be again started that it would be necessary to withdraw the casing. When this was examined, it was found to be full of wax, in large junks, which gave the staff some trouble to remove. This, however, was accomplished, and the casing again nut in pla?e. It was not long before the pent up forces beneath caused a violent outburst, and shortly after 5 p.m. on Saturday water, mud, and oil were hurled to the top of the derrick, and for two hours this was kept up to the alarm of the people in the neighborhood. The staff was sent after to cap the bore. However, a short respite in the erupting enabled the men to get the valve in place, but before it was properly' secured another outburst followed. Fortunately it did not displace the valve, the few threads holding it in place, and enabled the staff to divert the flow into the jron tank, much to the relief of the people in the immediate vicinity. The bore for some hours continued to throw out mud and water, and by five o'clock on Sunday morning it had cleared itself, and oil commenced to flow. Up till noon yesterday, the manager estimated that some 20 barrels of oil had been stored. A late inquiry as to the position of this bore was that she was still flowing strongly. No. 2 bore, which for over two years has been flowing with little variation, is always a source of attraction, but the later development at No. S is attracting large crowds of visitors. The strong flow that this bore is maintaining is very gratifying Indeed., and should furnish ample evidence that the industry has now got beyond the prospecting stage, and only awaits capital to fully develop

As an evidence of the interest taken outside in our flowing wells, only recently a gentleman travelled from' Palmcrsfcon with the sole idea of seeing the field for himself.

. Every development, every phase of the industry is being keenly watched by outsiders, and_ they are not unconscious of its possibilities. There is, however, the greater need that we should have confidence in the industry ourselves. Surely three flowing wells should provide ample_ justification for confidence and faith in the future of the industry.