PETROLEUM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 70, 9 August 1912, Page 4

PETROLEUM.

Bit; "BLOW-OUT" AT NO. 2 BORE, No. i bore, which ha* been flowing for Home two and a half years, and which for many nocks held the record flow of about 11)0 barrels weekly, recently silted up, making it necessary for the casing to be removed and the. well sand-pumped and cleared out. This work has been engaging the attention of the staff for the past, few days, and yesterday at noon a big "blow-out" took place, the oil going right over the top of the derrick. Since noon, at least a, dozen '•blow-outs'' have occurred. The latest news last night was that the blow-outs were being accompanied by more oil, and that the .bore still gave promise of toeing one of the beat wells on the field. Bome fi ars have been entertained by outsiders that this well iriiolit be giving out, but anyone present yesterday would not need ;uiy convincing that the.se fears are groundless. The manager believes that with the live-inch perforated easing which is being put in this bore—from the bottom upwards to 800 feet—and the 'i'/i-inch pump-tubing inserted, the well will give quite a.s good results, or probably better, than have ever been obtained before. Anyone visiting the works yesterday would have encountered a constant liipiid stream, as the result of the violent outpourings of the bore. The bore is being allowed to flow so as to absolutely clear itself of silt. Prior to silting up, No. 2 was producing about 100 barrels a week.

Welks No. 5 and 3 continue'to "flow as usual.

NEW ROTARY PLANT. Cabled information was received yesterday that the rotary plant and casing for the new bores are due here on October 1. Advice was also received that the share certificates will arrive from England by the next mail'.. 'Bewicks will he erected to' receive the new drills, most likely 'before the plant arrives. Within the next few months it is hoped to start upon a number of new bores. This increased activity in connection with the refinery and other works should stimulate private enterprise, with a view to the formation of syndicates in order to 'prosecute oilboring operations in different parts of the country, with the knowledge that they will have, a local market for all the oil they can produce.. \■. AX -INTERESTING ANALYSIS. _ lScarinpr upon the oft-repeated assertion that the 'crude oil produced at Moturoa is the finest in the world, it is interesting to note the result of a reeent analysis. According to this the products of 10,000 gallons of petroleum, the capacity of the refinery, will be 580 gallons ol motor spirit: 3300 gallons of kerosene, 2600 gallons of gas oil, 600 gallons of lubricating oil. and 140 ewt of wax.