MIDHIRST OIL BORE

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1940, Page 6

MIDHIRST OIL BORE

PROGRESS DURING WEEK Little progress was made at the Midhirst oil bore this week, the New Zealand Petroleum Co. reporting last night that the bottom of the hole was at 1983 feet in hard sandstone. In the previous report the depth was given at 1980 feet, having reached sandstone after the strata of soft sand which had caused much trouble. It was then stated that the well was being reamed to the full size, but this week's report does not indicate whether this was successfully achieved under the great difficulties presented by the soft sand. It is understood that a special preparation has been, used in an attempt to seal the circumference of the well in that strata so that the soft sand will not cave in. If the difficulties have persisted it may be necessary to put down casing. Every effort would be made to avoid doing that, because each section of casing reduces the diameter of the well, making it harder to drill to the great depth desired. The fact that the drill has gone down farther this week, even if only three feet, suggests that real progress has been made towards solving the problem of the soft sand. | The company reporfs that the Morere j well has been carried to a depth of 4384 feet in hard, sticky shale. The hole has been reamed tq full size at 4367 feet.