WORLD'S PETROL SHORT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 247, 18 October 1926, Page 4

WORLD'S PETROL SHORT.

SCIENCE TO THE RESCUE. THE '-•CRACKING" PROCESS. Considerable consternation was created in America recently by an official report which showed that at the present rate of production and consumption the petrol supplies would only last another six years. Commenting on the position, the " Manchester Guardian Commercial " points out that the increase in consumption loses much of its significance as a market factor when it is remembered that 54 per cent of the additional demand for petrol in the first four months of the year has been taken care of by the saving of 208,877,000 gallons effected at the refineries. The direct economic importance of the "cracking" process is apparent. Apparently, the oil industry in America is rapidly approaching the point where the refiners can take care of the yearly increase in motor spirit consumption without requiring additional crude oil supplies. No oil technician would suggest that the limit in i( cracking plants" at refineries has been reached. It is generally admitted that not only will there be more new " cracking " installations, but that there will be numerous improvements in design which will result in a still greater recovery of gasoline from crude oil. In addition to this development there is proceeding a parallel development in the recover}- of gasoline from natural gas. It is estimated that for every barrel of crude oil produced at the well there is now manufactured two gallons of natural gasoline.