HOPE OF STRIKING OIL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 250, 22 October 1928, Page 3

HOPE OF STRIKING OIL.

NEW PLYMOUTH BORE,

WATER COMPLETELY CUT OFF.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

NEW PLYMOUTH, Saturday.

Oil in considerable quantities will be struck at New Plymouth within about a fortnight if the anticipations «f the Blenheim Oil Reclamation Company are realised.

Flooding of the bore by water, since the quest for petroleum commenced in New Plymouth, has been an insurmountable difficulty. Now that difficulty in the Blenheim bore has overcome, the Government mines engineer having certified that the water has been shut off satisfactorily. This bore, years ago, was sunk to nearly 6000 ft. It was some months ago plugged at 2183 ft and by a system of plugging up the water strata at 1700 ft and by the forced injection of eight tons of cement where the new casing ends at that depth, the cement easing formed for a considerable distance up the outside of the pipe, cutting off the water. It now remains to bore through the. plugs and sink the casing to a depth of 2140 ft to the stratum, whence 100 barrels per day flowed some years ago and then the company hopes to secure a large flow of oil.