NEW ZEALAND OIL WELLS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14909, 6 March 1914, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND OIL WELLS.

A POWERFUL GAS SEAM.

MR MORGAN'S REPORT ON THE

WATER QUESTION

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

NEW PL ."MOUTH, March 5. ..bince the first indications of oil in tho rotary bore cf the Taranaki (New Zealand) Oil Wells, Ltd.. about ten days ago, dril'.ing has been carried down to the oil eeam, similar to that met with in No. 5 well. To-day a powerful gas seom was penetrated at the bottom while drilling. Tho manager reportthat he has not witnessed, a stronger outbreak in tho Moturoa field*. This outbreak commenced at .30 p.m. to-day, and laste. till 7 p.m., when the well was capped and 'the flow of oil diverted into the iron tank. The gas ia now t_ strong ac ever, and the oil is increasing.

It is impossible at present to determine the yield of oil, but the manager stated that the well gives promise as good as any vet brought into oil on the Moturoa fields.

Oil was first touched in this 1 >ore while Mr Morgan, the Government Geologist, was here. He declared it to be free from water.

Mr Morgan's report on the alleged flooding of the field has been received. Ho foun 1 that the evidence of flooding was not conclusive, but with a view to reducing th* risk of any possible danger in that respect, he has made certain recommendations as -..o inspection, etc., which will be acceptable *o the oil prospecting companies at present operating in New Plymouth and the district. These regulations are in operation in other oil-boring countries.