OIL DEPOSITS IN N.Z.
“EXPLORATION NOT WORTH WHILE” *‘The Press” Special Service „ „ „ AUCKLAND, May 18. Hart ’ of Los Angeles, who tried to strike oil in New Zealand 22 years ago and failed, returned here yesterday on his fourth trip, but not to seek oil. Now semi-retired after a lifetime of oil exploration and constructional engineering, he says he knows that the mineral is not to be had on a commercial scale in New Zealand. Mr Hart first bored for oil here on the East Coast while working for a combined Australian-New Zealand company in 1928. A few seepages were located near New Plymouth, but that was all. “Where there is no continuity of oil sand and a steady output cannot be maintained when drills are close together, then the game is not worth while,” said Mr Hart.
He added that it was not worth the risk of sinking capital into oil exploration in the Dominion because the chances of winning out were too slim. The very nature of the country itself prevented drills being made without piping, whereas in California an engineer could bore 800 feet and have the oil gush up without pipes being used.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26117, 20 May 1950, Page 5
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196OIL DEPOSITS IN N.Z. Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26117, 20 May 1950, Page 5
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