STEAM BORES AT WAIRAKEI

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 26984, 9 March 1953, Page 6

STEAM BORES AT WAIRAKEI

Heavy Drilling Rig Again In Use NEW PHASE OF THERMAL INVESTIGATIONS (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, March 3. The new heavy drilling rig at the Wairakei geothermal project is back i» use on the bore in the Waiora Valley, where an eruption of mud and steam I stopped progress about five weeks ago The rig is still reconstituting. the bore down to the 1500 foot mark, which was reached before the interruption. Then it will start to go down deeper than any previous geothermal bore at Wairakei. It will stop, on present indications, only when the limit of drilling is reached. There are hopes that it may reach 4000 feet or more. This opens a new field in s?°' thermal investigation. The old drilling rigs could not go beyond 1500 ft, and what lies deeper may have a farreaching influence on the long-term prospects of power from the earth. The Ministry of Works, which is conducting the work at Wairakei with the aid of Mines Department experts, has another big drilling rig awaiting complete assembly at Mangakino. In the meantime, development drilling at shallower depths in an to prove enough steam for a 20.0 W Kw. pilot power station is continuM One bore down to 1000 feet is likely to be blown within the next tew weeks. Two other bores are being drill Kl, and the sites for several othen are ready.