RUAKITURI OIL WELL

Press, Volume C, Issue 29702, 21 December 1961, Page 22

RUAKITURI OIL WELL

Second Phase Completed (N.Z. Press Association) wm.T.TNGTON. Dec 20. The second phase of drilling Ruakituri No. 1 well, south-east of Gisborne, had been completed by running a 10% in casing to 4716 ft and cementing it, the general manager of B P.-Shell-Todd Petroleum Development, Ltd (Mr R H Greenhorn), said today. A third B.P geological survey was about to begin in an area to the north-west of Gisborne, he said. Speaking of geophysical surveys. Mr Greenham said preparations were being made for a seismic reflection survey to be carried out in the vicinity of Napier, in the Sherenden. Poukawa, and Eskdale areas. These observations would begin during January. BP staff from London were assembling their equipment at Napier, be said. ”All the technical information from these exploration activities was under constant examination, said Mr Greenham. The results would determine the company’s future exploration programme. Special Tools Special tools have been flown to New Zealand from the United States to begin a sidetrack bole at Ruakituri No 1. The sidetrack hole will bypass a "fish” (part of the drilling head) abandoned at more than 6000 ft below the surface

Lops of “fish” is fairly common in drilling work, and has occurred twice at Ruakituri where there was a change in the angle at which die hole was drilled.