Negotiations Begin For Kapuni Pipeline

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30045, 1 February 1963, Page 10

Negotiations Begin For Kapuni Pipeline

(New Zealand Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, January 31. A pipeline to carry consendate from the Kapuni oilfield to New Plymouth is closer to realisation with negotiations between affected property owners and Shell, 8.P., and Todd Oil Services, Ltd.

The route is the shortest practical distance between Kapuni and New Plymouth on the Stratford and Inglewood side of Mount Egmont It is understood the pipeline will be about 40 miles

long. Its diameter will probably be Bin. The chairman of directors of the company. Mr J. B. Price, said today that company representatives were negotiating with farmers through whose property the condensate pipe would pass. About 150 property owners were involved. ‘One reason for the siting of the line on the eastern side of the mountain is because of other wells which

may be drilled in the locality, such as the present ‘wildcat’ well at Inglewood." said Mr Price. “If these are brought Into production, * the condensate pipeline will then be suitabl located." At the Inglewood well 13} Inch casing has been cen* ented in to a depth of 5508

feet and drilling is expected to begin again tomorrow. The possibility of a sugar refinery in Taranaki powered by natural gas is being investigated by the Taranaki Sugar Company, its chairman of directors (Mr W. G. Bassett) said today

Mr Bassett said details of an Iranian plant powered by natural gas have been supplied to the directors of the company. The plant was fully automatic and could produce 18400 tons of sugar a year. Inquiries are being made into the economics of such an industry in Taranaki with a refinery costing in the vicinity of £2.000.000 to £3,000,000 Twelve trial plots of sugar beet have been laid down in Taranaki to determine the

suitability of the crop in the province. The Government has offered the company the results of trials it is now conducting. “It will be two or three months before the erope are harvested although the actual length of the trials will be indefinite," said Mr Bassett