MURCHISON WELL ALMOST READY

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31676, 11 May 1968, Page 1

MURCHISON WELL ALMOST READY

(New Zealand Press Association}

MURCHISON, May 10.

Steady progress was being made tonight in drilling out the bottom section of the Blackwater No. 1 oil well near Murchison.

Encouraging traces of gas continued to bubble on the surface of the drilling mud that was being circulated. Slow progress was made throughout the afternoon in removing the jelly-like mud together with rock* cuttings and larger fragments of shale from the hole. When the bottom is reached probably later tonight, the whole section will be flushed out ready for testing. There is a reluctance, however, to carry out the test in

darkness and officials at the rig indicated they would probably eall a halt at that stage and wait for the morning.

There have been traces of oil as well as frequent shows of gas as the drilling has proceeded through the lower levels today. The commercial potential of this first well in the Blackwater Valley would be assessed by tomorrow.

Gas Premure

The testing involves the release of the gas pressure by the use of valves at the wellhead to allow whatever is in the hole oil or gas—to come to the surface where it can be evaluated. The Blackwater No. 1 well

> continues to frustrate the • men who made it. i If there is oil in the hole it is as reluctant to appear f as a nervous prime donna on > opening night The latest problem has ■ been caused by a wooden 1 block. This was rammed down i the 4in weU casing several I days ago to force cement up the outside of the pipe. When the cement had set to secure the casing the drilling crew ’ bored through the wooden block. I Improvised Auger The improvised auger fit--1 ted yesterday bit into the remains of the block and be- . came embedded during the night. When attempts to free it were unsuccessful the drilling team had once again the tedious job of withdrawing the 49 sections of 2in tubing in the well. A further problem, and a i more serious one, is that the ' sides of the well have been caving in immediately below the end of the sealed casing at a depth of 1486 feet The shale stratum has been gouging out and dropping to the bottom of the hole. A senior American engineer at the drilling, said today that if the full range of equipment had been available—as it would have been in the United States they would probably have contin- , ued the casing to the bottom ; of the hole. This would have peeled off ’ the shale areas which are ' causing so much trouble and they could have been perfori ated with special equipment ■ to reach the gas and oil. Bringing the necessary i equipment to New Zealand , for this first well was consid- ' i ered too costly and the dril- - era have had to accept the difficulties and the delays.