HOPES OF OIL

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 61, 15 March 1924, Page 13

HOPES OF OIL

QUEENSLAND BORE

ENCOURAGING REPORTS.

fruOJI OUB OWN CORRESPONDBKI.)

SYDNEY, 6th March,

Hopes for the discovery of payable oil in Queensland which have been entertained ever since the sinking...of the Roma bore some years ago have been revived by the State Geologist's 'report on the new bore at Orallo, in the. same zone, which has just been issued. While it is clear that much investigation and ■ expense are necessary, before '■iinytjiing of value is likely to be proved, the report makes it clear that tlie outlook, is promising. The geologist says that the analyst's examination of, samples revealed the presence of. free; oil. to tlie extent of nearly 2 per cent.,,which'^was. distinctly encouraging under the "circumstances,' as it was likely that samples taken during the progress of drilling would show even higher percentages. "At the time of miy ' arrival at the bore with the Chief Inspector of Minea and General Oil Supervisor;" says the geologist in his report, "drilling" hadceased, but thick mud fluid"still was being circulated in the borehole.'. This, mud fluid as it rose to the surface, was in a state of strong ebullition, lowing to. containing natural gas; and, as it ran along the ditch to the sump, it was observed to be streaked and spotted, with dark brown scum, having the appearance of comminuted oil-shale. I saw no irdiescence such as characterises: oil "films, but the manager pointed out to" me a few small areas in the brown scum that he regarded as due to anextTemely volatile oil, and at the same time he informed me that the whole of the. brown scum would disappear by volatilisation in a short period. While I cannot confirmthe manager's diagnosis. I have to note'that the scum, when air dried has a very faint aromatic odour, that reasonably might be attributed to the presence of petroleum, and yet is no stronger, than, the odour observed in freshly-raised lowmead oil shale. Moreover,, my sample from the sump, collected after, several hours' exposure, is appreciably in petroleum than that flowing directly from the borehole into the ditch. '

"The heavy influx of "gas'an'd'.'the supposed oil showing convinced''the' management of the necessity to.test.the commercial possibilities of the strataat about 2100 feet depth, but, owing shortage of the requisite casing, it was decided during our visit to close down,', arid to prevent any possibility.of.the,well being ruined by a premature gas gusher, the heavy mud fluid is to be allowed to settle in the borehole." •