QUEST FOR OIL

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 August 1929, Page 10

QUEST FOR OIL

DRILLING NEAR KOTUKU. If, as is often said, faith can move mountains, then the West Coast should, in years to come, be known as a producer of oil, as well as gold, coal, and timber. The faith of Messrs. J. and C. N. Taylor, that Nature holds reservoirs of oil in the Kotuku district, is strong, and the quest for it is being continued. Mr. C. N. Taylor has been visiting the district this week, on behalf of the Taranaki (N.Z.) Oilfields, and he talked on the subject of oil to a “Star” representative to-day. “The company holds an extensive area between No Town and Kotuku,” he said, “and they have already made a geological survey. Owing to the fact that a lot of the surface is covered with alluvial deposits, obscuring the outcrops, it is necessary to carry out what is known as structure drilling. This work will be done l)y means of a Government diamond drill, in charge of Mr. W. Warburton. The cores brought up will enable the geologists to tell whether or not the structural conditions are sufficiently encouraging to warrant the sinking of a deep well. Diamond drilling costs about 10/- per foot, but the drilling of a large diameter oil well would cost' as many pound's pei- foot. The drilling will be commenced by Mr. Warburton in a week or two.” Mr. Taylor, who will pay periodical visits to the property, to decide the course of future operations, expressed confidence that oil will be found in payable quantities on the West Coast.