SEARCH FOR OIL

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 October 1939, Page 14

SEARCH FOR OIL

PROGRESS IN NEW ZEALAND WESTPORT, October 27. Five of the seven oil prospecting companies in New Zealand are now operating in their fields, and the expectation of the Minister for Mines (Mr. Webb) is that drills will be working soon in different parts of the country. A geologist and an assistant are working at Kotukn on the West Coast for Oil Concessions, Ltd., but the Murchison Oil Company has not begun operations. An English company, Divine Oil Wells, Ltd., has also taken out a license for the Dannevirke district, but is not working yet. Gratification at the way in which various oil companies were making the search for petroleum, was expressed to-day by Mr. Webb. “We are fortunate in having a large number of the world’s best oil experts engaged in different parts of the country on geophysical and geological work preparatory to drilling operations,” said the Minister. “If the work being done gives sufficiently encouraging results it should not be long before the drills are Operating. Reports are to hand from companies that they a’re obtaining from their geophysical and seismographic work results which are at least promising. “The New Zealand Petroleum Company has advised that it has ordered a hew drilling plant for the Taranaki area and the plant should be operating before long. Unfortunately,” Esaid Mr. Webb, “this company struck bad luck wth its. Totangi bore. it was now down to 5400 .feet through the most difficult country ever experienced by drillers.” > However, all New Zealand country was not so difficult to drill, and with the machines now in use the companies anticipated that they would penetrate to whatever were the depths considered necessary. The need for petroleum supplier within the Dominion was emphasised by present world conditions, said the. Minister. It was obvious that if oil in payable quantities could be discovered the social and economic life of the people of this country would be advanced, “and I am convinced that with expert men and modern machinery the discovery wil be made,” he said. “In any case we have the satisfaction of knowing taht our legislation has attracted the world’s most eminent geologists and scientists to search for oil. The whole expense of this huge undertaking is being carried by the companies. Not one penny of Government money is being spent.” A : tWal of 118 persons are at present employed by the oil companies. The largest pay-roll is that of the New Zealand Petroleum Company, with 56, in addition to administrative and office employees. The company lias 24 in the drilling department, eight geologists, seven surveyors, and a palaeontologist. Next on the list is the Superior Oil Company, which has Californian support. It employs 34, including 10 geologists and 10 key men in the geophysical division. A field staff of 10 is working for New Zealand Oil Exploration, another 10 being on the administrative and office staff. Northern Oilfields, Ltd., which is drilling by contract, has six employees.