OIL STOPS.

Grey River Argus, 13 February 1929, Page 5

OIL STOPS.

IN BLENHEIM BORE. Obstacles to be Removed. (Per Press Association). NEW PLYMOUTH, February 12. Asxed by a Press, Association re presentative to make a definite stateinput regarding the if.-suits of the operations the Blenheim oil bore, •he Chairman of Directors, Mr W. P. Martin, issued a report tonight as follows; On February 4, when the bore was uncapped for thlJ purpose of measuring the flow, the oil flowed at the rate of four thousand gallons an hour for a period qf about a> minute and ahaif. The flow" then ceased. This was duo, it is surmised, to what is known as a gas lock. Oil h4s not since flowed from the bore. On February 5, two lengths of seven-inch, casing were withdrawn in the hope of inducing Gil to. fltow up inside the seven inch casing, instead of, as before, between the seven and ten-inch casing, because of there being no means of loading the oil from the mouth of tilbore to the tanks when emerging from between the two casings. Investigations showed water and solid matter to have Mlpen driven some d*b tanee up the seven inch teasing by pressure of gas and ever since February 5, the drilling out of this debrit has been persevered with, in conjunc-i lion with the bailing out of water/ with the object of lowering the water pressure. This, is is hoped, will result in the oil being induced to flow up thi seven inch casing when it is sufficiently cleared. The work of drilling and bailing ia now proceeding night and day.

A Press representative paid several recent visits to the bore, and on all occasions a similar state of affairs existed. Benzine fumes flow constantly from the bore, which all the timfe tunable®, with petroleum gas rising rapidly through the water at the bottom. As the plunger ascends, water mixed with petroleum matt>ir pours fint in a violent geyser likb bursts driven by gas pressure, and gives forth a pungent benzine odour, at times almost overpowering. The results, therefore, undoubtedly disclose the of c|iL Whether it exists in any quantity that will flow up the bore can only be conjectured.