WAIPATIKI OIL FIELDS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10107, 7 May 1917, Page 6

WAIPATIKI OIL FIELDS.

(PUBLISHED BY AbHANGEMENT.)

A PROMISING VENTURI

At no previous period has the value of oij been so amply demonstrated as the present, and its employment in modern times lias revolutionised methods ol locoiaotion and transport, of which no bettor instance is required than that provided by the present war. The old method of horse traction has been superseded by motor transport, and in various other ways this valuable product is finding for itself a prominent and permanent place in the scheme of modern progression. The sources of these oil supplies arc, therefore, assets of the highest commercial value, and to many countries, principal among them being 'Ronmauia, Russia and America, are a means of revenue of very large proportions. In view of these facts, the presence in the Weber district <>t "hat is believed will prove a successful oil Held is of the utmost importance, not only to the adjacent localities, but to the Dominion as a whole. The site of the Hold is at Waipatiki, about four miles from the township of \\eber, in the direction of the East Coast, and distant 23 miles from Danuovirke, or about 57 Palmerston. An option over the field was originally secured by an English company, which installed a costly boring plant to test the ground, but after putting the bore down 2600 feet, with encouraging prospects, operations were suspended about the time the war broke out, and were- not resumed. In December last, however, a Palmerston syndicate purchased the plant, and secured the option over the oil area previously held by the English company. Work lias been resumed, and it is the intention of the syndicate now to form a company and thoroughly exploit the Held, and ye<terclav a party of gentlemen interested in the undertaking, accompanied by a representative of the “Standard, made a visit of inspection to the works.

the waipatiki field,

The scene of the. boring' - operations is within a mile of the mam road to Wcbei.

and ;i branch road leads to the works. Ihe works and' plant,, which are valued at £IO,OOO, are most complete and up-to-date, and’are considered superior to any other in New Zealand, comprising a large and powerful derrick, 20 h.p. engine, boitng tools, necessary building.-: and three cottages for the workmen, with steel easing sufficient to take the bore down to 4000 ft, and the company has an option over an other 2000 ft if required. The area of land attached to the works is 435 acres. The plant is in thorough working order, and with the bore down to 2600 it the syndicate is in an excellent, position for continuing the bore, which will lx; taken up immediately the bore is cleaned out, this work being now - In hand. Everything is thru ('fore in excellent order tor carrying OIL INDICATIONS. Tho presence of oil indications an* very pronounced at different points in this district, but especially so by the existence ol a large benzine gas spring - on the property a short distance from the. bore, and there are similar but smaller indications in tho immediate vicinity. An analytical examination of a sample of this gas showed that I»v the presence of a large percentage of the important elements, methane and ethane, the gas is derived from a petroleum source, and in this respect is almost identical with the gases produced by the famous oil wells of Baku and also those of America. This in itself is a material point. In America tlu - gas is secured, and by means of pipes is used for lighting in ilio ordinary way. A stnnlai experiment has been tried with success at, Waipatiki. An ordinary iron tank lias been placed over the gas spring and the gas conducted by a pipe to tho works, where it is used almost entirely to generate the heat required for tho steam on - i, me. Tim gas is also used to light the workmen’s dwellings, and is utilised lor rooking and other domestic purposes with the best results. Iu his on the gas sample. Professor Eastorfield stated that it would K‘ very suitable for driving a. gas engine or burning with an incandescent mantle. It has already proved its worth as an illuminant, and it is the intention to tike "it to drive a. gas engine which is to lac installed at an early date v,o operate an electric plant. Even with the crude appliances in use for capturing (j )C g ;is . a good pressure is secured, but it is estimated that fully nine-tenths escape, v 0 that the vast quantity arising from the lower strata is u very strong indication of oil, and that in large bodies. Geologically, tliG conditions urn also favonraluo to tin* existence of petroleum. Tho overlying marls, as proved by the bore, are thick and unbroken hv volcanic action. These overIving beds coniine the oil underneath, ami tj the bed is pierced by the bore, and the oil if it exists tit at! (and this is strongly supported at Waipatiki by theoretic and expert opinion), is at once released. 1 lie presence of the gas spring and the strong g a3 indications in the bore being sunk are favourable omens, and tangible signs of petroleum in the lower formations. THE BORE.

Tho rite of the boro was selected for the original company by Dr. Wanner, an eminent; geologist and oil expert, who spentseveral months fully and exhaustively testing the surrounding country, and the site was chosen on account, of its high geological position, coupled with ihs being in close proximity to (he large gas spring referred io. In selecting this site, Dr. Wanner gave the opinion that if no water was struck at 2000 ft ir- would be a desirable feature m the prospect of a successful bore. So lar no water has been met with, although a depth of 2600 ft has been reached. AN EXPERT DRILLER.

The baring operations are in charge ol Mr O’Dowda, an expert driller witb considerable experience of all the New Zealand oilfields. Mr O’Dowda considers Waipatiki superior to any ol the others. In Taranaki, where he was the first driller to strike payable oil in New Zealand, at the Birthday well at Now Plymouth, he states that the formation is broken, which permits the greater quantity ot the real supply escaping. ’ In Waipatiki the formation was solid and there was an absence of water, another favourable sign, whereas the presence of water is one of Taranaki's troubles. The drill is at present in proper formation, and after the cleaning of the -boro, Mr O’Dowda considers that the actual boring will be resumed in two or three weeks' time, and is confident of striking oil between 300Cft and 4,000 ft. This means another 1000 ft below tbs depth already attained. and £ir the normal rate ol boimg tills level should be reached in about October next. The gas indications are strong hi tho Ik,re tir present, and on Sat unlay Lv-r a large mumtitv was released and shot up (he bore. Mr O’Dowda is very con Hdent about tins field and its prospects, and ),j s faith was so strong that, he offered to put the boro down another 300l’t lor the previous conqvauv without salary, but as the company,had decided on closing down, the offer wits not accepted. With his expert knowledge, Mr O’Dowda.’s firm belief in tlm success of the held at an early date is entitled to some respect. PROPOSITION OPEN TO HIE PUBLIC.

\s stated the syndicate is determined Thai the bore should be given a fair trial, and the field fully tested, and propose forming a company with a capital of L20.0W. The vendors will receive ; £9OOO cash ami 5000 paid-up shares in consideration of their boring rights, plant, and machinery thus leaving 15.000 £1 shares to be offered k> la public. It is the company s desire Hint the control of the venture shall be confined to New Zealand, and to that- end no capital outside the Dominion will be considered. It is intended that tho headquarters and administration of the company shq.il be located at Palmerston, and that being so businessmen and citizens generally could not do better than give their best support to what is practically a local concern, and on the other hand what appears to offer every inducement of a sound investment. The indications are decidedly encouraging. The effect of a successful oil industry in our midst is of first importance, whilst the duty of assisting in the development of our resource* is one devolving upon the citizens, and an opportunity of doing so is now offered The scheme is pregnant with immense possibilities, and is one that offers a reasonable prospect of success. ” he public should note ibis and get on the share bit. Although -only launched a few days ago the promoters are receiving every encouragement in tho number of shares taken up, and enquiries tire also being received from the outride districts, so apparently it. will not b P long before the available shares aie jl Ym'mrdav’s visit to the bore, who inclml <wl Messrs E. Redpath, \Y Devine. A. M. Williams, and LI. Haycock, were favourably

impressed with the possibilities of the hold. Those interested in the proposition will bo afforded every opportunity ol visiting the property. Cars will run out to Waipatiki on two days during: the week, also on Sunday next, and those intended making the journey are invited to communicate With Mi 0, Andrews, at his garage in ilangitikei street.

For prospectuses and application forms for Waipatiki Oil Company apply Box 231. Palmerston North. Only a limited number of shares available.