Nazis Will Not Get Much Oil From Galicia

Northern Advocate, 30 January 1940, Page 5

Nazis Will Not Get Much Oil From Galicia

(Received 2.30 p.m.) RUGBY, January 29

The Petroleum Press Service, a technically well-informed trade journal, discussing the negotiations between Germany and the Soviet for the placing of the Galician oilfields at the disposal of the Reich, states these oilfields accounted for but threequarters of Poland’s peacetime oil production of 500,000 tons per annum. The journal points out, however, that, largely as a result of inadequate drilling operations, the output from these fields has fallen during the last 15 years to 370,000 tons, and difficult geological conditions are likely to hamper any rapid increase in production.

Oil at Great Depth.

Oil horizons lie at a great depth, the wells averaging from 300 to 400,000 feet, and the number of wells drilled during 1938 were insufficient to maintain production at the previous level. Any increase in production, therefore, would be dependent on largescale drilling, but since the Germans were known to have considerably increased drilling operations in Western Galicia, it was doubtful whether the necessary equipment and skilled personnel would be available after covering the needs of the Reich and Austria.

“Relatively Negligible.”

In any case, a year or two must elapse before . even intensive drilling could produce an appreciable increase. Quite apart from the transport problems, the quantities of Galician oil are relatively negligible, in proportion to the total German consumption once major military operations begin.