NEW ZEALAND PETROLEUM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13451, 30 May 1907, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND PETROLEUM.

: THE PROGRESS OF BORING. HIGH-CLASS PLANTS BEING USED. [ [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] New Plymouth, Wednesday. Work- is proceeding very rapidly at the i Omati bore of the New Plymouth Petroleum : Company. Although actual boring operations were commenced only a fortnight ago • a depth 'of 600 ft has been already reached. : Hard substance in the shape of boulders has been met with, practically all the way, but the company's expert, Mr. Bunger, hopes to pass this conglomerate very soon, and then !be able to ' make even better progress. - The 'gear of the company is of the latest Americam pattern, and such as is being used by all the large oil-boring companies in America and Canada. The derrick- is the largest at present erected in the colony, being 74ft high, and having a base of*- 20ft. It also differs from the derricks of the other companies inasmuch as it has open sides above 20ft. The timbers used are particularly j heavy, and of the best quality obtainable. I They vary from 14in to 16in square, and from 16ft to 28ft in length. Altogether the I plant seems most up-to-date and complete. The company have two strings of drilling 'tools—one of sin diameter and 45ft long, and ! the other 3j;in diameter and the same ! length, with extra stems, 12ft long, for each. Mr. Bunger, too, has complete sets of fishing apparatus for removing lost tools, casing or any other obstacle that may find its way into the well; also the roost modern earners, fot enlarging. the well below the casing. , The drilling, bits each weigh ', 8001b. Two thousand five hundred feet of i special steel drilling cable, ordered from Sydney, arrived at the bore this, week, and has already been g fixed in position, and operations are being again resumed t his morning. y The lnglewood Oil-boring Company's expert, Mr. E. D. McDonald, who has been to the United States to purchase machinery for boring at lnglewood, returned to New Plymouth on Tuesday night. ~» The plant Mr. McDonald purchased is expected to arrive here next month. , When it comes to hand boring operations will begin immediately. ' " ■'"■ '