THE SEARCH FOR OIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19230, 20 January 1926, Page 10

THE SEARCH FOR OIL.

TARANAKI INVESTIGATIONS. 'OLD VOGELTOWN PROPERTY. PREVIOUS BORE OPENED UP. [by telegraph.-—own correspondent.] NEW PLYMOUTH. Tuesday. The former geologist of the Anglo-Per-sian Oil Company, operating in Papua and ex-German Now Guinea, Mr. J. A. Spencer, is visiting New Plymouth. Mr. Spencer has been interested in this district for many years and the object of his present visit is to see the reopening of the .bore of the old Taranaki Oil and Freehold Company, situated at Vogeltown, near New Plymouth, negotiations having been entered into for the sale of the boring rights over the property. The Taranaki Oil and Freehold' Company was formed in 1906 and acquired 10 acres of freehold land at Vogeltown. The capital of the company was £15,000 in £1 shares and of these 13,500 were allotted. Drilling commenced in June, 1907, and continued for over two years, progress being slow owing to the difficult nature of the country encountered, to the large diameter of the bore, and to certain mishaps. The first signs of oil met with were at 450 ft. and "shows" were got at various depths down to 975 ft., where petroliferous sand was met with and yielded oil at the rate of four barrels per 24 hours. The indications from this point downward continued to be most encouraging, more especially between 1160 ft. and 1200 ft. At 1385 ft. boring was discontinued owing to want of funds, and although the directors and the driller were confident that oil could be raised, sufficient capital could not bo obtained locally to continue the operations. No drilling has taken place since 1909. The casing was removed in 1918 under the direction of Mr. 0. S. Miller, who stated at the time that ho found a large quantity of oil, a samplo of which was analysed by Mr. Uraner, of Los Angeles. Mr. Spencer, accompanied by a number of prominent New Plymouth residents, visited the bore. It had just been opened up pending his arrival and petroleum could be plainly seen in the riveted casing at a distance of 18ft. from the surface. A "billy" tin was lowered and brought up full of pure oil. Mr. T. Simons then descended by means of a ladder and in 15 minutes had baled enough oil to fill two kerosene tins, the only containers available at the time. Further' samples were taken this -morning and carefully sealed. The reopening of the well is particularly interesting from a geological standpoint, especially in view of the fact that the petroleum obtained from this bore differs materially from that found at Moturoa. Although in a few cases oils do differ considerably from different wells in close association with each other the opinion has been expressed that the oil deposits, being so widely separated in distance and characteristics, are obtained from two entirely separate formations, and that it is more than probable that the big "nursery" of petroleum deposits which undoubtedly exists is in the direction of Vogeltown. Mr. Spencer will take away several gallons of oil to Auckland for analysis and it is possible "that a company will bo floated to develop the property at an early date. - .r . ...