THE SEARCH FOR OIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19490, 20 November 1926, Page 13

THE SEARCH FOR OIL.

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN FIELD., AN ANALYSIS REFUTED. CLAIMS OF THE ENGINEER. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received 5.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. ' MELBOURNE. Nov. 19. In connection with the recent statement of the Federal Director of Geologi cal Survey in reference to the analysis of the South Australian Oil Wells Company's product, the company's field superintend ent, after consultation with his directors, has issued a statement This says that in refutation of the reports recently circulated as to the absence of mineral oi' in the company's bore, he lefinitely states that he has proved the existence of crude petroleum in the bore [ts presence has been demonstrated to many people, including visiting directors But for the unexpected intrusion oi water into tho bore, the company would before this have been a producer of oil on probably a commercial scale. This is given as his definite opinion as a petro leum engineer of many years' experience The statement adds that this opinion is supported by two other. well-known experts. In a recent report on the operations of the South Australian Oil Wells Company the Federal Director of Geological Survey said no oil had yet been discovered by the company in the Glenelg River district Samples sent to the department had shown that no natural oil had been found. ALBERTA DEVELOPMENT IMPORTANT STRIKE OF GAS. MUCH EXCITEMENT CAUSED. Sun. VANCOUVER. Nov. 18. An important strike of gas, indicating what might be a great oil-well, has been made in the Turner Valley district in South-West Alberta. There ts much excitement about this development Optimists are hopeful that the field will rival those of California. Drilling for petroleum in Canada has previously been carried on in two fields, one along the Peace River, northward of the town of that name, the other along the Athabasca River, both below and above McMurray. Most of the wells are close to the river bank; previous to the construction of the two railway lines servieg Northern Alberta,- the only method of transportation was by water. But isolated wells have also been sunk at Pouce Coupe, on the western edge of the Peace River district, and at High Prairie in the south. The whole area, from latitude 55 degrees to 58 degrees north; and longitude 111 degrees to 120 degrees west, is under lain by the same cretaceous formations. Gas might be obtained at many points, but the transport difficulties are still great, and no drilling has been yet done in the country between the two rivers and in the north, though oil seepages have been „reported from the northern shore .of Lower Slave Lake. So far the outlook is not particularly promising. • Oil was found in the Peace River field in 1916; a small oil boom followed, but most of the 16 new wells were abandoned after five years, as none produced oil in commercial quantities.