SEARCH FOR OIL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21910, 20 September 1934, Page 14

SEARCH FOR OIL

GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY TESTING TARANAKI AREAS [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] NEW PLYMOUTH. Wednesday "Recent developments in geophysics abroad have caused New Zealand geologists to look on the Taranaki oilfields in a new light," said Dr. E. Marsden. director of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research to-day. Dr. Marsden, Dr. J. Henderson, Director of Geological Survey, Mr. E. 0. McPherson, geologist of the Mines Department, and Mr. M. Modriniak, geophysicist, arrived in New Plymouth last night to make preliminary arrangements for a geophysical survey of the fields.

Dr. Marsden stated the survey of the Moturoa oilfields might be extended to the rest of Taranaki, as had been done in the South Island. Operations at New Plymouth are to be coinmencod shortly and will occupy at least three months. The survey will be carried out independently of the ordinary work of the company, which will proceed to develop No. 1 bore. When this well was closed about two years ago it was estimated to produce 10 barrels of crude oil a day. Geophysics did not profess to discover gold or oil, continued Dr. Marsden. It merely indicated whether there were present conditions and circumstances favourable to its being found. Experience in Southland, the scene of a recent geophysical survey, had been that theory, based on a survey, was remarkably well supported by actual fact. Another survey was to be made at Waihi. • Preliminary evidence obtained with the assistance of Moturoa Oilfields, Limited, had been accumulated over the past six months, concluded Dr. Marsden, and it was anticipated that a definite indication of the nature of the local structural conditions, with the allied possibility of further profitable exploitation of the field, could be obtained.