QUEST FOR OIL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23055, 4 June 1938, Page 12

QUEST FOR OIL

BOEING NEAR GISBOKNE intensive preparations WORKING AGAINST TIME 1 ■ / EXPERTS DUE SHORTLY [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] GISBORNE. Friday Working against time to get the camp at Here, 29 miles from Gisborne, established before the oil drilling staff and plant arrive toward the end of June, officers of tlio New Zealand Petroleum Company, Limited, are finding the weather conditions more favourable than had been hoped for. Nevertheless, it is calculated that there will be no margin of titne in hand between the completion of the urgent work now proceeding and the arrival of the drilling staff, which is being transferred to the Poverty Bay field from the Persian Gulf. Camp to be Ready It is the intention of the company to have the camp ready for occupation and all the foundations laid for the erection of the drilling gear as soon as the expert field staff is available. This involves a large amount of work at the camp site, and also on the access road. It also calls for the careful selection of stores and other supplies, so that there will be no confusion and no lack of needed items when the field staff goes into action. The results already achieved adjacent to the site chosen for the first bore on the Totangi dome are an earnest of the determination of the company to be ready when the field staff arrives to take up the drilling. The contractors for the reconstruction of the access road to the camp site have gangs and machines working day and night on the metalling of the road and the strengthening of culverts and bridges. Heavy Loads on Roads Neighbouring farmers and those who travel the highways by night have been impressed with the urgency with which this wdrk is being pressed forward, and the substantial character of the road work in particular. The road and its culverts and bridge will be called on to bear weights ranging to 16 or 17 tons, and the oil company is taking no chances of through damage to its machinery en. route to the drilling site. The erection of the camp buildings also is proceeding speedily, and this portion of the preparations should be completed well ahead of time. It is calculated that, once the drilling gear is set up, not more than three or four months will be required to test the initial site on the Totangi dome to a depth of 7000 ft.