QUEST FOR OIL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23275, 18 February 1939, Page 15

QUEST FOR OIL

A NOVEL METHOD

■S CREATING EARTHQUAKES AMERICAN EXPERT ARRIVES OPERATIONS IN TARANAKI The creation of artificial earthquakes in potential oil-bearing territories constitutes some of tho work to bo done in tho Taranaki oil territory within tho next three years by Mr. 11. C. Clark, a physicist in the employ of the Standard Oil Company, of America, who arrived yesterday by tho Monterey. Ho will have charge of tho seisinological party that is to arrive shortly to undertake surveys on the west coast of the North Island.

Since lie graduated from tho University of Nebraska in 1927, Mr. Clark has specialised in this class of work, and with teams of scientific earthquakemakers ho has traversed the oilfields of Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado and many other States. Tho experience he has gathered in his own country ho will use in Taranaki on behalf of tho New Zealand Petroleum Company, Limited, and within a short time ho and his team of 16 men will begin operations.

The general idea behind the scismological work to be done was tho creation of miniature earthquakes by setting off small charges of dynamite at various depths, he explained. Tho vibrations set up by the concussions travelled through the earth, were reflected from certain formations such as limestone, and recorded on special equipment used for that precise purpose. The data gathered in this way enabled him to say what geological structures lay beneath tho ground surface, and to determine their locations. This was an essential part of modern prospecting methods, since there must be some form of geological structure forming reservoirs for oil accumulations. Drilling for oil had ceased to bo a haphazard process, ho continued. A definite technique had be'en laid clown as the result of almost unceasing experiments, and the principle to be followed in Taranaki would bo in accord with that practised abroad. So far as ho knew, his party would be the first of its kind in the Dominion. "In no sense do wo discover oil." Mr. Clark said. "We merely locate subterranean structures favourable to the accumulation of oil. As soon as tlia apparatus arrives from the United States next month, we shall get to work."

DRILLING RESUMED

TOTANGI DOME SITE ONLY SLIGHT DEVIATION MORE EQUIPMENT EXPECTED [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] GISBORNE, Friday The New Zealand Petroleum Company has announced that drilling at fotangi No. 1 bore is again in progress. The drill has readied 2100 ft., and the deviation from the vertical is not pronounced, being 2J degrees only, a figure which is considered quite satisfactory. No increase jn the deviation has been observed throughout the last 80ft. of drilling. Tho directional drilling equipment being imported from America is due at Auckland to-day, and will be employed as necessary to prevent further deviation at this or other wells to be drilled.

Recently the company took delivery of a type of rock-drill not hitherto available, and by the employment of this drill, together with certain precautionary measures suggested I by formation in which drilling has been proceeding for some months, has been able to make slow progress during tho past few days. Prior to the suspension of drilling on February 3 to await the arrival of new plant from the United States tho well at Totangi had been drilled to 2410 ft., at which stage a deviation from the vertical had become alarming enough to demand remedial measures. Three successive attempts to correct tho error by filling with cement back to tho 2070i't. mark and eventually to less than 1900 ft. and rodrilling were without result. Much satisfaction is felt concerning the improved prospects offered by the latest, attempt.