MOUNT GAMBIER OIL

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11437, 6 February 1923, Page 2

MOUNT GAMBIER OIL

iatPORTANT WORKS IN HAND. The report of the manager of the Mount Gambier, South Australia, works of the Associatedi Oil Corporation, for the fortnight ended January 20th, states that fair progress has been made, although several mechanical alterations were essential. The streaks of sand encountered necessitated a very heavy mud being used, and the cylinders of mud pumps were reduced, in diameter to give higher efficiency, and the valves were altered and strengthened accordingly. The alterations were entirely successful, and since their installation a much stronger volume of mud is being circulated and constantly maintained. Streaks of sand, brown shale and sandy shale, continue. The sand spoken of is not similar in any way to the sand found on the surface in and around Mount Gambier, but is constituted of fine quartz, l-16th to £ inch in diameter. Consequently the bore must be securely mud-* ded up to prevent this very shifty sanu from drifting in. The sand is highly water-worn, and most probably was laid down under fresh water conditions of the Pliocene period. The depth of the bore to date is 1550 ft.