SEARCH FOR OIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26442, 22 April 1947, Page 7

SEARCH FOR OIL

INTENSIVE DRIVE IN AUSTRALIA PRECIOUS SOURCE OF POWER COAL SUPPLIES DWINDLING From C. R. Mentlplay, Special Correspondent Rec. 0.30 a.m. SYDNEY, Apl. 21. The greatest search for oil. in Australian history is now taking place all over the Commonwealth and in Papua in an attempt to ascertain once and for all whether the precious fluid can be found in workable quantities. Of the many factors influencing this project, perhaps the most important is the limitation of petrol _ imports because of the dollar situation, Australians are seeing their country on the verge of an industrial revolution which will result if the plans for shifting heavy industries from Great Britain are carried out, and they are hurriedly examining their power resources. It has been known for some years that the coal stocks of the Commonwealth are by no means inexhaustible and that the difficulties of winning this fuel must increase as the more accessible supplies are worked out. Atomic Power Not Yet in Sight Uranium deposits in South Australia and thorium compounds found along the coastline of New South Wales and Queensland may provide the ultimate answer. While scientists work to adapt atom fission as a source of industrial power it is recognised that the internal combustion engine may be called on for years to come to carry the burden of commerce and industry. Accordingly, 10 wealthy companies, as well as the Federal and State Governments, are making a drive to find the oil which has been an Australian dream for many years. Extensive Area Covered The search areas extend from Papua and New Guinea to the Northern Territory, the Kimberley Basin of West Australia, and down to Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. The Government is heavily involved, but now, when subsidies are no longer a part of Government assistance takes the form of regional geological mapping, geophysical surveys, and drilling of experimental bores. Thus the Government is offering a service likely to be more useful to the exploring companies than the previous expenditure. From 1912, when some oil was found in Papua, until 1929 the Commonwealth Government spent £490,296 on searches and subsidies. The com T »anies, however, now appear well able to take care of themselves, as is instanced by the investment of £1,250,000 by one company and £750,000 by another in search projects. Permits suspended in 1942, after the entry of Japan into the Pacific war, were returned to the companies in February, 1946. Since then the test bore at Karaiva, Papua, has been extended 1000 feet to its present depth of 6500 feet. In the Kimberley district one company has bored to 4000 feet, and at Nelson, Victoria, another has reached 7300 feet. Two geophysicists sent to America by the Govern-, ment to study the latest methods of oil exploration have recently returned, and another has ordered seismic reflection equipment for the Government..

The scope of the enterprise is growing as more companies enter the field. It seems certain that, if there is oil in Australian territories, it will be found within a few years.