The Petroleum Works.

Opunake Times, Volume IV, Issue 163, 24 January 1896, Page 3

The Petroleum Works.

It gives us (News) great pleasure to chronicle the fact that the boring operations at Moturoa have proved successful, and that the most gratifying results have been obtained. Our readers are aware that the Petroleum Company have been engaged for some time past boring on Mr Honeyfield’s land, adjoining the Moturoa Hotel, and that fair progress has been made, no special difficulties having been encountered. For the past few days the workmen have been expecting indications of oil. At about five o’clock on Monday an explosion took place, and a quantity of mud was thrown up high above the mouth of the bore, the drillers meanwhile having to rush to a place of safety. When the explosion was over and the gas had decreased in the bore it was found that the drilling apparatus had beeu lifted to an extent of 30 feet. The drillers at once proceeded to adjust the apparatus, and in doiug so found that there had been a very narrow escape from losing it altogether and rendering the bore useless. One of the poles had been so very much wrenched by the explosion that it was virtually held by a thread, and had it parted the boring tools would have fallen down the bore and possibly never recovered. It required great care to raise the boring apparatus. After this was accomplished the sand pump was attached to the wire cable and was put down the bore, the result being that a quantity of soft mud mixed with petroleum was brought up to the surface. The gas was also very plentiful, but no further explosion took place. The bore was then shi t down for the night. Early on Tuesday morning Mr Samuel, the chairman of directors, accompanied by the secretary, went to the works, and in his presence the sand pump was again put down. The result showed that the oil had reached within 875 feet from the top of the bore, and extended to the bottom—about 920 feet- About 10 feet of spoil (mud saturated with petroleum) came from the bottom of the bore, the remaining 20 feet to 80 feet 'of the pump being full of oil. Instructions were given to test the quantity of oil the bore is likely to yield, and this will probably be known in a couple of days. The head driller is very confident that the present bore is a payable one—to use his own words, “ one of the best I have seen.” As there is such a large quantity of gas escaping, which is of a highly inflammable nature, it has been decided not to admit any visitors to the works. This precaution is also necessary to prevent the workmen from being impeded in the important work they have on hand. A most satisfactory feature is that the water has been shut off completely, and there is no difficulty to be apprehended in pumping the oil. This objectionable feature, however, is entirely absent in the present bore, and pumping can be easily managed. Mr Fair, the petroleum expert, is now in Auckland, and is expected to arrive in New Plymouth on Friday (to-day). We have to acknowledge our indebtedness to Mr Samuel for the information he has placed at our disposal, and for his kindness in permitting a representative of this paper to visit the works on Monday afternoon. At that time the men were busily engaged preparing the necessary appliances for pumping, A quantity of large barrels and tanks had been procured, and it is expected that before the end of the week the value of the present bore will be ascertained beyond doubt.