TARANAKI OIL BURES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2861, 13 January 1909, Page 88

TARANAKI OIL BURES.

NEW PLYMOUTH, January 5. Oil has been flowing freely from No. 2 bore at the petroleum works since work was resumed yesterday after the holidays, close on 50 barrels having been collected. It is stated that the oil is remaining at about the same level in the bore, despite the large quantity drawn off k 8. The chairman of the Taranaki Petroleum Company supplies the following : — On resuming work on the 4th inst. at No. 2 bore it was found that the oil hid ri. c en in the casing to within about 100 ft from the top. The work of taking some of this oil ou* with the sand) pump was therefore put in hand, with the result that on Monday 26 b.uiells were taken out, on Tuesday 20 ban els were lifted, and on Wednesday 10 banela only weie taken, aci the two big tank* were full, and the manager found it necessary to caek up a lot so as to find spav.e for it. On Tluusday the vorlt <>i splicing tha cable, etc., in readiness for drilling was proceeded with. On Friday morning the oil had again risen some 200 ft, to some 10 or 11 casks were taken off. This lowered the oil but little. The gas, w Inch was very strong, and a considerable quantity of sand cams with the oil. It was decided to pioceed with the drilling fro as to get down to the expected big vein as quickly as oesible. No. 3 bore is now entirely clear, and it is expected that by about Tuesday night a etiing of casing will be down, which, it is hoped, will if-hut off the water. The directors, at last night's meeting, resolved to make provision at No. 2 bore in cas-e of striking a laige flow of oil lower down. For this purpose more casks are to be procured, and the chairman, vice-chairman, and the manager were appointed a committee to consider the question of providing still further tankage. This may take the form of a large excavated tank, pugged with clay, roofed in, and covered on top with clay or earth, so a-, to prevent evapoiation of the spiriiuou» parts of the pioduct. These earth tanks are laigely used in Russia and other parts of the wo: Id.