OIL BOOM

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11068, 15 February 1929, Page 7

OIL BOOM

PRESS INVESTIGATIONS

Electric Telegraph —Press Association NEW PLYMOUTH. February 12. On being risked by a Press Association representative to make, a definite statement regarding the results of operations at Blenheim oil bore, the chairman of directors (Mr W. R. Martin) issued a report to-night- as follows: — , “On February . when the bore was uncapped for tiie purpose of measuring the flow, oil flowed at the rate of *4OOO gallons a bihour fcir a period of about a minute and a-half. The flow then ceased, duo, it ia surmised, to what is known as a gas lock. Oil has not since flowed from the bore. On February 5, two lengths of seven ii-ch casing were- withdrawn in the hope of inducing the oil ho- flow up insidg the seven inch casing, instead of, as 'before, between the- seven and ten inch casings because there are no means of leading the oil from the mouth of the bore to the tanks when emerging from between thle two casings. “Investigations showed water and solid matter to have been driven some distance up tho seven inch casing by the pressure ol : gas and ever since February 5. the drilling out of this debris has been persevered with, in conjunction with the hailing out of water, with the object, of lowering the water pressure. “This, it is hoped, will result m oil being induced to flow up the seven inch casing when it is sufficiently cleared. The work of drilling and bailing is now proceeding night and clay.” The Press representative paid several recent visits try the boro and on all occasions a similar state of affairs existed. Benzine luinc-s flow constantly from the mouth of the bore, ■which all the time rumbles with petroleum gas rising rapidly through the water a.t the bottom. As the plunger ascends, water mixed with petroleum matter pours out, in a violent geyser like a- burst driven by gas pressure and gives forth a pungent. benzine odour, which at times is almost overpowering. The- results, therefore, undoubtedly disclose- the presence- of oil. Whether it exists in nnv quantity that- will flow tin the bore- can only be conjectured.