THE SOUTH PACIFIC.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5438, 30 March 1889, Page 3

THE SOUTH PACIFIC.

REPORT OF BOARD OF CONSULT; TION. Tun following report of Messrs Graham an Maude is published for the information ( shareholders : — We beg to report that along with M Weaver we visited the Springs yesterda forenoon. Mr Tucker was advised of on intended visit, and asked to join us, bub h did not do so. We reached the Springs yet terday morning about halt-past eight. Steal was at once got up, and as soon as ready th tools were inserted and let down the pipe. From the record kept at the .' '"igs which we inspected, the total depth i\...hoi prior to the fire iii December, 18S7, was 132 feet. The 4Mn. pipe reached a depth o 1307ft,0r 14ft"within the bottom of the hole The Gin pipe extends to a depth of 1104 f lOin. The tools when inserted ran down freely to a depth of 1254 ft, where they met soim obstruction. On getting down to about tin deptii tho temper screw was put on the cabl< and the tools were raised and lowered slowlj a few feet a time, in order that the obstruc tion might' be felt, and the danger of letting them get too far be avoided. The bit seemei to go down past the obstruction easilj enough, but on working it back there was i palpable jerk and strain. We may say thai the difficulty in getting the tools back pasi the obstruction did not seem to us very great but Mr Weaver explained he would not risli letting the tools down any depth past the obstruction as he might not be able to gel them back again at all ; also that the tools required to clean out the pipes underncatli the obstruction were slightly larger and re quired more room to work in than the drilling tool let down in our presence. On being brought up to the surface again the bit proved on examination to have been subject to considerable friction on thesukvu if the pipe had been compressed, not burst or showing any jagged edge, or the bit would have presented a scratched appearance. The obstruction occurring, at 1264 feet, ot 43 feet from the bottom of the 4Ainch pipe, and 56" feet from the bottom of the hole, shows that it is just about on a level with the top of the tools which remained in-the pipes so long, the total length of these tools being about 57 feet. The lengths of the 'Winch pipe counting froiiv the bottom are: No. 1, 18ft 2in ; No. 2, 20ft 3iu ; No. 3, 20ft 3in. The obstruction would thus be near the joining of the 2nd and 3rd pipes from tho bottom. How it has becu caused,- or exactly what it is, we could not ascertain. Mr Weaver is of opinion that the pipe has got ovalled, mid from his explanation we have come to the same conclusion. As already explained, the pipe does not seem to have got ripped or broken. It is not likely it has got telescoped, as the tools worked freely enough prior to the fire, and nothing has been done since which could cause them to telescope. Mr leaver informed us that he had tried inserting a mandril and every other means lie could think of to get the pipes to the proper shape, but without success. His only alternative now is to draw the 4Ainch pipe, and replace the bad piece. This he proposes proceeding to do us soon as a casing spear, now being made by Messrs Brown and Smaill, is ready. A good deal has been said as to whether the 4-iineh pipe can now be drawn. Mr Weaver himself says he can do it and put the pipes down again in two to three weeks at the outside. Other experts are reported to have said that the pipes cannot be drawn ; but after hearing all the arguments and explanations \Ve could elicit, and especially after seeing oil the ground the injured pipe drawn by Mr Weaver in 1887, we have come to the conclusion not only that the idea of drawing the pipe 3is feasible, but that it is the only method of overcoming the difficulty. As to the quantity of oil at present in the pipe, Mr Weaver declined to run the risk of putting down the bailer, as it would most likely have got stuck, so we could not get a sample up. The cable, however, showed that it had been passing through oil for a length of about 135 feet. This, with .!•> feet below the obstruction, would seem to indicate that there is now about 190 feet of oil in the pipe. About four feet of the bit when brought up was covered with soft slushy mullock, full of gas, showing that this sort of stuff has worked up the pipe close to the obstruction. Andruw Ghaham W. Maude. Giaborne, March '28, 1889.