SEARCH FOR OIL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16374, 23 June 1927, Page 7

SEARCH FOR OIL

WAIAPU INDICATIONS PROGRESS AT MORERE Interesting developments are at auy time due in respect of the quest "for cil in the Watapu and Morerc districts by Taranaki Oilfields, Ltd. In the Waiapu district the company's experts have now drilled down to 800 ft., and lOin, casing has been inserted in the bore, while at Morerc the operations, which suffered some delay o:i •account of the recent rainy weather, have reached a stage when practically nil arranagements are completo for the actual drilling, which should be commenced in about a fortnight's time. At present the drillers at Waiapu No. i!* veil arc boring through the tertiary rock, and no important: t\o velopment is expected until this cretaceous rocks are reached. It is interesting to note that, wherever oil or gas indications have been found in Loverly Bay they have been definitely traced to the cretaceous rocks, and it is known that the cretaceous series contain sandstone beds which act as excellent traps or reservoirs i'rr the oil. These are overlaid by the impervious tertiary strata, and if the strucli""il condition's arc favorable oii could exist in commercial quantities. Only drilling can solve the problem as to whether or not oil in payable quailr.:ics is present, and this operation involves hea\y expenditure.

Some of the heaviest rainstorms on record have been experienced in the Moicro district lately, but despite the extremely unfavorable /weather, conditions, the erection of the big standard ijg is now practically accomplished. Jf two weeks of reasonably line weather wero experienced the incidental items in connection with the preparation of the plant could be completed in that time, and the actual drilling could then be commenced. In view of the fact that the transport and erection operations commenced only it, April, and that the weight r»f the rig, camp materials, fuel, etc., run into hundreds of tony, the company is fortunate to have mado such marked progress in so short a time.