THE OREPUKI SHALE OIL WORKS.

Southland Times, Issue 17595, 6 March 1914, Page 7

THE OREPUKI SHALE OIL WORKS.

To the Fditor. Sir, Some years abo the writer made several Journeys to Ihe above works to examine and report on some brown wax which the company had for sale. This wax was extracted from the heavy oil, and is a valuable product, but the sulphur in it at that lime lessoned its value somewhat. 1 believe that difficulty is now overcome by chemicals. -Mr Dunlop, the manager, showed me all there was to he seen, and, having been interested in oil products both before and since, I have always felt interested in these same works. What a live place Orepuki was when everything was in motion at the works, and what a* waste it seems to see these great works standing idle, while we see cables such as was published in a recent issue of your paper showing how the price of crude oil is costing the Admiralty serious thought, and that now they are experimenting with British shale oils. What are South landers thinking of V Xo wonder Dunedin rides over them rough-shod when they do not make any effort to start what should easily be the greatest •industry in this dominion. 1 have Just made another visit to Orepuki, and during leisure hours (which seem plentiful at Orepuki now) I had another look over the works. Xo life I no motion ’ hut ourselves, the caretaker, my friend, and self. All else a real gloomy outlook, and I felt glad to get away from what makes one feel depressed, and to ask oneself the Question why or what is the matter with this splendid proposition that it stands thus. .Now I should like to suggest a scheme for working Orepuki shale to a profit for those concerned. First cut the refined oil out of.il, and all of those by-products we used to hear so much about, and get right down to what is wanted to-day, oil for fuel. There is more of this wanted and will be wanted from now on than these works can supply without more retorts ; there are now JO retorts and 10 stills erected on the works, besides a largo number of tanks and boilers, and if these retorts were kept going continually night and day, and there is not the slightest doubt but it could be done, as the bores put down prove the existence of an even body of shale, then. Sir. a continual stream of oil can he made to pass through the condensers, and if it is found not quite suitable in its crude state, owing to being either 100 light or too heavy, then pass it through the stills and bring it to the required gravity, if too light by cutting off the spirits, or, if too heavy, by cutting off the heavy oil containing the wax, etc. Let there he no bother about the by-products. These works would pay bettor without them, and tiic number of tanks and boilers about the place would make excellent receivers. The question of shipping is easily overcome. The works are on a high altitude, and pipes could be run to Colac Bay, only 12 miles distant. Put storage tanks there, and you have all you want to make this a profitable venture. Colac is the only good natural harbour between the Bluff and Preservation Inlet, and is practically at your doors. Bet Southland consider this, as in the writer's opinion, having been engaged for expert work on North Island | oil ventures, there is nothing to be ex- ; peeled from the oil wells of the dominion jin the shape of oil fuel. In the writer's I opinion. Orepuki shah' oil is the most | reliable, and everything is there to supply in a measure the great and growing demand for oil fuel.—l am. etc., GIB KXPFRT. Vfilh reference to this letter, it must be remembered that when a prospectus was issued by a Taranaki company and distributed throughout Southland, a great ninny people in Ibis district took up shares, when it would possibly have been more (o the purpose to do something for their own district, where there is an abundance of shale. The writer of the letter is evidently not aware of the value of what lie calls the by-products, as the Home experts all agree that Orepuki is more particularly a wax proposition and has the largest percentage of wax in the oil. and. apart from the oils, the paraffin would pay handsomely. The development of Southland's shale deposits is perhaps a matter that should interest the new Progressive Society. *