ROMANCE OF OIL

Southland Times, Issue 21198, 26 September 1930, Page 4

ROMANCE OF OIL

FIRST GUSHER IN AMERICA. AN INTERESTING LECTURE. An extremely interesting lecture on the origin and development, of pertoleuni was delivered to a number of Motor Association members last night by Mr K. .Webling, of the Shell Oil Company. The lecturer traced the use of petroleum through the ages, stressing the important part which petroleum products took in providing the facilities enjoyed by civilization. The lecture was illustrated with moving pictures covering the use of motor spirit in the early aviation trials to the modern processes of refining. Mr Webling said that the first gusher had been discovered in America in or about ISIS when a well was being sunk for water, oil being struck instead. The first well sunk with the definite object of obtaining supplies of mineral oil was started in 1859 in America by Colonel Drake. The modern history of petroleum really dated from the success attending this venture, • although Colonel. Drake did not derive any pecuniary advantage from the exploitation of the oil. The rapid growth of this industry was one of the marvellous features of this very wonderful age. Fifty years ago, the total annual production of mineral oil was less than 4,000,000 tons, while in 1929 the total production was in excess of 200,000,000 tons. “There is a feeling abroad,” said Mr Webling, “that this exceedingly rapid development of mineral oil and petroleum must necessarily have displaced other commodities, such as coal, which have been widely used for a longer period. This idea is quite erroneous as the world’s production of coal in 1929 was greater than ever it has been in the past and it appears to be steadily increasing. The truth of the matter is that both commodities have remarkable advantages when each is used in its own peculiar manner, and there is ample scope for successful development and exploitation of mineral resources whether oil or coal.” The lecturer then proceeded to deal with the characteristics of petroleum and outlined the system of boring and refining. In stressing the extent to which petroleum products were used in household commodities, he said that gramophone records, matches, insecticides, ointments, candles, and chewing gum were all derived from I mineral oils to say nothing of motor spirits, lubricating oils, medicinal paraffins, mineral turpentines, transformer oils together with, bitumen so widely used now in road construction. If the supply of petroleum was suddenly withdrawn from the world the steamers would be unable to function for want of lubricating oils, and power houses on land would be compelled to close down as well as other disastrous happenings.