DRILLING FOR PETROLEUM.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143782, 4 May 1912, Page 3

DRILLING FOR PETROLEUM.

THE PARKER ROTARY SYSTEM. In our advertising columns will bo found this evening some particulars relating to this modern system of drilling for petroleum, which in some countries has almost superseded the old method of drilling by percussion. The general principles of rotary drilling have been described in the Herald on a former occasion, but we may perhaps briefly recapitulate. Instead of drilling tools at the ond of rods or wire rope, lifted up and down' by a heavy beam of wood, the rotary driller works its way more like a corkscrew or an auger. The casing may follow immediately behind the drill if necessary, but since water is used pretty freely in the drilling operation a column of thick mud sustains the walls of the boro hole and prevents caving, so that a hole may ho carried to a great depth before casing becomes necessary. In practice it has been found possible to go down 4000 ft. with only two casings, Sin. and lOin. Under the percussion system it would perhaps require 10in., Bin., 6in., bin. and 4in. casing to reach that depth, so that the rotary system will save on an average some 50 per cent, of casing. If a boulder or a streak of particularly hard formation is met with it is a simple matter to insert percussion drilling tools in a very short time, the rotary drill proceeding simultaneously. Not only is this system very much cheaper than the percussion system, but progress is much more rapid. Moreover, a small pilot drill, working a little in advance, gives timely notice of gas veins, which are thus prepared for instead of being allowed to blow out the bore. The Parker rotary drill has been adopted by Pearson and Co., of London, ono of the largest petroleum operating companies in the world, for nearly all thoir drilling work. It has two or three special features, which add to its economy and usefulness, one dealing with the shutting off of water, which can be done in ten minutes, and another being a lead sealing patent to connect up the casing.

Mr. William M'Loan, of Wellington, who was in New Plymouth on Friday on business connected with the Bonithon Freehold Petroleum Company, proceeds to America shortly for the purpose of securing one or two of these plants. He will make a close inspection of the working on various fields, and hopes to pick up a store of information of value to the Bonithon Company, which will resume operations as soon as the first plant arrives.