PETROLEUM.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144328, 17 February 1914, Page 7

PETROLEUM.

ALLEGED FLOODING OF WELLS. DENIAL BY TARANAKI 00. PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, Feb. 16. A deputation from the Canterbury, Marlborough and Taranaki Oil Companies, operating in Taranaki, waited on the Minister of Mines this afternoon and complained that the Moturoa oilfield is being flooded by water from the wells of the old company. The effect of the flooding, it was said, had already reached the Blenheim well, and almost stopped its production, and it is feared that a similar fate awaits the Phoenix well. The Minister promised to send Mr. Morgan, Director of Geological Survey,' to make a report at as early a date as possible. When seen by a Herald reporter in connection with the above, Mr. Carton chairman of tho Advisory Board, made the following statement on behalf of the company:—“We find that no flooding of the field exists, but if it docs exist, there is nothing at present to show that tho bores of this company are in any way responsible for it.” This contention is based upon the experience of Mr. Keith in tho drilling of the oilier wells. In No. 5 well during the two years it has been yielding nil the increase in the amount of water has not been very great, and them is no indication at all that tho other wells have been flooded.