OIL IN ENGLAND.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16501, 31 July 1919, Page 2

OIL IN ENGLAND.

ENCOURAGING PROSPECTS,

Towards the end of last year a commencement was made to drill for petroleum at Chesterfield, Derbyshire, by Lord Cowdray under arrangement with tho imperial Government. On May 27 oil was struck at a depth of about 3000 ft. It rose to a height of 60ft. in the well, and on tho following day had risen to 400 ft., the American drillers describing it a ‘‘a very line show.” It is a light hrbwn fluid, smelling strongly of paraffin and benaine, and is of high quality. The latest papers from England state that on June 0 tho oil stood at a height of ‘2OOO ft. in the bore or about 170 it. from the surface, but some caving in of the shale had occurred, and it was found necessary to put in another string of casing". At oilier bores in tho neighbourhood encouraging prospects were being encountered.

It reminds one of our experiences here to read the London Times’ comments on the discovery. “It is,” our contemporary said in a gush of enthusiasm, “just within the range of possibility that one of those very rich wells has been struck in Derbyshire, and that possibility may induce even the most sceptical to imagine what such a discovery would moan. Its results, in industry and commerce would be. almost incalculable : tho wealth which it would set free would be huge, and would bo produced with great rapidity. Its benefits would have their effect, direct or indirect, in every household throughout the United Kingdom. It would he justly comparable with tho discovery of the uses of steam; and once again", us after the Napoleonic wars, a totally unexpected discovery would change the whole face of industry and would nullify’ almost certainly, the loss and destruction of wealth that war has involved.”