OIL IN VICTORIA

Waikato Independent, Volume XLI, Issue 3891, 13 August 1941, Page 7

OIL IN VICTORIA

MOMENTOUS DISCOVERY SUPPLIES FOR LUBRICATION Oil in payable quantities suitable for the production of Diesel fuel, lubricating oil and bitumen has been found at Lakes Entrance, South-eastern Victoria. It will be possible to secure it in laFge quantities. This was announced by the Minister for the Interior (Senator Foil) in Melbourne a few weeks ago. “We cannot expect to get much petrol as the oil has a low petroliferous value,” Senator Foil said, “but the discovery is a momentous thing for Australia. “The Commonwealth Government will ensure'' that supplies from Lakes Entrance are available to the nation for defence requirements. This is the only field in Australia where payable quantities of oil have been found.” Senator Foil made the announcement at a meeting of engineers, oil experts, Parliamentarians and city councillors at the Melbourne Town Hall. Prolonger cheering from 200 present made it impossible for several minutes for him to continue his speech. / Overseas Experts’ Tests

The Minister’s statement follows an investigation into the commercial potentialities of the Lakes Entrance field by Messrs Leo Ranney, world-famous American oil expert, and Mr Charles Fairbank, petroleum engineer, of Canada. Both men were brought to Australia by the Commonwealth Government to report on the field. Their report to the Government has not yet been made.

“It is the opinion of Mr Ranney that we have a low pressure field, which under the new system of drilling will produce, large quantities of very good quality lubricating oil,” said Senator Foil. “I hope it will not be. long before we see oil flowing. Exploitation Question

“The Government has not yet discussed exploitation of the field, which will be a matter for consultation between the Commonwealth and State Governments and owners of the property,” the Minister snaid.

Senator Foil said Mr Ranney’s new discovery for operating low pressure fields made the Lakes Entrance oil payable. This was a method of perpendicular shaft sinking and horizontal drilling, which had opened up many new American fields.

When the first shaft was sunk some oil would be immediately produced and it would increase in volume as time went on. It might be necessary for the Government to secure the services of oversea experts when the horizontal drilling stage was reached. Sinking of the shaft could easily be done by Australians.