Search For Oil In

Papua

Letter to the Editor T HAVE read with interest and appre- A ciation the series of four articles recently contributed to the Pacific Islands Monthly under the heading, “Search for Oil in Papua.” Concerning a portion of Part IV., however, which appeared in the May issue, I feel I must correct cer tain statements for which I realize Dr.

Simon Papp’s report upon Cape Vogel may have been in part responsible.

I write to you as Dr. Papp’s chief assistant with the Cape Vogel geological survey of 1928. The greater portion of the geological mapping and field work was carried out by me, as well as the

testing and examination of Mr. Dolton’s collection of drilling samples from the Kukuia bore.

Briefly, there is no “known oil-horizon” as described by your Papuan contributor.

A careful examination and tests with chloroform of the drilling samples from between 565 ft. and 618 ft. failed to reveal any evidence of oil impregnation. An equally careful examination of the out cropping strata over a very wide area of the “Kukuia Anticline” also failed to disclose any oil indications. In fact the “ Kukuia Anticline ” proved to ba not an anticline at all, but an unfaulted monocline. Dr. Papp and I were able therefore to cover at outcrop the exact range of strata shown on the drilling-log as occurring at between 565 ft. and 618 ft. in the bore-hole —the “known oil-horizon” in fact. Had there been a known oil horizon within this range of the strati graphical sequence we must have located it as the outcropping strata were not suitable for sealing off oil at depth.

Regarding Dr. Pann’s selection of a second drilling-site at Kukuia. this was forced upon him by Mr. Dolton’s insist ence, and bv Dr. Papp preferring this sort of compromise to saying outright that Cape Vogel possessed absolutelv no petroleum possibilities and that neither he nor any of us had any belief in it, I tried to persuade him to say. Never theless we did not leave the district until the fruitless survey (from the oil point of view) w T as geologically and topographically complete.

Dr. Papp’s real opinion of Cape Vogel mav be gathered from the fact that he declined to return as promised even after receiving a telegram advising “that the oil - horizon had been re encountered in the second bore-hole!”

In conclusion, I would add that your correspondent’s opening paragraph to Part IV. is also somewhat misleading, since it suggests that the late Evan R.

Stanley drew attention to the oil pos sibilities of Cape Vogel. My recollection of Stanley’s report does not support this, and I can also state with knowledge that the Cape Vogel stratigraphy differs markedly from that of the Vailala area, although the geological age is roughly about the same, I am, etc.,

J. Nason-Jones.

Pt. Moresby, Papua.

July 20, 1937.

Captain T. S. Talbot, an English master mariner who has had wide experi ence in many parts of the world, sailed from Sydney for the Solomons by the Malaita recently to take over the com mand of the Melanesian Mission’s vessel Southern VII. from Captain R. Williams.

The latter has resigned from the Mis sion owing to the serious illness of his father which will necessitate his imme diate return to Wales. Captain Williams reached Sydney at the end of September.

Miss E. A. Downs, principal of the London Missionary Society’s Girls’ School at Papauta, Western Samoa, has returned to Apia after spending extended furlough in England.