Oil Search In New

Guinea

Five Bores By End of 1949

THE bore being put down by Austral asian Petroleum Co., at Oroi, in Papua, 60 miles northwest of Port Moresby, has reached a depth of over 1,000 feet. The Kariava bore was aban doned a few months ago after it had reached 12,000 feet.

Preparations for drilling at two other locations, viz. Hohoro and Upoia on the Vailala River, are well advanced and drilling should commence there before the end of the year. In addition to the rigs at Hohoro, Upoia and Oroi, APC has decided to purchase two more drilling out fits; one heavy plant capable of reaching 10,Q00 feet and a lighter plant with a range of 6,000 to 7,000 feet. Thus five drilling rigs should be operating by the end of 1949.

The Co., which now employs about 380 Europeans and 2,500 native labourers, ap parently is determined to find oil in Papua-New Guinea, if there is oil there.

New Field In Dutch N. Guinea

DR. W. C. KLEIN, who came recently from Netherlands Indies to the South Pacific Commission, in Sydney, reported that the big oil companies were proceeding vigorously with development of their great oil find at the western end of Dutch New Guinea, and a large and growing supply should begin to come from that source in 1949.