Drilling In Papua

Conclusions of Oil Experts

Australasian petroleum co.

PTY., LTD., announced in Sydney on November 14 that its general manager, Mr. L. A. Pym, is now on a visit to Papua, where he has been joined by Dr. B. O. Winkler (assistant explora tion manager and chief geophysicist of Standard Vacuum), Dr. M. R. McPhail (geophysicist, of the same company), Dr.

G. M. Lees, and Mr. R. Davies (chief geologist and chief geophysicist respec tively of Anglo-Iranian Oil Co., Ltd.), and Mr. R. S. Mackilligin (from that company’s London office). ‘The objects of the visit are to carry out an inspection of the company’s operations and discuss and consider arrangements for forward exploration and drilling.

As a result, it has been decided that geophysical survey operations shall be concentrated in the general area between the Vailala River and Kikori, with the object of defining additional areas for testing with the drill.

Operations at the various test drilling sites have been reviewed, and the results obtained from the use of a new mud drilling technique are considered to be highly satisfactory. In view of this, it has been decided to press forward with the drilling of the test wells at Hohoro and Upoia, and to make use of the same technique at the wells about to be com menced at Malalaua and Wana.

As the test well at Oroi has entered the steeply dipping beds in the core of the anticlinal structure, it has been de cided that no useful purpose will be served by continuing this well beyond the present depth of 5,516 ft.

Drs. Winkler and Lees have expressed the view that “they are very satisfied with the progress that has been made not withstanding the vexatious delays in drilling progress during the past year.

“The wells now drilling or about to commence are important tests of their localities, and the results of recent geo physical work indicate possibilities in other areas which hitherto were of un certain value,” they say.

New Guinea Oil Would Be Dollar Oil A HIGH official of the oil companies, Dr. B. O. Winkler, who arrived in Sydney on November 9 on his way to Papua, told reporters that if oil were discovered in New Guinea it might not assist the Australian petrol situation much, because the New Guinea oil would be largely dollar oil. (Australia is short of petrol because Australia is trying to help Britain by not buying American oil and so conserving dollars.) Dr. Winkler said that Standard Vacuum (American) had a 40 per cent, interest, and D’Arcy Exploration, a subsidiary of Anglo-Iranian, also a 40 per cent, in terest, in the Australasian Petroleum Co., which is making the oil search in New Guinea. The Australian Co., Oil Search, Ltd., has only 20 per cent.

No one knows how much already has been spent on the New Guinea search— but it has been an enormously expensive undertaking.

Progress of Oil Drilling in October Australasian petroleum com pany PTY., LTD,, reports the fol lowing progress in oil-boring opera tions in Papua during October;— Oroi: The well has been deepened 204 feet from 5,076 to 5,280 feet. Electric logging with a Schlumberger outfit to de termine dip, porosity and fluid content of

the formations penetrated has been inn progress.

Upoia: The depth remains at 2,662 feet.i Reaming operations to clear out the hole 9 to bottom, using pressure drilling equip ment, have been continued.

Hohoro: The depth remains at 2.323 feet.d Pressure drilling equipment has been as sembled preparatory to reaming the hoi© down under pressure.

Malalaua and Wana: Construction worn is proceeding satisfactorily.

Increase of Capital: The Company hasj increased its nominal capital fromr £5,000,000 to £10,000,000. To provide capi-j tal to enable the company to continue, its drilling, geological and geophysical programme, a further 2,500,000 shares isi being offered to the shareholding com-j panics.