Geology 



not be able to compete successfully with electricity 

 derived from water power. It was desirable, however, 

 to conserve this supply, as in the event of the discovery 

 of oil in the neighbourhood it could be used in connec- 

 tion with the refinery works which would then become 

 necessary. 



We next visited the works on the northern anticline, 

 which we had thought at the time of our first visit to be 

 the more promising. Here detailed examination had 

 shown that there were several deposits of asphaltum, 

 and that in many places there was a strong odour of 

 petroleum. Boring operations were in progress in a 

 very promising spot, and small quantities of a thick 

 heavy greenish oil had been obtained at a depth of 

 260 feet. 



The boring was at the moment in a bed of shale, and 

 there seemed every possibility of penetrating the thickest 

 bed of oolitic limestone immediately below this. As this 

 might yield a considerable flow, we thought it desirable 

 to provide some storage for a possible rush of oil. Ac- 

 cordingly a large clay-lined tank was prepared lower 

 down the slope and connected with the site of the bore- 

 hole by a channel. While this work was in progress we 

 thought it desirable to suspend operations on the bore- 

 hole and also to make all the necessary arrangements 

 for capping should a supply of oil under pressure be 

 encountered. 



It was well that this was done, as when work was 

 resumed it was found that the level of the oil had risen 

 considerably in the well, and that it was much thinner 

 and lighter in colour than previously. This pointed to 

 a supply making its way up from below and mixing 



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