THE POSSIBILITY OF OIL DISCOVERY IN QUEENSLAND. 
I. INTRODUCTORY. 
A. General. 
During the three months spent in Queensland investigating local geological conditions 
and collecting information for the purpose of this Report, I visited the following areas, in each of 
which some drilling for oil has been accomplished : — 
1. Beaudesert and Boonah. 
2. Laguna Beach, near Tewantin. 
3. Wolston, between Brisbane and Ipswich. 
4. Ruthven, in the neighbourhood of Longreach. 
5. The country north of the railway line between Miles and Roma, around Juandah, 
Orallo, and Injune. 
The objects in view were — First, to obtain a general idea of the nature of the geological 
formations present in these areas. Second, to discover what general structural conditions exist, 
and if these conditions are such that oil may have accumulated in favorable areas. Third, 
to observe personally in typical cases the nature and mode of occurrence of such manifestations 
of oil and gas as are known in Queensland. Finally, to consider such evidence as I was able to 
obtain in the light of experiences and knowledge gained on other oilfield areas in the world with 
the idea of coming to some conclusion as to the possibility of discovering oil or natural gas, or both, 
in payable quantities in Queensland; and, if so, to make what helpful suggestions I could that may 
facilitate and hasten such discoveries. 
In the course of my work I received much assistance and information from the Minister 
of Mines, the Department of Mines, the Geological Survey Department, Professor H. C. Richards, 
Dr. H. I. Jensen, and Mr. R. E. Allen, Field Manager of the Lander Oil Company. Dr. Jensen 
accompanied me on my visit to the Beaudesert and Boonah districts, where his wide knowledge 
of the country was to my great advantage. The remaining areas were visited in the company of 
Mr. Lionel C. Ball, Deputy Chief Government Geologist, who is in charge of oil investigations 
for the Queensland Government. Mr. Ball had been over most of the ground previously, so I 
was able to discuss with him problems as they arose in the field, and to obtain from him valuable 
information on matters which he had already investigated with characteristic thoroughness, 
and in this way much time Avas saved. Finally, we owe thanks to the Commissioner for Railways, 
without whose assistance the investigation of areas on branch lines of railway would have entailed 
much trouble and delay. 
B. Geological. 
The geology of each of the areas dealt with has been worked out by members of the staff 
of the Geological Survey of Queensland, sometimes in more or less detail, as in the Beaudesert, 
Boonah, and YVolston districts, sometimes in a more general way, as in the remaining areas. Dr 
Jensen, Avhile a member of the staff of the Queensland Geological Survey, spent considerable time 
on the geological reconnaissance of a tract of country which embraced areas 4 and 5, embodying 
his results in a map and a report (unpublished) which I have not yet seen. The geological 
conditions, therefore, were fairly well known, and have been previously described. This Report 
will therefore treat of them but briefly, and will concentrate chiefly on such matters as affect 
the problem of oil discovery. 
