OIL STRUCK AT CHESTERFIELD.
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THE REWARD for the persistency of Lord Cowdray and those associated with him in the oil-seeking enterprise in England was gained on Tuesday by oil being struck in the No. 1. Hardstoft boring near Chesterfield at a depth of approxiinatelyA000 ft. Oil rose to the height of 50 ft. during the night and, during Wednesday, it stood in the boring at a height of 400 ft. According to the Parliamentary correspondent of The Tirties (who is no doubt quoting from Mr. Victor L. Conaghan who has been lent by the United States Bureau of dines as general superintendent of the works at Chesterfield), the
show is very fine. .
It is obvious that the surface of the oil-bearing sand has so far only been scratched ; by deeper drilling, the flow will no doubt increase. Considering that boring for oil in a new country is an extremely risky venture, that a well may be sunk only a few yards away from the right position, and that, in the sinking of wells on promising oilfields, there are repeated failures before oil is struck, the fact that at Chesterfield, at the first well sunk, oil is tapped, would go to suggest almost
unlimited possibilities in the Chesterfield area. ,
The development at Chesterfield is owed largely to the American geologists in the service of Messrs. S. Pearson and Sons, Ltd.—Lord Cowdray's firm. These are Dr. Veatch, Mr. Ickes, and Mr. Crundall. Lord Cowdray's enterprise and public spirit, not to say his persistency, have largely helped to win the day. He recognized the obstacles which had to be overcome, and, having ample faith, he sought for the means to execute the programme which be had mapped out. He was prepared to risk £500,000 on the venture, but when the oil shortage became so acute in the middle of 1917, he placed his discoveries, his plans and the information in his possession at the disposal of the Government, the free services of his firm being offered with a, view to immediate drilling. He insisted from the very first that the Government must control and conserve the industry from its earliest stages in order to prevent hopeless and irremediable waste, The Government have accepted his proposition and are
finding £1,000,000 for drilling. Messrs. S. Pearson and Son are acting, without compensation, as the agents and managers for the Government, a Bill having been passed enacting that no one shall get or bore for petroleum without Government licence.
Drilling at Chesterfield began last October, sonic 59 American drillers being employed as well as some Englishmen who have had experience in Mexico and Russia. Despite enormous diffi.cuIties, not the least of which have been the shortage of labour with which to run the work, and the numerous accidents incidental to well-sinking, the work 'haii proceeded steadily on seven wells in the neighbourhood. Hardstoft No. 1 has reached the greatest depth with an 8Ain. hole. Shows of oil with gas and watcr have been met with at 1,500 ft. and 2,800 ft. Gas has been encountered at others of the wells, and it is highly likely that Ritnington No. 1 will be the next well to show oil.
While it does not do to be too optimistic, there seems every justification for great hopes of a successful outcome of• the Chesterfield venture.