Oil and Gas Prospects of New Zealand

Abstract

Oil has been known in New Zealand for many decades. About 60,000 barrels have been marketed in the past in Taranaki provincial district in the western part of North Island; a few barrels have been taken out of the East Coast of the same Island; and about 800 barrels marketed from the Westland district of South Island. Intensive drilling has taken place only in the immediate vicinity of New Plymouth, in Taranaki district, but some wildcatting was done on the East Coast (mostly in unfavorable localities geologically), and a few shallow holes have been sunk in Westland and elsewhere. All parts of New Zealand are considered unimportant as regards oil prospects, except Westland, Taranaki, and East Coast, of which the last-mentioned area appears the most favorable. Operations a e now being undertaken by Taranaki Oil Fields Ltd. in Taranaki and East Coast districts, where fundamentally favorable geologic conditions exist, including seepages, competent source rocks, reservoir beds, cover, and a satisfactory stage of metamorphism. Whether either district will result in the discovery of commercial oil or gas fields remains to be seen.