Search for Petroleum in Australia

Abstract

MY attention has been directed by Mr. Frederick Chapman to Mr. H. B. Milner's review which appeared in NATURE of January 4, 1941, p. 13. Certain aspects of the Lakes Entrance field were obviously not available to Mr. Milner at the time. His reference to emulsified oil is now known to have no relevance—natural unemulsified oil exists throughout the glauconite (the reservoir rock); when this oil is baled or where it has risen to or near the surface, there is no emulsion. The emulsion only occurs where water has been allowed to enter the wells and when pumping is resorted to. Under those conditions, due to the churning action of the pump used, an oil-in-water emulsion occurs.