Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-12-27

Naturally. little has been revealed
by Japan in recent months concern
ing her supply, but the assumption
can safely be made that Japan must
| by conquest Of arms acquire petroleum
stores and oil fields or face steadily
| decreasing supply. Her present storage
( is the unknown factor. What is known
| is that the current supply from fields
now in her possession Is small
within the japanese empire includ-
ing the island of Taiwan, or Formosa,
are some small fields The total pro-
duction for 1910, according to the
United States Bureau Of Mines, was
2.639 600 barrels. To the north is the
island Of Sakhalin, the north half Of
which is owned by Russia and the
south half by Japan. Principal oil pro-
duction on this island Is in the
Russian-owned part, but the fields are
operated by a Japanese concessionaire
under an agreement made long ago.
The oil production for Sakhalin in
1910 was estimated by the Bureau Of
Mines as 100000 barrels. It Is UNI
likely in view of what is known Of
the potentiaIitieS of fields controlled
by Japan, that the production has
been increased over the 1910 figure.
It had varied little over five-year
period-less than 100000 barrels gain
in 1910 against the total for 1885. The
fields are old and little new discovery
has been made in years.
The oil production owned by Japan,
therefore, is far below the needs. An
estimate by a group Of authorities early
this year published in the annual pc
troleum volume Of the American In
stitute of Mining and Metallurgical
Engineers was that exclusive of mill
tary uses Japan consumed 26,000.OOO
barrels of petroleum and substitutes |
in 1910. Some other authorities raise
this to 100000 barrels annually by
military needs.
Japan produces and uses certain
gasoline substitutes, alcohol and coal
derivatives. Tt was estimated that the
1910 production of these fuels was
500, 900 barrels. Adding that quantity |
10 the combined production Of crude !,
oil from fields Of Japan and Sakhalin
sland. the total is 10,539, 900 barrels
approximately one-fourth the eSti-
mated annual needs.
Japan has always been an importer
# petroleum. Supplies came from the
Dutch East Indies and the United
states. Shipments from the United
states ceased last July and little II
INV oil has been exported to Japan
" the Dutch East Indies for some
weeks.
During this period of no imports it
5 obvious that there has been no
pportunity to increase stores of motor
uel and other petroleum products IN
apan. The assumption is that heavy
rawing on the storage must have been
DING on. Japan, unlike Germany, has
eized no territory containing stored
etroleum in consequential amounts.
OIL production available to the
nited States and her allies in this
heater of the war is substantial. Pro- ,
uction from the Dutch East Indies
,taled 60,83OOOO barrels in 1910 and /
nat from British fields in the East /
ldies was 100000 barrels. Included
available petroleum in this area Is
lat of Burma, 100000 barrels and Of 1
ida. 2,25O,O barrels, all 1910 fig
res. The total from British and Dutch 4
,ssessions in this part Of the world
as 78,11OO00 barrels for the year. =
Australia and New Zealand have \
production Of oil, none is :
in the Philippine islands. :