skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Explosive stimulation of a geothermal well: GEOFRAC

Abstract

This paper describes the first known explosive stimulation successfully conducted in a geothermal well. Two tests were performed in a 2690-meter-(8826-ft.) deep Union Oil well at the Geysers field in Northern California in December 1981. The heat-resistant process, called GEOFRAC, uses a new unique, explosive HITEX 2, which is a nondetonable solid at room temperature. Upon melting at a temperature of 177[degrees]C (350[degrees]F), the HITEX 2 liquid becomes an explosive that can be safely heated to temperatures greater than 260[degrees]C (500[degrees]F). These unique properties of the explosive were exploited in the GEOFRAC process through the cooperative efforts of Physics International Company (PI), Rocket Research Company (RRC), Union oil Company (UO), and the university of California Los Alamos National Laboratories (LANL).

Authors:
 [1]
  1. Physics International Co., San Leandro, CA (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Physics International Co., San Leandro, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
6932256
Report Number(s):
LA-SUB-93-163; PIFR-1256
ON: DE93010758
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-36
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY; GEOTHERMAL WELLS; EXPLOSIVE STIMULATION; CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVES; DETONATORS; PROGRESS REPORT; TESTING; DOCUMENT TYPES; EXPLOSIVES; STIMULATION; WELL STIMULATION; WELLS; Geothermal Legacy; 150906* - Geothermal Engineering- Reservoir Stimulation & Extraction Technology

Citation Formats

Mumma, D M. Explosive stimulation of a geothermal well: GEOFRAC. United States: N. p., 1982. Web. doi:10.2172/6932256.
Mumma, D M. Explosive stimulation of a geothermal well: GEOFRAC. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/6932256
Mumma, D M. 1982. "Explosive stimulation of a geothermal well: GEOFRAC". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/6932256. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/6932256.
@article{osti_6932256,
title = {Explosive stimulation of a geothermal well: GEOFRAC},
author = {Mumma, D M},
abstractNote = {This paper describes the first known explosive stimulation successfully conducted in a geothermal well. Two tests were performed in a 2690-meter-(8826-ft.) deep Union Oil well at the Geysers field in Northern California in December 1981. The heat-resistant process, called GEOFRAC, uses a new unique, explosive HITEX 2, which is a nondetonable solid at room temperature. Upon melting at a temperature of 177[degrees]C (350[degrees]F), the HITEX 2 liquid becomes an explosive that can be safely heated to temperatures greater than 260[degrees]C (500[degrees]F). These unique properties of the explosive were exploited in the GEOFRAC process through the cooperative efforts of Physics International Company (PI), Rocket Research Company (RRC), Union oil Company (UO), and the university of California Los Alamos National Laboratories (LANL).},
doi = {10.2172/6932256},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6932256}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982},
month = {Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982}
}