Rio Blanco experiment: its objectives, design, and execution
Project Rio Blanco is a joint government-industry experiment utilizing nuclear explosives to stimulate gas production from thick, relatively impermeable, gas-bearing lenticular sand and shale sequences. Three 30-kt explosives spaced vertically in a single wellbore at intervals of 390 and 460 ft were detonated simultaneously on May 17, 1973. No significant adverse effects were experienced, and damage resulting from ground motion was as predicted. The initial reentry into the upper explosive region indicates that coalescense of the top cavity and fracture region with the lower ones did not occur as expected. Reentry into the bottom cavity indicated that similarly, communication does not exist between the lower two chimneys. The fracture height of the upper region was about as predicted from previous experience with single-chimney geometry as was the cavity radius resulting from the bottom detonation. All indications are that yields were as predicted, and to date there is no valid explanation as to the lack of intercommunication between the fracture regions of the three explosives. Production test data from the top chimney indicated a reservoir capacity of only 0.73 md-ft, which is 6 to 10 times lower than expected. Subsequent testing of an evaluation well and other data lends further evidence that, although significant stimulation most surely occurred, the gas contained in the sandstones was much less than had been originally anticipated. Properties deduced from production test data from the bottom chimney are in much better agreement with predetonation estimates. Further investigations are required to fully evaluate the experiment. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- CER Geonuclear Corp., Las Vegas, NV
- NSA Number:
- NSA-33-002961
- OSTI ID:
- 4137882
- Journal Information:
- Nucl. Technol., v. 27, no. 4, pp. 539-558, Journal Name: Nucl. Technol., v. 27, no. 4, pp. 539-558; ISSN NUTYB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Rio Blanco: nuclear operations and chimney reentry
Project Rio Blanco data report: production testing (Rb-E-01), November 1973 and January-February 1974
Related Subjects
*RIO BLANCO EVENT-- PLANNING
450201* --Explosions & Explosives--Nuclear--Civil Uses
CAVITIES
CONFIGURATION
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
GROUND MOTION
N42520* --Engineering--Nuclear Explosions--Civil Uses
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIVES
PERFORMANCE
SAFETY
SEISMIC EFFECTS
SHALES
SIZE