Low permeability gas reservoir production using large hydraulic fractures. [Underground nuclear explosions]
There has been relatively little work published on recovering hydrocarbon gas from low permeability reservoirs. Recently, several nuclear projects have explored the feasibility of creating a cavity and a fractured zone in such a formation to stimulate production. One such test, Gasbuggy, was begun Dec. 10, 1967, with the detonation of a 26-kt nuclear device in the Pictured Cliffs Formation, Rio Arriba County, N. Mex. A study of stimulating low permeability reservoirs by the creation of long hydraulic fractures is presented. A 2-dimensional 2-phase numerical model was used. The reservoir properties of the model approximated those published for the Pictured Cliffs Formation. The situations simulated were both vertical and horizontal fractures extending up to 3,000 ft from the producing well. Also, a model simulating a nuclear cavity was designed. This model simulated a well containing an 80-ft radius cavity with a fractured zone of 100 times the reservoir permeability, extending 200 ft past the cavity. The situation simulated was for production with a constant well-bore pressure. Production rate and cumulative gas produced were monitored as functions of time. (16 refs.)
- Research Organization:
- Texas A and M Univ
- OSTI ID:
- 5182288
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-701012-
- Journal Information:
- Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States), Journal Name: Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States) Vol. SPE-3010; ISSN SEAPA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Gasbuggy reservoir evaluation--1969 report
Gasbuggy reservoir evaluation, 1969 report
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45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450201* -- Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense-- Nuclear Explosions & Explosives-- Containment
COMMINUTION
ENERGY SOURCES
EXPLOSIONS
EXPLOSIVE STIMULATION
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FRACTURING
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MATHEMATICS
NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
PERMEABILITY
PRODUCTION
RESERVOIR PRESSURE
RESERVOIR ROCK
SIMULATION
STIMULATION
TIME DEPENDENCE
UNDERGROUND EXPLOSIONS
WELL COMPLETION
WELL PRESSURE
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS