Summary of U. S. PNE experience
Important features of the U.S. Project Plowshare program, established in 1959 to investigate possible uses for peaceful nuclear explosives (PNE) are summarized. The program consisted of a strong research and development effort, laboratory experiments, and actual nuclear field tests. The government officially terminated Project Plowshare in 1977. Only natural-gas stimulation and large-scale excavation were actually field-tested. The technical feasibility for gas stimulation was established but economic viability remains uncertain. The technical and economic feasibility of nuclear excavations were not demonstrated for large-scale projects. Special explosive designs were found to be necessary for most potential PNE applications, and two such explosive designs were developed and used for the gas stimulation and excavation experiments. More research and development would be needed to prove any peaceful application of nuclear explosives in the U.S. (TFD)
- Research Organization:
- California Univ., Livermore (USA). Lawrence Livermore Lab.
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 5228426
- Report Number(s):
- UCID-17649
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Peaceful nuclear explosions
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Related Subjects
450201* -- Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense-- Nuclear Explosions & Explosives-- Containment
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CAVITIES
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENERGY SOURCES
EXCAVATION
EXPLOSIONS
EXPLOSIVE FRACTURING
EXPLOSIVE STIMULATION
FOSSIL FUELS
FRACTURING
FUELS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR EXCAVATION
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
OIL SHALES
PLOWSHARE PROJECT
REVIEWS
ROCKS
USA
USES
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS