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U.S. Department of Energy
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Gasbuggy reservoir evaluation, 1969 report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5371083

The Dec. 10, 1967, Project Gasbuggy nuclear detonation followed the drilling and testing of 2 exploratory wells which confirmed reservoir characteristics and suitability of the site. Reentry and gas-production testing of the explosive emplacement hole indicated a collapse chimney about 150 ft in diam extending from the 4240-ft detonation depth to about 3900 ft, the top of the 300-ft-thick Pictured Cliffs gas sand. Production tests of the chimney well in the summer of 1968 and during the last 12 mo. have resulted in a cumulative production of 213 MMcf of hydrocarbons, and gas recovery in 20 yr is estimated to be 900 MMcf, which would be an increase by a factor of at least 5 over estimated recovery from conventional field wells in this low permeability area. At the end of production tests, the flow rate was 160,000 cu ft per day, which is 6 to 7 times that of an average field well in the area. Data from reentry of a preshot test well and a new postshot well at distances from the detonation of 300 and 250 ft, respectively, indicate low productivity and consequently low permeability in any fractures at these locations. (Abstract only - original not available)

Research Organization:
Bureau of Mines, Washington, DC (USA)
OSTI ID:
5371083
Report Number(s):
PNE-G-54
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English