Permeability of Pictured Cliffs Sandstone: Gasbuggy preshot and postshot measurements

Technical Report · Wed Oct 07 04:00:00 EDT 1970

OSTI ID:5649854

Quong, R; La Guardia, V J

Specimens of Pictured Cliffs Sandstone were recovered from the vicinity (63 to 116 m away) of the underground nuclear explosion in Project Gasbuggy. Their matrix permeability, permeability variation with confining pressure, and permeability variation with bedding plane direction were measured. Inherent permeability variation (caused by such properties as porosity and water content) can be adequately distinguished from induced permeability changes by simple models describing gas flow through porous media. Overall, little change in permeability of specimens recovered 72 to 116 m from the explosion point was found. Indications were found of an onset of increased permeability at distances of 63 to 72 m. Large-scale cracks and fractures along bedding planes and faults (preexisting or induced) would increase permeability by an indeterminate amount. Except for these conditions, these measurements should be representative of in situ permeability.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Livermore (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 5649854
• Report Number(s): UCRL-50946
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
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COMMINUTION
CROSSTIE OPERATION
EXPLOSIONS
EXPLOSIVE FRACTURING
EXPLOSIVE STIMULATION
FLUID FLOW
FRACTURING
GAS FLOW
GASBUGGY EVENT
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
GEOLOGIC FISSURES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
MATERIALS
MOISTURE
NEW MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
PERMEABILITY
PLOWSHARE PROJECT
POROUS MATERIALS
ROCKS
SAMPLING
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SOUTHWEST REGION
STIMULATION
SURFACE WATERS
TESTING
UNDERGROUND EXPLOSIONS
USA
WATER RESERVOIRS
WELL COMPLETION
WELL STIMULATION