Rulison and the energy crisis

Journal Article · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1970 · Interstate Oil Compact Comm. Com. Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5692312

Leisk, C W

Austral Oil Co.'s purpose at Rulison, as was that of El Paso Natural Gas Co. at Gasbuggy, was to attempt to stimulate the almost impermeable rocks of a formation containing vast stores of natural gas and totally resistant to now known conventional well-stimulation techniques. The U.S. Bureau of Mines has stated that if the technique of underground nuclear stimulation of gas-rock reservoirs proves economically feasible, this method could more than double this nation's proved gas reserves. A re-entry into the top of the chimney created by the nuclear explosive has been made throught the Project Rulison site-evaluation well situated 200 ft from the emplacement hole. Cement plugs (set before detonation of the device) were drilled and the hole deviated in such a manner that it intersected the chimney in the emplacement hole at about 8,150 ft. After drilling into the chimney, and running 3-1/2-in. production tubing, the well was tested. A total of 12.19 MMcf of gas was produced and flared during the test period. At Rulison, a series of technical programs has been accomplished virtually without difficulty and with great precision. It has been confirmed that nuclear stimulation will work.

• Research Organization: Austral Oil Co.
• OSTI ID: 5692312
• Journal Information: Interstate Oil Compact Comm. Com. Bull.; (United States), Journal Name: Interstate Oil Compact Comm. Com. Bull.; (United States) Vol. 12:2; ISSN IOCBA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030900* -- Natural Gas-- Artificial Stimulation
Plowshare-- (-1989)
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450201 -- Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense-- Nuclear Explosions & Explosives-- Containment
COMMINUTION
CONTAMINATION
COST
ECONOMICS
ENERGY SOURCES
EXPLOSIONS
EXPLOSIVE STIMULATION
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FRACTURING
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS ANALYSIS
GAS FUELS
GASES
MANDREL OPERATION
NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
PLOWSHARE PROJECT
PRODUCTION
RESERVOIR ROCK
RULISON EVENT
STIMULATION
TESTING
UNDERGROUND EXPLOSIONS
WELL COMPLETION
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS