Rulison and the energy crisis
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), Vol. 12:2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Operation Plowshare--Project Rulison study shows vast potential value of nuclear stimulation
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Related Subjects
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
NATURAL GAS WELLS
EXPLOSIVE STIMULATION
RULISON EVENT
CONTAMINATION
COST
ECONOMICS
FRACTURING
GAS ANALYSIS
NATURAL GAS
PRODUCTION
RESERVOIR ROCK
TESTING
WELL COMPLETION
COMMINUTION
ENERGY SOURCES
EXPLOSIONS
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
MANDREL OPERATION
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
PLOWSHARE PROJECT
STIMULATION
UNDERGROUND EXPLOSIONS
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS
030900* - Natural Gas- Artificial Stimulation
Plowshare- (-1989)
450201 - Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense- Nuclear Explosions & Explosives- Containment