Method of stimulating oil or gas reservoirs by a subsurface nuclear explosion

Patent · Tue May 02 00:00:00 EDT 1972

OSTI ID:6243069

Dunlap, H F

This invention relates to a method for stimulating oil or gas reserves, for creating large underground storage or disposal spaces, or for assisting in underground recovery of minerals or hydrocarbons by assembling and detonating a nuclear explosive device in a subsurface formation through a borehole which has a lateral cross section less than the lateral cross section of the nuclear explosive device. The method is supplemented with apparatus for assembling the nuclear explosive and with a nuclear fuel slurry for use in the method. In addition, there is shown an explosive device in a preferred arrangement. (12 claims)

• Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 3659649
• OSTI ID: 6243069
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 27 May 1968
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
03 NATURAL GAS
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
NATURAL GAS WELLS
EXPLOSIVE STIMULATION
OIL WELLS
NATURAL GAS
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
PETROLEUM
RESERVOIR ROCK
UNDERGROUND STORAGE
ENERGY SOURCES
EXPLOSIONS
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
STIMULATION
STORAGE
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production
030900 - Natural Gas- Artificial Stimulation
Plowshare- (-1989)
450201 - Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense- Nuclear Explosions & Explosives- Containment