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Operation Gasbuggy. Pt. 2. Emplacement hole drilled for nuclear device to boost gas well deliverabilities

Journal Article · · Gas (Houston); (United States)
OSTI ID:6366102

The emplacement hole for Project Gasbuggy will soon be completed, and El Paso Natural Gas Co. has announced October 18 as the date for nuclear detonation. Project Gasbuggy is an attempt to prove the feasibility of using nuclear energy to stimulate gas production from low-permeability reservoirs. This article briefly summarizes Project Gasbuggy in addition to discussing the various contracts, contributing firms, drilling equipment, and pre-shot wells. Two pre-shot wells were completed during the spring of 1967 and are now being used to gather as much information as possible on the Pictured Cliffs Formation. Two more wells will soon be drilled and, in addition to 3 existing wells, will be used to test the formation for a number of years after detonation. These wells will be used to determine the following factors: (1) the effects of the shot, including increases in recovery and production rate; (2) the most efficient rate to withdraw the gas from the Pictured Cliffs reservoir, (3) the magnitude and distribution of radioactivity in the rubble gas; and (4) the best methods for purging the rubble zones.

OSTI ID:
6366102
Journal Information:
Gas (Houston); (United States), Journal Name: Gas (Houston); (United States) Vol. 43:9; ISSN GASSA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English