Operation Plowshare--Project Rulison study shows vast potential value of nuclear stimulation
A feasibility study by Austral Oil Co Inc. and CER Geonuclear Corp. has shown the tremendous potential value of nuclear stimulation of the Mesaverde Formation in the Rulison Field in Colorado. This study, Project Rulison, follows a letter of intent to the AEC by Austral/CER, in which a nuclear experiment was proposed in Garfiled County, Colo. The report concludes that the nuclear test could be conducted safely and should lead to commercial development of the gas resources of that area. As tentatively planned, the experiment will involve the firing of a 100-kiloton nuclear explosive placed at a depth of about 8,400 ft in the Mesaverde Formation of Rulison Field. The shot could be fired shortly after Projects Gasbuggy and Dragon Trail. Rewards could be high in the Rulison experiment. Tightly locked in the Mesaverde formation are approximately 100 billion cu ft of gas per section. This gas cannot be produced profitably by current methods. Should the nuclear stimulation technique prove successful, this tremendous volume of tightly bound gas could be produced economically.
- OSTI ID:
- 6380785
- Journal Information:
- Gas (Houston); (United States), Vol. 43:11
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
NATURAL GAS WELLS
EXPLOSIVE STIMULATION
COLORADO
ENHANCED RECOVERY
NATURAL GAS
PLOWSHARE PROJECT
UNDERGROUND EXPLOSIONS
WELL STIMULATION
ENERGY SOURCES
EXPLOSIONS
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
NORTH AMERICA
RECOVERY
ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION
STIMULATION
USA
WELLS
030900* - Natural Gas- Artificial Stimulation
Plowshare- (-1989)
450201 - Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense- Nuclear Explosions & Explosives- Containment