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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Underground engineering applications

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6520186
The utilization of completely contained nuclear explosions in the Plowshare Program are discussed including the nature of the explosions, types of suggested uses, safety problems, and economic factors. Underground applications dealing with gas and oil stimulation, in situ oil shale retorting, gas and oil storage, in situ copper leaching and block cave mining are reviewed. Safety problems of ground motion and radioactivity are summarized. The costs of underground engineering, including the cost of the explosive and its emplacement, are briefly described. Currently active projects including Gasbuggy, Rulison, Dragon Trail, WASP/Pinedale, Sloop, and Ketch are summarized.
Research Organization:
California Univ., Livermore (USA)
OSTI ID:
6520186
Report Number(s):
UCRL-71453
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English