skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Project Wagon Wheel interim report of Wagon Wheel No. 1 at casing point depth of 12,106 feet

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6833467

The Wagon Wheel Event is an experiment to test the feasibility of using underground nuclear explosions to stimulate natural gas production from sandstone deposits near Pinesdale, Wyo. The Wagon Wheel test hole No. 1 was drilled to provide a possible nuclear stimulation site and tests were performed to obtain cores, drill-stem tests, drill cutting samples, and wireline surveys for prediction of nuclear effects, prediction of radioactivity in the gas to be produced, and definition of the reservoir properties. In addition to the predictions based on the physical and mechanical properties of the rock, hydrologic tests were required to define the location and characteristics of the ground water in sufficient detail to allow the design of a nuclear reservoir stimulation test which would not contaminate potable ground water and/or permit excessive water to enter a resultant nuclear chimney. A summary of the Hole No. 1 test data to a depth of 12,106 ft is presented.

Research Organization:
El Paso Natural Gas Co., TX (USA)
OSTI ID:
6833467
Report Number(s):
PNE-WW-15
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English