Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Status of gas-stimulation technology employing nuclear explosions

Conference · · Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6884272
Recent studies conclude that the tight gas sands in the Rocky Mt. region contain a resource potential of nearly 600 trillion cu ft of natural gas. Of this amount, approximately 300 trillion cu ft may be recovered through the use of nuclear explosives, assuming that nuclearly stimulated wells will produce for 50 yr. This volume is equivalent to the present proved national gas reserves of 290 trillion cu ft. Significant results have been obtained from full-scale tests conducted to date, namely Gasbuggy and Rulison. Additional progress has been made in further developing this technology, including (1) the successful testing of a small-diameter (less than 8-in.) low-tritium producing explosive designed specifically for gas-stimulation applications; (2) the completion of technical plans for the Rio Blanco test which will stimulate a 1,200-ft gas-bearing section; (3) progress on computer-modeling studies comparing simultaneous vs. sequential detonations in the same hole; (4) the formulation of the first experiment needed to develop a sequential explosion system.
Research Organization:
California Univ., Livermore
OSTI ID:
6884272
Report Number(s):
CONF-7305138-
Conference Information:
Journal Name: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States) Journal Volume: 57:4
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English