Microfracturing in postshot Gasbuggy rocks

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1970 · Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6974968

Borg, I Y

Project Gasbuggy was designed to determine to what extent an underground nuclear explosion could stimulate gas flow in an unproductive portion of a gas field within the San Juan Basin, New Mexico. The success of the effort depends on the extent and magnitude of the changes in permeability in the gas-bearing strata surrounding the explosion. Hence, study of the nature and extent of fracturing on all scales is germane to the assessment of the experiment. The amount of microfracturing in the Pictured Cliffs Sandstone and Lewis Shale portions of the core, which most closely approach the shot point, is surprisingly small. It shows poor correlation with distance to the shot point, but does show qualitative correlation with permeability measurements on the same samples. The most fractured rock examined is 650 to 760 ft from the shot point in the Ojo Alamo Sandstone. The fractures are short-lived within the Pictured Cliffs Sandstone and terminate within individual grains or die out in the weak minerals (clay, calcite, and micas) that occur in the cement. The finer grained shales show extensive dilation on the bedding and on other compositional boundaries, which results in open breaks 1 to 50 ft wide. At overpositional boundaries, which results in open breaks 1 to 50 ft wide. At overburden pressures, it is questionable whether they would appreciably increase the permeability over time intervals measured in years.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Livermore
• OSTI ID: 6974968
• Report Number(s): CONF-701102-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States) Journal Volume: 13:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030900* -- Natural Gas-- Artificial Stimulation
Plowshare-- (-1989)
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450201 -- Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense-- Nuclear Explosions & Explosives-- Containment
COMMINUTION
CROSSTIE OPERATION
EQUIPMENT
EVALUATION
EXPLOSIONS
EXPLOSIVE FRACTURING
EXPLOSIVE STIMULATION
FAILURES
FEDERAL REGION VI
FRACTURED RESERVOIRS
FRACTURES
FRACTURING
GASBUGGY EVENT
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
NATURAL GAS FIELDS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
NEW MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
PERMEABILITY
PLOWSHARE PROJECT
RESERVOIR ROCK
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SAMPLERS
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SHALES
STIMULATION
UNDERGROUND EXPLOSIONS
USA
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS