Gas stimulation still has way to go

Journal Article · Mon Apr 22 04:00:00 EDT 1974 · Chem. Eng. News; (United States)

OSTI ID:7016807

After taking a hard look at experiments on the use of massive hydraulic fracturing and nuclear and chemical explosives to stimulate production of natural gas in the Rocky Mt. area, the Government's General Accounting Office has concluded that there has been progress in developing these technologies. However, significant economic, technical, and environmental problems remain to be solved. So far the General Accounting Office (GAO) says, AEC has spent more than $33 million for joint tests with industry on use of nuclear explosives to stimulate natural gas production in 3 experiments--Gasbuggy, Rulison, and Rio Blanco--in the Rocky Mt. area. All were successful in boosting gas production, though there have been production problems with Rio Blanco. No additional nuclear stimulation tests have been planned. Until fiscal 1974, no federal funds had been spent on massive hydraulic fracturing. The money is available for such tests.

• OSTI ID: 7016807
• Journal Information: Chem. Eng. News; (United States), Journal Name: Chem. Eng. News; (United States) Vol. 52:16; ISSN CENEA
• 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
450100 -- Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense-- Chemical Explosions & Explosives
450201 -- Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense-- Nuclear Explosions & Explosives-- Containment
CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVES
COMMINUTION
CROSSTIE OPERATION
ECONOMICS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
EVALUATION
EXPLOSIONS
EXPLOSIVE STIMULATION
EXPLOSIVES
FEDERAL REGION VIII
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FRACTURING
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASBUGGY EVENT
GASES
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
MANDREL OPERATION
NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIVES
PLOWSHARE PROJECT
RECOVERY
RIO BLANCO EVENT
RULISON EVENT
STIMULATION
TESTING
TOGGLE OPERATION
UNDERGROUND EXPLOSIONS
USA
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS