Rio Blanco massive hydraulic fracture: project definition

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7335347· OSTI ID:7335347

A recent Federal Power Commission feasibility study assessed the possibility of economically producing gas from three Rocky Mountain basins. These basins have potentially productive horizons 2,000 to 4,000 feet thick containing an estimated total of 600 trillion cubic feet of gas in place. However, the producing sands are of such low permeability and heterogeneity that conventional methods have failed to develop these basins economically. The Natural Gas Technology Task Force, responsible for preparing the referenced feasibility study, determined that, if effective well stimulation methods for these basins can be developed, it might be possible to recover 40 to 50 percent of the gas in place. The Task Force pointed out two possible underground fracturing methods: Nuclear explosive fracturing, and massive hydraulic fracturing. They argued that once technical viability has been demonstrated, and with adequate economic incentives, there should be no reason why one or even both of these approaches could not be employed, thus making a major contribution toward correcting the energy deficiency of the Nation. A joint Government-industry demonstration program has been proposed to test the relative effectiveness of massive hydraulic fracturing of the same formation and producing horizons that were stimulated by the Rio Blanco nuclear project.

• Research Organization: CER Geonuclear Corp., Las Vegas, NV (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7335347
• Report Number(s): TID-27210
• 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
COLORADO
COMMINUTION
CONTAINED EXPLOSIONS
EXPLOSIONS
EXPLOSIVE STIMULATION
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FRACTURING
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
NATURAL GAS FIELDS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
PERMEABILITY
PLANNING
PLOWSHARE PROJECT
RESOURCES
RIO BLANCO EVENT
ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION
UNDERGROUND EXPLOSIONS
USA
UTAH
WELL LOGGING
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS
WYOMING