Project Rio Blanco: additional production testing and reservoir analysis

Conference · Mon Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1976

OSTI ID:7336281

Ballou, L B

Additional subsurface investigations of the Rio Blanco detonation region and adjacent reservoir have been underway since the last technical meeting at IAEA. The lowermost explosion cavity has been reentered and a production test from it was performed. A dry gas volume of 7.6 x 10/sup 5/ m/sup 3/ (27 Mmscf) was withdrawn. Chemical and radiochemical analyses of this gas show that (1) the yield of the bottom explosive was 31 +- 2 kt; (2) the cavity/chimney volume was 2.4 x 10/sup 4/ m/sup 3/ (8.4 x 10/sup 5/ ft/sup 3/); (3) about 7 percent of the tritium produced is associated with the gas; and (4) a slight (approximately 0.1 percent) gas contribution from the middle explosion region was noted. The reservoir/chimney model implies an unstimulated reservoir flow capacity of 0.15 mdarcy-m (0.50 md-ft) connected to the bottom chimney region. A cavity radius of 21 +- 3 m (70 +- 10 ft) was deduced. Unstimulated reservoir production parameters were investigated in a well offset 190 m (625 ft) from the emplacement hole. Insufficient productivity was obtained in the Mesaverde formation (in which the bottom explosive was detonated) to evaluate reservoir properties. The productive sandstones in the Fort Union formation adjoining the top detonation region were individually evaluated. Their aggregate flow capacity was determined to be 0.14 +- 0.2 mdarcy-m (0.45 +- 0.08 md-ft). A numerical simulation model which incorporates these data is described. The lack of a high-permeability connection between the three explosion regions remains unexplained. The two chimney reentry wells have been cemented to the surface and abandoned. The offset well has been plugged in a way which preserves the option for additional subsurface investigation in the future. Project facilities have been removed and the site restored to conditions which minimize environmental impact.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Livermore (USA). Lawrence Livermore Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 7336281
• Report Number(s): UCRL-78744; CONF-761127-3
• 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
CONTAINED EXPLOSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
EXPLOSIONS
EXPLOSIVE STIMULATION
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
NATURAL GAS
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PLOWSHARE PROJECT
RIO BLANCO EVENT
TESTING
UNDERGROUND EXPLOSIONS
WELL STIMULATION