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Natural gas production from underground nuclear explosions

Abstract

A remote location in Rio Arriba County, NW. New Mexico, is being considered as the site for an experiment in the use of a nuclear explosive to increase production from a natural gas field. A feasibility study has been conducted by the El Paso Natural Gas Co., the U.S. Atomic Energy commission, and the U.S. Bureau of Mines. As presently conceived, a nuclear explosive would be set in an emplacement hole and detonated. The explosion would create a cylinder or ''chimney'' of collapsed rock, and a network of fractures extending beyond the chimney. The fractures are the key effect. These would consist of new fractures, enlargement of existing ones, and movement along planes where strata overlap. In addition, there are a number of intangible but important benefits that could accrue from the stimulating effect. Among these are the great increase in recoverable reserves and the deliverability of large volumes of gas during the periods of high demand. It is believed that this type of well stimulation may increase the total gas production of these low permeability natural gas fields by about 7 times the amounts now attainable.
Publication Date:
Jan 01, 1965
Product Type:
Journal Article
Reference Number:
EDB-81-025783
Resource Relation:
Journal Name: Engineer (London); (United Kingdom); Journal Volume: 220:5711
Subject:
03 NATURAL GAS; 45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE; EXPLOSIVE FRACTURING; NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS; NATURAL GAS FIELDS; ENHANCED RECOVERY; COMMINUTION; EXPLOSIONS; FRACTURING; GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS; MINERAL RESOURCES; NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS; RECOVERY; RESOURCES; 030900* - Natural Gas- Artificial Stimulation, Plowshare- (-1989); 450201 - Military Technology, Weaponry, & National Defense- Nuclear Explosions & Explosives- Containment
OSTI ID:
6692016
Country of Origin:
United Kingdom
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Journal ID: CODEN: ENGIA
Submitting Site:
TUL
Size:
Pages: 73-74
Announcement Date:
Jul 01, 1980

Citation Formats

None. Natural gas production from underground nuclear explosions. United Kingdom: N. p., 1965. Web.
None. Natural gas production from underground nuclear explosions. United Kingdom.
None. 1965. "Natural gas production from underground nuclear explosions." United Kingdom.
@misc{etde_6692016,
title = {Natural gas production from underground nuclear explosions}
author = {None}
abstractNote = {A remote location in Rio Arriba County, NW. New Mexico, is being considered as the site for an experiment in the use of a nuclear explosive to increase production from a natural gas field. A feasibility study has been conducted by the El Paso Natural Gas Co., the U.S. Atomic Energy commission, and the U.S. Bureau of Mines. As presently conceived, a nuclear explosive would be set in an emplacement hole and detonated. The explosion would create a cylinder or ''chimney'' of collapsed rock, and a network of fractures extending beyond the chimney. The fractures are the key effect. These would consist of new fractures, enlargement of existing ones, and movement along planes where strata overlap. In addition, there are a number of intangible but important benefits that could accrue from the stimulating effect. Among these are the great increase in recoverable reserves and the deliverability of large volumes of gas during the periods of high demand. It is believed that this type of well stimulation may increase the total gas production of these low permeability natural gas fields by about 7 times the amounts now attainable.}
journal = []
volume = {220:5711}
journal type = {AC}
place = {United Kingdom}
year = {1965}
month = {Jan}
}