Project Rio Blanco
Encyclopedia
Project Rio Blanco was an underground nuclear test that took place on May 17, 1973 in Rio Blanco County, Colorado
, approximately 58 km northwest of Rifle
.
Three 33-kiloton nuclear devices were detonated nearly simultaneously in a single emplacement well at depths of 5,838, 6,230, and 6,689 feet below ground level. The tests were conducted in fine-grain, low-permeability sandstone lenses at the base of the Fort Union Formation
and the
upper portion of the Mesaverde Formation
. This was the third and final natural-gas-reservoir stimulation test in the Plowshare program
, which was designed to develop
peaceful uses for nuclear energy. The two previous tests were Project Gasbuggy
in New Mexico and Project Rulison in Colorado. The United States Atomic Energy Commission
conducted the test in partnership with CER Geonuclear Corporation and Continental Oil Company
.
Rio Blanco County, Colorado
Rio Blanco County is the sixth most extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 5,986 at U.S. Census 2000. The name of the county is the Spanish language name for the White River which runs through it...
, approximately 58 km northwest of Rifle
Rifle, Colorado
The City of Rifle is a Home Rule Municipality in Garfield County, Colorado, United States. The population was 6,769 at the 2000 census. Rifle is a regional center of the cattle ranching industry located along Interstate 70 and the Colorado River just east of the Roan Cliffs, which dominate the...
.
Three 33-kiloton nuclear devices were detonated nearly simultaneously in a single emplacement well at depths of 5,838, 6,230, and 6,689 feet below ground level. The tests were conducted in fine-grain, low-permeability sandstone lenses at the base of the Fort Union Formation
Fort Union Formation
The Fort Union Formation is a geologic unit containing sandstones, shales, and coal beds in Wyoming, Montana, and parts of adjacent states. In the Powder River Basin, it contains important economic deposits of coal, uranium, and coalbed methane....
and the
upper portion of the Mesaverde Formation
Mesaverde Formation
The Mesaverde Formation is a Late Cretaceous geologic formation.The formation is described by W.G. Pierce as interbedded light gray sandstone and gray shale in upper part; lower part massive, light-buff, ledge-forming sandstone containing thin lenticular coal beds.The formation occurs in various...
. This was the third and final natural-gas-reservoir stimulation test in the Plowshare program
Operation Plowshare
Project Plowshare was the overall United States term for the development of techniques to use nuclear explosives for peaceful construction purposes...
, which was designed to develop
peaceful uses for nuclear energy. The two previous tests were Project Gasbuggy
Project Gasbuggy
Project Gasbuggy was an underground nuclear detonation carried out by the United States Atomic Energy Commission on December 10, 1967 in rural northern New Mexico...
in New Mexico and Project Rulison in Colorado. The United States Atomic Energy Commission
United States Atomic Energy Commission
The United States Atomic Energy Commission was an agency of the United States government established after World War II by Congress to foster and control the peace time development of atomic science and technology. President Harry S...
conducted the test in partnership with CER Geonuclear Corporation and Continental Oil Company
Conoco Inc.
Conoco Inc. was an American oil company founded in 1875 as the Continental Oil and Transportation Company. It is now a brand of gasoline and service station in the United States which belongs to the ConocoPhillips Company...
.