Russia uses nuclear blasts for oil

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32637, 19 June 1971, Page 22

Russia uses nuclear blasts for oil

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) MOSCOW, June 18. The Soviet Union has set off two small underground nuclear explosions to increase oil extraction and says that such blasting is the most effective way to influence oil deposits. The Deputy Oil Minister (Mr Sabit Orudzhev) told the eighth world oil congress in a paper yesterday that the ex-

penmental explosions were safe and successful. “Experimental explosions of a small yield were held in the Soviet Union at two deposits,” Mr Orduzhev said. “The depth of the well into which the nuclear charge was lowered exceeded 1000 metres. Full radiation safety of the personnel and population was ensured. “Experiments showed the explosion expanded cracks passing through the oil-bear-ing strata, intensifying the flow of oil into the well. No radioactive contamination of the atmosphere and oil had taken place and operation of the well could be started several days later,” he said. At least 3000 millions tons of oil a year remained unextracted throughout the world, Mr Orudzhev said. Methods of heat treating the seams produced a considerable effect, he said, but involved many labour-consuming operations.

Another minister said that the Soviet Union was developing better quality gasolines to keep pace with growing production of automobilies, scheduled to top one million this year for the first time.