Paper: Chemical Explosive Fracturing For Well Stimulation A Review

Interest in reservoir stimulation by chemical explosive fracturing is gaining momentum in the petroleum and natural gas industry. This paper discusses the present "state-of-the-art" of explosive fracturing. Characteristics of the three types of explosive products, solid, liquid, and slurry and their specific application to formation fracturing are reported. Explosive loading, displacement, and initiation techniques presently employed in the field are included. Test results from more than 30 field applications using the various explosive products will be reviewed. Field tests to date have been conducted at depths ranging from 40 ft to 7000 ft, using explosive quantities from less than 100 lb to 35,000 lb. Finally, engineering criteria to be used in selecting a well candidate and designing a field application will be discussed.