Declassified U.S. Nuclear Test Film #36

0800036 - Project Rulison - 1969 - 7:28 - Color - Project RULISON was a gas stimulation Plowshare Program nuclear test. Plowshare was a program that promoted using the energy produced from nuclear explosions for peaceful uses and applications. The 40-kiloton RULISON test was detonated 6 miles west of Grand Valley, Colorado, on September 10, 1969. Its purpose was to release natural gas reserves locked tightly in the sandstone and shale Mesa Verde formation. The estimated cost for the RULISON project was 6.5 million dollars, funded primarily by the Austral Oil Company of Houston, Texas.

The video shows the explosion, underground rock fracturing, gas release, and underground well operations in schematic animation. Footage of the site, including the actual nuclear explosive package, is shown before the test explosion, but not during or after the test.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Nukes
• Nuclear
• weapons
• WMD
• radiation
• radioactive
• testing
• warhead
• downwinders
• atomic
• cancer

[TheSteelism]

Hi!

I'm doing a video on Operation Plowshare for school.The theme for the competition this year is Revolution, Reaction, Reform, so our group need as much information to fit it. We also need as many primary sources as possible (is there anywhere else I can find this?). I was wondering if anyone could possibly give me as much information as they remember about Rulison and if they know where I can get more information, especially primary sources!

That would be great!

Thanks

[Brettmt]

they are getting gas from this area like crazy, questions of radioactivity have been asked but denied.

In this film they dismiss any ground water nearby, which is crazy seeing that the Colorado river is within a mile of this site.

The attitude that this is the best and safest way to get to the gas is crazy.

Oh, and our family living just 9 miles away went to the basement, listening to the count down on the radio, and felt the ground roll. It is amazing how large the bomb was.

[puncheex]

@Shogunelite: This was 1969; the nuclear age was about your age now, 24 years. They knew pretty well what radiation did to metals, dirt, seawater and air; no0, they didn't have much data on oil at the time. The cost of the project was $6.5 million, Which the gov's part was $650,000, according to the film; if you have other sources, please post them. It might have goobered up, oh, several 100,000 cuft of gas, about enough to run your house for a couple of years, but no huge amount.

[rubyvid]

I lived in Grand Junction at the time. I was in grade school and was a crossing guard standing in front of Tope Elementary at the time of the test. I listened on my radio to the countdown and approximately 5 or 6 seconds later felt the wave go through in the ground, like an earthquake. I've never forgotten that.

[daboss258]

holy shit they killed kenny!!!!!!!!!

[batfly]

@luridplanet Yes... that is because it was classified TOP SECRET.

Now that you understand this... let your mind wander a bit...

Have you come to the realization there are many more TOP SECRETS hiding even more profoundly disturbing truths that you have not even a clue?

[Shogunelite]

This was a foolish experiment. not only was several billion dollars went to waste but a mass amount of an already limited amount of fuel was rendered useless. Did they not think that oil couldn't be irradiated?

[colliertng]

@luridplanet, If you're interested there is a Video called "Trinity & Beyond." I believe that You can get it on DVD. It details the Nuclear Testing Programs. The RULISON Test is covered on that Video! Raymond

[luridplanet]

I had no idea that an A-bomb was ever exploded in Colorado

[mysticalgroove]

yep but it was way too radioactive to use