252K views · May 14, 2014 · 3:49 · 0 HN recommenders · 3 mentions · discussed 2020–2021
A short clip showing how the Soviet Union used a nuclear explosion to extinguish a blown-out, burning gas well.
Why Hacker News points people here: HN cites it as evidence that small underground nuclear devices were used to stop well fires and leaks.
“Soviet engineers demonstrated that this was a viable technique back in the 60's.”HN comment, 2021
“a story and YouTube video of Russians plugging an out of control burning oil well with a small nuke”
Soviets plugging a burning gas well with a small nuke
In a similar vein there’s a story and YouTube video of Russians plugging an out of control burning oil well with a small nuke. Edit. It was a gas well here’s the link this video
“Small underground nuclear bombs were used to put out well fires.”
Small underground nuclear bombs used to put out well fires
Small underground nuclear bombs were used to put out well fires. link this video A few ten megaton bomb would create a very small earthquake, quite probably only detectable by instruments. You'd need to wade into millions-ten of millions of megatons to create an extinction event.
“Soviet engineers demonstrated that this was a viable technique back in the 60's.”
Soviet demonstration of nuking a well to stop a leak
Re: the first paragraph's reference to nuking the Deepwater horizon's oil leak, Soviet engineers demonstrated that this was a viable technique back in the 60's. Plenty of wild non-war applications have been proposed for nuclear bombs over the years, but this is the only one I can think of that is actually somewhat of a good idea. Any fallout is minor and contained under 1km+ of bedrock, and the harm prevented is worth the cost. I am surprised that the author dismisses it so rapidly. link this video
