Swords Into PlowsharesAn overview of the US Plowshare Program 1958-1975

CPT Nicholas Nazarko

Outline

• References • Plowshare’s Beginnings• Plowshare Program Objectives• Plowshare Program Scope• The Tests

• Project GNOME• Project SEDAN• Project BUGGY

http://www.nv.doe.gov/news&pubs/photos&films/testfilms.htmhttp://www.wipp.carlsbad.nm.us/science/UG_Lab/gnome/gnome.htmUS DOE Plowshare Executive Summary

References

Plowshare’s Beginnings

• Discussion of the peaceful use of nuclear detonations predates the Trinity test• Lewis L. Strauss - AEC Chairmen 1953-1958 expresses interest in the idea.• November 1956 - Herbert York, Director LRL-L proposes conference to discuss peaceful uses of nuclear explosions.

Herbert YorkLewis Strauss Hugh Cronin

• Livermore conference, held February 1957, discusses peaceful applications of nuclear devices and highlights numerous concerns• AEC approves the Plowshare Program June 1957• July 1957 - LRL-L formally establishes the Plowshare Project• RAINIER test (September 19, 1957) first successful underground nuclear detonation.• June 6, 1958 - AEC publicly announces Plowshare Program

Seismic Station at Tinamaha, California

Plowshare’s Beginnings

Plowshare’s Objectives“Use of nuclear explosives for civilian

as opposed to military purposes.”

Possible applications:

Large-Scale excavation and quarrying Underground Engineering

• Canals• Harbors• Highway/Railroad cuts• Quarry• Other construction related projects requiring large amounts of earthwork

• stimulation of natural gas production• preparation of leachable ore bodies• fracturing large bodies of oil shale• formation of underground storage reservoirs

Plowshare’s Scope• October 31, 1958 - Voluntary nuclear weapons testing moratorium• Plowshare enters a planning and high-explosive test phase.

• Pre-GNOME - prediction of nuclear generated seismic signals• SCOOTER - crater dimensions, throw-out, dust cloud generation• ROWBOAT - effect of burial and separation on crater dimensions• TUGBOAT - study of harbor excavation in coral with water overburden

• December 15th, 1958 - Peaceful Nuclear Explosives (PNE) branch of the Division of Military Activities established.• Dr. Edward Teller, Director of LRL-L, lays out an ambitious program.

HE Testing Locations

Plowshare’s Scope• September 1, 1961 - Moratorium ends with a Soviet nuclear explosion• Plowshare begins nuclear testing in earnest:

Nevada Test Site• 23 experiments• publicly available information• various objectives• safety first

Plowshare’s Scope

Plowshare’s Scope

The End for Plowshare

• Little confidence in money saving potential• Insufficient public and congressional support• Environmental and safety concerns

The most promising use of nuclear detonations was not excavation, but stimulation of natural gas production through the highly fractured rock produced in an explosion.

The Nuclear Tests - GNOME

The Nuclear Tests - GNOME

640’

290’

The Nuclear Tests - GNOME

The Nuclear Tests - BUGGY

The Nuclear Tests - SEDAN

The Nuclear Tests - SEDAN

Questions?

And they will have to beat their swords into

plowshares and their spears into pruning shears.

Nation will not lift up sword against nation,

neither will they learn war anymore.'' - Isaiah 2:4