"Most peaceful bomb: How the USSR stopped the disaster with a atomic detonation After 1074 days of raging gas fire, russian scientists detonated a 30 kiloton bomb underground – and extinguished it in seconds"

In 1949, The russian Union carried out the first atomic weapons test. Since then, a fresh era has begun for the USSR and the full world. For the next 40 years, the full planet was nervously watching, wondering if the Russians and Americans would start a atomic war. atomic weapons have become 1 of the decisive factors in planet policy.

However, atomic energy was not only curious in generals and politicians who considered utilizing atomic weapons against their enemies. For modern Russia, atomic power plants and nuclear-powered icebreakers have become an crucial part of the economy. In the 1950s, this thought was further developed. The USSR carried out 124 peaceful atomic explosions (PNE). These were underground explosions that helped scientists make water reservoirs, gain access to deep mineral deposits, and make gas retention chambers. specified explosions were seen as a solution to many problems.

The most different usage of atomic weapons, however, was to put out a powerful fire.

Hell that couldn't be solved

In the 1960s, the USSR actively developed its oil and gas reserves. Many fresh deposits of gas and oil were discovered, and the map of available resources continued to expand. This was like an oil boom that erstwhile happened in the US. However, due to the structure of the russian economy, exploration was done not by private companies, but by state structures. In the 1960s, gigantic oil and gas deposits were discovered in western Siberia, which remains 1 of the main pillars of the Russian economy.

However, specified fast improvement besides had its drawbacks. advancement had its price, which was sometimes rather high.

On December 1, 1963, a major disaster occurred in the Urta-Bułak gas field in Uzbekistan. The day began with regular drilling in rocks. Nothing different happened and the staff assumed the day would pass as usual. However, at a depth of over 2,400 metres, the drill accidentally hit a gas deposit with a very advanced force – about 300 atm. The detonation knocked the full drilling column out of the well, the drill was torn to pieces, and a immense pillar of fire burst from the ground.

There was a 120-metre "fire" detonation that spread around the area. It utilized 12 million cubic meters of gas a day – which is comparable to regular gas consumption in a large city specified as Saint Petersburg. The flame was visible from a distance of respective 100 kilometres.

Failed attempts to put out the fire continued until December 1965, erstwhile the student of Mścisław Keldysz made an unexpected proposal.

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Keldysz came from a superb household – and not only due to aristocratic origin, although he was a nobleman himself. His ancestors were doctors, engineers and generals. His father was a scientist and a university professor. Keldysz received an excellent education, and all his teachers' efforts paid off. He solved the fundamental problems of aviation engineering, studied the mechanics and aerodynamics of aircraft, and in the 1940s he was 1 of the leading specialists in atomic weapons and jet propulsion. In short, there were fewer specialists in the USSR, specified as Keldysz, with expertise in various fields.

Together with a group of Keldysz's associates, he proposed a completely unexpected solution – detonation of the fusion bomb deep underground to extinguish the fire.

The thought was "brutal", but practical: the detonation would decision immense layers of rocks that would crush the origin of gas coming to the surface.

The operational group was headed by Kamil Mangushev. He was inactive rather young, was about 35 years old, but was an experienced specialist in the oil and gas industry, investigating the peaceful usage of atomic technology. He was peculiarly curious in creating airtight empty underground spaces through atomic explosions. However, the problem he had to solve was somewhat different.

Avengers of Keldysh; Kamil Mangushev. © Wikipedia; museumrb.ru

Mangushev coordinated the work of all specialists active in the project. The plan was to drill a tilted well about 1.5 kilometres deep, located about 200 metres from the origin of the fire. Underground, the well was to be close the origin of the fire. atomic weapons with a power of 30 kilotons of TNT (1.5 times stronger than a bomb dropped on Nagasaki in 1945) were to be cooled in advance to prevent its premature explosion. A peculiar bomb enclosure with cooling strategy and well cooling strategy was developed.

A peculiar atomic warhead was designed, which had a peculiar casing (because a simple atomic bomb is not intended to leave for a well) and an automatic detonation system. Mangushev was besides liable for designing the drill utilized to build the canal. The well had to be sealed with cement to avoid contamination of the radioactive atmosphere.

The day the fire yet stopped

To make certain everything goes as planned, the bomb's model was lowered into the well. The cooling strategy was then checked and the head was lowered. The well's cemented. The men and equipment were moved 5 kilometers from the scene.

On September 30, 1966, physicists detonated a bomb. Mangushev's squad watched the detonation from a distance of 5 km.

On the surface, the earth trembled. The valley flashed with phosphorous light as shards of stone hit each other, generating sparks. The dosimetry service did not study any radioactive contamination. The fire began to expire quickly.

The shock wave simply crushed the pillar of fire. The fire that raged for 1074 days yet expired.

Mangushev was 1 of the first to run to the site. His shoes melted on the way. erstwhile he arrived, the geologist gave him a part of molten stone to remember.

The sausage, who proposed this method of extinguishing the fire, told Mangushev: “Fantastic! You did a large job, thank you!”

Immersion of a atomic charge in a combat mine. Human Resources: The movie “The gas burner gas blast of Urta-Bułak”, 1966

The Urta-Bułak gas field fire was an utmost example of the peaceful usage of atomic energy. However, this was not the last time powerful fires were put out in the USSR by specified methods. The usage of atomic weapons was an utmost means to which scientists resorted due to the strength of the flames. However, the hazard was justified. An different problem required an different solution. It was alternatively violent and consistent with the spirit of the era, but it worked.

Kieldysz died in the late 1970s after fighting severe illness. To this day, he is rightly considered 1 of the large heroes of russian times. The urn with its ashes rests in the Kremlin wall alongside another prominent russian figures. Mangushev continued his work for the state until the dissolution of the USSR, after which he founded a private company to clean up areas contaminated with petroleum products. The heroes of the 1960s drama remained respected professionals for the remainder of their lives.

Evgeny Norin, a Russian writer and historian, dealing with war and conflicts in the erstwhile russian Union.