[Weird Russia] Atomic mining

"Also outside the box of traditional resources is the concept of producing oil directly out of the Bazhenov shale. (...)

Always big fans of nuclear energy, the Soviets even detonated nuclear bombs (called 'peaceful nuclear explosions') in the Bazhenov to enhance the natural fractures and increase oil flow (it did not work)."

From John Grace, Russian Oil Supply, pg. 44