A powdery low detonation velocity explosive containing single base propellants has been prepared and its technology has been studied. The mechanism of low detonation velocity for the explosive is discussed. Some factors, such as the grain size of single base propellants, the content of coating reagent and desensitizer, the density of the explosive, which may influence the performance of the explosive are also studied. The low temperature performance of explosives, the voluminal power, the mechanical sensitivity and the detonation velocity of explosives in different diameters are tested. The applied effect of the low detonation velocity explosives for oil field exploration is also analyzed. The results show that the low detonation velocity explosive has the properties of easy-preparing,high energy and high density,and it can greatly improve the resolution of the earth-shock prospecting.