Results of prototype borehole instrumentation at the Hydrologic Research Facility, area 25, NTS

Conference · Sat Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:61000

Rousseau, J P ^[1]; Kurzmack, M ^[2]; Greengard, A ^[3]

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1. Geological Survey, Denver, CO (United States)
2. Foothill Eng. Con. Inc., Golden, CO (United States)
3. Science Applications International, Golden, CO (United States)

Two 12+ meter (40 feet) deep, dry-augured boreholes, located adjacent to the Hydrologic Research Facility (HRF) calibration laboratory in Area 25, Nevada Test Site (NTS), were instrumented in October, 1991, and a third in February, 1992. Four instrument stations located at depths of 3.0, 6.1, 9.1, and 12.2 meters (m) were established in each borehole in order to evaluate instrumentation that will be used in the deep unsaturated-zone borehole-instrumentation program at Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada. Yucca Mountain is being evaluated as a potential site for the storage of high-level radioactive waste. The Yucca Mountain borehole-instrumentation program is designed to measure and monitor the unsaturated-zone fluid (liquid and gas) flow potential gradients and flow processes in the unsaturated-zone. To date, results of the HRF prototype borehole instrumentation program indicate that the stability and operational reliability of the sensors selected for use at Yucca Mountain will be adequate to sustain a long-term, in-situ monitoring program; one that is expected to last from three to five years. Data from the HRF borehole instrumentation experiment also indicate that sensor accuracy and precision are sufficient to measure the state variables (pneumatic pressure, temperature, vapor pressure and water potential) needed to quantify water, water vapor, gas, and heat flux in the unsaturated zone at Yucca Mountain.

• Research Organization: American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), New York, NY (United States); American Nuclear Society (ANS), La Grange Park, IL (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AI08-92NV10874
• OSTI ID: 61000
• Report Number(s): CONF-940553-Vol.4; TRN: 94:010821-0123
• Resource Relation: Conference: International high-level radioactive waste management conference, Las Vegas, NV (United States), 22-26 May 1994; Other Information: PBD: 1994; Related Information: Is Part Of High Level Radioactive Waste Management: Proceedings of the fifth annual international conference. Volume 4; PB: 1048 p.
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
44 INSTRUMENTATION
INCLUDING NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE DETECTORS
BOREHOLES
WELL LOGGING
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
YUCCA MOUNTAIN
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
HYDRODYNAMICS
WELL LOGGING EQUIPMENT
PERFORMANCE TESTING
CALIBRATION
HEAT FLUX
VAPOR PRESSURE
WATER VAPOR
FLUID FLOW
Yucca Mountain Project