Evaluation of the role of threshold pressure in controlling flow of waste-generated gas into bedded salt at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant
Anoxic corrosion and microbial degradation of contact-handled transuranic waste may produce sufficient quantities of gas over a long time period to generate high pressure in the disposal rooms at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) repository. Dissipation of pressure by outward gas flow will be inhibited by the low permeability of the surrounding rock and by capillary forces that resist gas penetration into this water-saturated rock. Threshold pressure is the gas pressure required to overcome capillary resistance to initial gas penetration and to the development of interconnected gas pathways that would outward gas flow. The primary objectives of this study are to estimate the magnitude of threshold pressure in the bedded salt that surrounds the WIPP repository and to evaluate the role this parameter plays in controlling the outward flow of waste-generated gas. 54 refs., 9 figs., 4 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 5578858
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-90-3246; ON: DE91016498
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
WIPP
GAS FLOW
WASTE-ROCK INTERACTIONS
CORROSION
HALITE
HYDRAULICS
ORGANIC WASTES
PERMEABILITY
PRESSURE EFFECTS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SALTS
STEELS
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
ALLOYS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ELEMENTS
FLUID FLOW
FLUID MECHANICS
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
HALIDE MINERALS
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MECHANICS
MINERALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
PILOT PLANTS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
STORAGE
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE STORAGE
WASTES
052002* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage
540210 - Environment
Terrestrial- Basic Studies- (1990-)