Numerical modeling of ground-water flow systems in the vicinity of the reference repository location, Hanford Site, Washington

Technical Report · Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1989

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6348144· OSTI ID:6348144

Davis, P.; Beyeler, W.; Logsdon, M.; Coleman, N.; Brinster, K.

This report documents south-central Washington State's Pasco Basin ground-water modeling studies. This work was done to support the NRC's review of hydrogeologic studies under the Department of Energy's (DOE) Basalt Waste Isolation Project. The report provides a brief overview of the geology, hydrology, and hydrochemistry of the Pasco Basin as a basis for the evaluation of previous conceptual and numerical ground-water flow models of the region. Numerical models were developed to test new conceptual models of the site and to provide a means of evaluating the Department of Energy's performance assessments and proposed hydrologic testing. Regional ground-water flow modeling of an area larger than the Pasco Basin revealed that current concepts on the existence and behavior of a hydrologic barrier west of the proposed repository location are inconsistent with available data. This modeling also demonstrated that the measured pattern of hydraulic heads cannot be produced with a model that (1) has uniform layer properties over the entire domain; (2) has zones of large conductivity associated with anticlinal structures; or (3) includes recharge from the industrial disposal ponds. Adequate representation of the measured hydraulic heads was obtained with a model that contained regions of larger hydraulic conductivity that corresponded to the presence of sedimentary interbeds. In addition, a detailed model of a region smaller than the Pasco Basin was constructed to provide the NRC staff with the ability to analyze proposed Department of Energy hydrologic tests. 62 refs., 145 figs., 18 tabs.

• Research Organization: Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC (USA). Div. of High-Level Waste Management; Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 6348144
• Report Number(s): NUREG/CR-5089; SAND-88-0141; ON: TI89010203
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
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MATHEMATICAL MODELS
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
BASALT
FLOW RATE
GEOLOGY
HYDROLOGY
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
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FEDERAL REGION X
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IGNEOUS ROCKS
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RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
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VOLCANIC ROCKS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
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