Sealing of boreholes using natural, compatible materials: Granular salt
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Nevada Univ., Reno, NV (United States). Dept. of Mining Engineering
Granular salt can be used to construct high performance permanent seals in boreholes which penetrate rock salt formations. These seals are described as seal systems comprised of the host rock, the seal material, and the seal rock interface. The performance of these seal systems is defined by the complex interactions between these seal system components through time. The interactions are largely driven by the creep of the host formation applying boundary stress on the seal forcing host rock permeability with time. The immediate permeability of these seals is dependent on the emplaced density. Laboratory test results suggest that careful emplacement techniques could results in immediate seal system permeability on the order of 10{sup {minus}16} m{sup 2} to 10{sup {minus}18} m{sup 2} (10{sup {minus}4} darcy to 10{sup {minus}6}). The visco-plastic behavior of the host rock coupled with the granular salts ability to ``heal`` or consolidate make granular salt an ideal sealing material for boreholes whose permanent sealing is required.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- OSTI ID:
- 10151699
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-94-0876C; CONF-940892-1; ON: DE94012065; BR: GB0103012; TRN: 94:013546
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Euro rock `94,Delph (Netherlands),9 Aug 1994; Other Information: PBD: [1994]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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