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Title: Integrated modeling and experimental programs to predict brine and gas flow at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant

Abstract

Evaluation of the performance of the WIPP repository involves modeling of brine and gas flow in the host rocks of the Salado Formation, which consist of halite and anhydrite interbeds. Numerous physical, chemical, and structural processes, must be understood to perform this modeling. Gas generation within the repository is strongly coupled to the amount of brine inflow to the repository because brine aids in the corrosion of metals and associated generation of hydrogen gas. Increasing gas pressure in the repository decreases the rate of brine inflow. Ultimately, the gas pressure may exceed the brine pressure and gas may flow out of the repository. Relative-permeability curves and a correlation between threshold pressure and permeability taken from studies reported in the literature were used in PA models prior to being experimentally verified as appropriate for WIPP. In addition, interbed permeabilities were treated as constant and independent of effective stress in early models. Subsequently, the process of interbed fracturing (or fracture dilation) was recognized to limit gas pressures in the repository to values below lithostatic, and assumed (and unverified) relationships between porosity, permeability, and pore pressure were employed. Parameter-sensitivity studies performed using the simplified models identified important parameters for which site-specific data weremore » needed. Unrealistic modeling results, such as room pressures substantially above lithostatic, showed the need to include additional processes in the models. Field and laboratory experimental programs have been initiated in conjunction with continued model development to provide information on important processes and parameters.« less

Authors:
; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
10116109
Report Number(s):
SAND-94-0599C; CONF-941053-1
ON: DE95005425; TRN: 95:001522
DOE Contract Number:  
AC04-94AL85000
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Conference: International symposium on validation through model testing with experiments,Paris (France),11-14 Oct 1994; Other Information: PBD: [1995]
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; WIPP; PERFORMANCE; ALPHA-BEARING WASTES; UNDERGROUND STORAGE; BRINES; FLOW MODELS; HALITE; FRACTURING; PERMEABILITY; ANHYDRITE; VAPOR GENERATORS; EXPERIMENTAL DATA; RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE; GAS FLOW; 052002; WASTE DISPOSAL AND STORAGE

Citation Formats

Beauheim, R L, Howarth, S M, Vaughn, P, Webb, S W, and Larson, K W. Integrated modeling and experimental programs to predict brine and gas flow at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. United States: N. p., 1995. Web. doi:10.2172/10116109.
Beauheim, R L, Howarth, S M, Vaughn, P, Webb, S W, & Larson, K W. Integrated modeling and experimental programs to predict brine and gas flow at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/10116109
Beauheim, R L, Howarth, S M, Vaughn, P, Webb, S W, and Larson, K W. 1995. "Integrated modeling and experimental programs to predict brine and gas flow at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/10116109. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/10116109.
@article{osti_10116109,
title = {Integrated modeling and experimental programs to predict brine and gas flow at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant},
author = {Beauheim, R L and Howarth, S M and Vaughn, P and Webb, S W and Larson, K W},
abstractNote = {Evaluation of the performance of the WIPP repository involves modeling of brine and gas flow in the host rocks of the Salado Formation, which consist of halite and anhydrite interbeds. Numerous physical, chemical, and structural processes, must be understood to perform this modeling. Gas generation within the repository is strongly coupled to the amount of brine inflow to the repository because brine aids in the corrosion of metals and associated generation of hydrogen gas. Increasing gas pressure in the repository decreases the rate of brine inflow. Ultimately, the gas pressure may exceed the brine pressure and gas may flow out of the repository. Relative-permeability curves and a correlation between threshold pressure and permeability taken from studies reported in the literature were used in PA models prior to being experimentally verified as appropriate for WIPP. In addition, interbed permeabilities were treated as constant and independent of effective stress in early models. Subsequently, the process of interbed fracturing (or fracture dilation) was recognized to limit gas pressures in the repository to values below lithostatic, and assumed (and unverified) relationships between porosity, permeability, and pore pressure were employed. Parameter-sensitivity studies performed using the simplified models identified important parameters for which site-specific data were needed. Unrealistic modeling results, such as room pressures substantially above lithostatic, showed the need to include additional processes in the models. Field and laboratory experimental programs have been initiated in conjunction with continued model development to provide information on important processes and parameters.},
doi = {10.2172/10116109},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/10116109}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1995},
month = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1995}
}