Integration of interpretation results of tracer tests performed in the Culebra dolomite at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant site
- INTERA, Inc., Austin, TX (United States)
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Site-characterization, data interpretation, and modeling efforts have been conducted for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), a US Department of Energy facility, in southeastern New Mexico as part of the evaluation of the suitability of the bedded salt of the Salado Formation for isolation of defense transuranic wastes. The Culebra Dolomite Member of the Rustler Formation is the most transmissive and laterally continuous hydrogeologic unit above the Salado Formation and is considered to be the principal offsite pathway for radionuclide transport in the subsurface, should a breach of the repository occur. The potential importance of this offsite pathway has motivated the design and implementation of tests to characterize the solute-transport properties of the Culebra dolomite. On a regional scale, long-term pumping tests have been performed and analyzed to provide information concerning the broad hydrologic flow characteristics of the Culebra dolomite. At the local (or hydropad) scale, conservative (i.e., nonreactive) tracer tests have been performed to characterize the solute-transport properties of the Culebra dolomite. The tracer-test interpretations presented in this report were performed by INTERA Inc. under contract to SNL. The tracer tests and their interpretation provide data for use in performance-assessment calculations of site suitability for waste isolation. In particular, transport parameters determined from these tests are used as input for offsite solute-transport simulations.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 10188518
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-92-1579; ON: DE93003235
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: Aug 1992
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ALPHA-BEARING WASTES
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
SALT DEPOSITS
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
WIPP
DOLOMITE
TRACER TECHNIQUES
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
ANISOTROPY
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
HYDROLOGY
POROSITY
DIFFUSION
ORGANIC ACIDS
HALOGENS
CYANATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
052002
WASTE DISPOSAL AND STORAGE