Brine Sampling and Evaluation Program, 1991 report

Technical Report · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10192582· OSTI ID:10192582

Deal, D E; Abitz, R J; Myers, J; Martin, M L; Milligan, D J; Sobocinski, R W; Lipponer, P P.J. ^[1]; Belski, D S ^[2]

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1. International Technology Corp., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
2. Westinghouse Electric Corp., Carlsbad, NM (United States). Waste Isolation Div.

The data presented in this report are the result of Brine Sampling and Evaluation Program (BSEP) activities at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plan (WIPP) during 1991. These BSEP activities document and investigate the origins, hydraulic characteristics, extent, and composition of brine occurrences in the Permian Salado Formation and seepage of that brine into the excavations at the WIPP. When excavations began at the WIPP in 1982, small brine seepages (weeps) were observed on the walls. Brine studies began as part of the Site Validation Program and were formalized as a program in its own right in 1985. During nine years of observations (1982--1991), evidence has mounted that the amount of brine seeping into the WIPP excavations is limited, local, and only a small fraction of that required to produce hydrogen gas by corroding the metal in the waste drums and waste inventory. The data through 1990 is discussed in detail and summarized by Deal and others (1991). The data presented in this report describes progress made during the calendar year 1991 and focuses on four major areas: (1) quantification of the amount of brine seeping across vertical surfaces in the WIPP excavations (brine ``weeps); (2) monitoring of brine inflow, e.g., measuring brines recovered from holes drilled downward from the underground drifts (downholes), upward from the underground drifts (upholes), and from subhorizontal holes; (3) further characterization of brine geochemistry; and (4) preliminary quantification of the amount of brine that might be released by squeezing the underconsolidated clays present in the Salado Formation.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Electric Corp., Carlsbad, NM (United States). Waste Isolation Div.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-86AL31950
• OSTI ID: 10192582
• Report Number(s): DOE/WIPP--93-026; ON: DE94002351
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052002
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
58 GEOSCIENCES
580000
ALPHA-BEARING WASTES
BRINES
GEOCHEMISTRY
GEOSCIENCES
MONITORING
NUMERICAL DATA
SALT DEPOSITS
SAMPLING
SHAFT EXCAVATIONS
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
WASTE DISPOSAL AND STORAGE
WIPP