Earthquake-induced water-level fluctuations at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, June 1992

Technical Report · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/138659· OSTI ID:138659

O`Brien, G M

This report presents earthquake-induced water-level and fluid-pressure data for wells in the Yucca Mountain area, Nevada, during June 1992. Three earthquakes occurred which caused significant water-level and fluid-pressure responses in wells. Wells USW H-5 and USW H-6 are continuously monitored to detect short-term responses caused by earthquakes. Two wells, monitored hourly, had significant, longer-term responses in water level following the earthquakes. On June 28, 1992, a 7.5-magnitude earthquake occurred near Landers, California causing an estimated maximum water-level change of 90 centimeters in well USW H-5. Three hours later a 6.6-magnitude earthquake occurred near Big Bear Lake, California; the maximum water-level fluctuation was 20 centimeters in well USW H-5. A 5.6-magnitude earthquake occurred at Little Skull Mountain, Nevada, on June 29, approximately 23 kilometers from Yucca Mountain. The maximum estimated short-term water-level fluctuation from the Little Skull Mountain earthquake was 40 centimeters in well USW H-5. The water level in well UE-25p {number_sign}1, monitored hourly, decreased approximately 50 centimeters over 3 days following the Little Skull Mountain earthquake. The water level in UE-25p {number_sign}1 returned to pre-earthquake levels in approximately 6 months. The water level in the lower interval of well USW H-3 increased 28 centimeters following the Little Skull Mountain earthquake. The Landers and Little Skull Mountain earthquakes caused responses in 17 intervals of 14 hourly monitored wells, however, most responses were small and of short duration. For several days following the major earthquakes, many smaller magnitude aftershocks occurred causing measurable responses in the continuously monitored wells.

• Research Organization: Geological Survey, Denver, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AI08-92NV10874
• OSTI ID: 138659
• Report Number(s): USGS-OFR--93-73; ON: DE93016279
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
58 GEOSCIENCES
AFTERSHOCKS
EARTHQUAKE MAGNITUDE
EARTHQUAKES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUCTUATIONS
LEVELS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MONITORING
RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE
RESERVOIR PRESSURE
SEISMIC EFFECTS
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
WATER WELLS
YUCCA MOUNTAIN
Yucca Mountain Project