Characterization of Reconsolidated Crushed Salt from the BAMBUS Site
- Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Observational petrofabrics, thermal, mechanical, and hydrological measurements were made on reconsolidated salt samples extracted from the field site in which a study called Backfilling and Sealing of Underground Repositories for Radioactive Waste in Salt was conducted. Similar characterization was completed more than a decade ago, so this work furthers previous measurements after sustained consolidation in situ. Porosity determined by traditional point-counting on polished sections and helium porosimeter methods ranged from 20-25% with consolidation governed by brittle processes, as evidence of fluid-aided, grain-boundary processes was rarely observed. Thermal conductivity in the range of 2.3 W/(m∙K) is consistent for granular halite in this porosity range. Gas flow measurements yielded permeability of the order of 5e-13m2. Pressure-sensitive compressive strengths at 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 MPa confining pressure were 8, 9, and 14 MPa, respectively, with apparent elastic moduli increase with deformation.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Supply Chain
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- OSTI ID:
- 1561182
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-2016-2794; 637600
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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