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New Geomechanical Computation Analysis Evaluating Behavior of the Fault nearby BC-4

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1813901· OSTI ID:1813901
 [1]
  1. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
BC-4 is an abandoned brining cavern situated in the middle of the site. Its presence poses a concern for several reasons: 1) the cavern was leached up into the caprock; 2) it is similar to BC-7, a brining cavern on the northwest corner of the dome that collapsed in 1954 and now is the home to Cavern Lake; 3) a similar collapse of BC-4 would have catastrophic consequences for the future operation of the site. There exists a previously mapped fault feature in the caprock and thought to extend into the salt dome than runs in close proximity to BC-4. There are uncertainties about the true extent of the fault, and no explicit analysis has been performed to predict the effects of the fault on BC-4 stability. Additional knowledge of the fault and its effects is becoming more crucial as an enhanced monitoring program is developed and installed.
Research Organization:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
DOE Contract Number:
NA0003525
OSTI ID:
1813901
Report Number(s):
SAND2021-9270R; 697927
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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