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Big Hill Geomechanical Analysis Using M-D Viscoplastic Material Model

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1868427· OSTI ID:1868427
 [1]
  1. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

The integrity of wellbores at the interbed between the caprock and salt is a serious concern in the Big Hill site. For the remediation and life extension of wellbores, more accurate predictions from the global model are needed. The Big Hill global model is improved using the M-D viscoplastic contact surface model and the mesh containing the interbed layer with contact surfaces between the salt and caprock layers, and fault blocks in overburden and caprock layers. The model calibration has been performed based on the cavern volumetric closures obtained from the Caveman calculations. The results agree well from 1991 to the early 2000s. The difference starts to widen after that, it might be because of frequent fluid movement and raw water injection. Therefore, the predictions from this improved model could be used to examine the structural integrity of caverns in Big Hill salt dome.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE)
DOE Contract Number:
NA0003525
OSTI ID:
1868427
Report Number(s):
SAND2022-6692; 706492
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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