Thermophysical properties of the Ghareb formation relevant for nuclear waste disposal

Kibikas, William M.; Ghassemi, Ahmad; Choens, R. Charles; Bauer, Stephen J.; Shalev, Eyal; Lyakhovsky, Vladimir

doi:10.1007/s11440-025-02535-9

Thermophysical properties of the Ghareb formation relevant for nuclear waste disposal

Journal Article · Thu Jan 30 23:00:00 EST 2025 · Acta Geotechnica

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-025-02535-9· OSTI ID:2512448

Kibikas, William M. ^[1]; Ghassemi, Ahmad ^[2]; Choens, R. Charles ^[1]; Bauer, Stephen J. ^[1]; Shalev, Eyal ^[3]; Lyakhovsky, Vladimir ^[3]

Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Univ. of Oklahoma, Norman, OK (United States)
Geological Survey of Israel, Jerusalem (Israel)

The Ghareb formation, a shallowly buried porous chalk in Israel, is currently a candidate for nuclear waste disposal. The potential repository is somewhat unique for its host rock and emplacement in shallow (500 m) engineered large diameter boreholes. Herein, the thermal properties of the Ghareb are determined to support design and performance assessment; the relevant properties measured are thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, thermal diffusivity, and thermal expansion coefficient along with their relationship with varying temperature. For the temperature range of 40 to 275 °C, the thermal conductivity ranges from 0.30 to 1.10 W/m·K, the thermal diffusivity ranges from 0.20 to 0.72 mm²/s, and volumetric heat capacity ranges from 0.86 to 2.00 MJ/m³·K. Thermal strain measurements were used to estimate the linear thermal expansion coefficient to be 6·10^–4–9·10^–2 °C^-1 from 40 to 300 °C. These measured properties were used in a thermomechanical model to estimate near-field stresses an hour and 10 years after waste emplacement; the borehole was found to be stable. Thermal loading after 10 years was predicted to elevate local pore pressures by 1–1.5 MPa. The laboratory measurements coupled with analyses are the first attempts at performance assessment characterization for this first of its kind potential repository setting with this chosen host rock.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation

Grant/Contract Number:: NA0003525

OSTI ID:: 2512448

Report Number(s):: SAND--2025-01478J

Journal Information:: Acta Geotechnica, Journal Name: Acta Geotechnica Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 20; ISSN 1861-1125

Publisher:: SpringerCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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