Examples of technical innovations in rock property measurements prompted by the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant
The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) is the U.S. Department of Energy`s (DOE) planned repository for transuranic waste generated by defense programs. The WIPP repository 660 meters underground in bedded salt. Bedded salt was chosen for the repository because of salt`s small moisture content, extremely low permeability, and its natural ability to flow or creep, effectively encapsulating the waste in the long-term. However, because of these unique characteristics, the ability to measure properties at in situ conditions are beyond the realm of most standard experimental equipment. Thus a suite of new experimental systems and techniques has been developed to measure properties in extremely {open_quotes}tight{close_quotes} (low permeability) rocks. Also, innovations in rock property measurements have been made for standard porous media through the research conducted to characterize the rocks above the repository. A number of the new systems and techniques developed through the WIPP are presented in this paper. Examples include permeameters, two-phase flow characterization equipment, techniques for evaluation of salt healing, and characterization of diffusive processes.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Environmental Restoration and Waste Management, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- OSTI ID:
- 481892
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-97-0916C; CONF-970684-3; ON: DE97007554; TRN: 97:011142
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 1997 national convention of Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Albuquerque, NM (United States), 24 Jun 1997; Other Information: PBD: 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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