Pressure grouting of fractured basalt flows

Technical Report · Mon Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1996

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/491390· OSTI ID:491390

Shaw, P; Weidner, J; Phillips, S; Alexander, J

This report describes a field trial of pressure grouting in basalt and the results of subsequent coring and permeability measurement activities. The objective was to show that the hydraulic conductivity of fractured basalt bedrock can be significantly reduced by pressure injection of cementitious materials. The effectiveness of the pressure grout procedure was evaluated by measuring the change in the hydraulic conductivity of the bedrock. The extent of grout penetration was established by analyzing postgrout injection drilling chips for the presence of a tracer in the grout and also by examining cores of the treated basalt. Downhole radar mapping was used to establish major lava flow patterns and follow water movement during a surface infiltration test. A site called Box Canyon, which is located northwest of the INEL, was chosen for this study due to the similarity of this surface outcrop geology to that of the underlying bedrock fracture system found at the Radioactive Waste Management Complex. This study showed that hydraulic conductivity of basalt can be reduced through pressure grouting of cementitious material.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Engineering Lab., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Environmental Restoration and Waste Management, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-94ID13223
• OSTI ID: 491390
• Report Number(s): INEL--96/0143; ON: DE97052145
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
58 GEOSCIENCES
BASALT
FIELD TESTS
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
GROUTING
HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY
IDAHO NATIONAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY
RESEARCH PROGRAMS