Shale fracturing injections at Oak Ridge National Laboratory: 1977-1979 series

Technical Report · Mon Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5142333· OSTI ID:5142333

Weeren, H. O.

Intermediate-level waste solution generated at ORNL is periodically mixed with a cement-base blend of dry solids and injected into an impermeable shale formation at an approximate depth of 240 m (800 ft). The grout mix sets shortly after the injection, permanently fixing the radionuclides in the shale formation. A series of four injections of intermediate-level waste solution was made between 1977 and 1979. A total of 1.2 million l (314,000 gal) of waste solution containing 81,780 Ci of radionuclides was injected. This report is an account of this injection series - preparations, injections, results, and conclusions. The volumes and activities that were injected are summarized. In Injection ILW-15 a small leak of grout to the waste pit eroded the drain valves and forced a shutdown of the injection while repairs were made. The injection was completed 2 days later. Injection ILW-16 was terminated about two-thirds through the injection when the diesel drive of the injection pump blew a connecting rod through the block. The facility and well were washed down with the standby pump. Prior to Injection ILW-17, air pads were installed on all bulk solids storage bins. All subsequent injections have been marked by a much more even flow of solids and a resulting improvement in the mix ratio control. Injections ILW-17 and ILW-18 were made without notable incidents. Logs of the observation wells indicated that all grout sheets were within the disposal zone.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 5142333
• Report Number(s): ORNL/TM-7421
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
510500 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BUILDING MATERIALS
CEMENTS
DIAGRAMS
DISPERSIONS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
INJECTION WELLS
INTERMEDIATE-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
LIQUID WASTES
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MIXTURES
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
ORNL
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PUMPING
PUMPS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SHALES
SOLIDIFICATION
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WELLS