Evaluation of excavation effects on rock-mass permeability around the waste-handling shaft at the WIPP (Waste Isolation Pilot Plant) site

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:5168794

Beauheim, R L; Saulnier, Jr, G J

Pulse-injection permeability tests were performed in six subhorizontal boreholes at four horizons in the Waste-Handling Shaft at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) site to evaluate potential changes in permeability caused by stress relief around the shaft. The test were performed using a triple-packer test tool capable of simultaneous isolation and pressure and temperature monitoring of three intervals within a borehole. The tests were designed to provide a ''profile'' of permeability with increasing distance from the shaft wall. All lithologies tested had very low hydraulic conductivities, with values ranging from 6 /times/ 10/sup /minus/15/ to 1 /times/ 10/sup /minus/13/ ms. No significant changes in permeability as a function of distance from the shaft wall were observed. Thus, if a zone of enhanced permeability caused by stress relief exists around the shaft, it is probably within the first 1 to 2 m of rock around the shaft that could not be tested using the available test-tool configuration. The testing revealed the presence of a depressurization zone around the shaft, apparently caused by drainage of fluid from the formation into the shaft. 5 refs., 5 figs.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA); Intera Technologies, Inc., Austin, TX (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 5168794
• Report Number(s): SAND-88-1092C; CONF-880497-3; ON: DE88009693
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052002* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Disposal & Storage
053000 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Environmental Aspects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ALPHA-BEARING WASTES
BOREHOLES
CAVITIES
DEPRESSURIZATION
FEDERAL REGION VI
FIELD TESTS
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
LITHOLOGY
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MECHANICS
MODIFICATIONS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NEW MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
PERMEABILITY
PILOT PLANTS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
ROCK MECHANICS
SALT DEPOSITS
SEALS
SHAFT EXCAVATIONS
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
TESTING
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS
USA
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WIPP