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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Planning, developing, and organizing in situ tests for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP)

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5326865

The US Department of Energy (DOE) is developing the WIPP Project in southeastern New Mexico as a research and development (R and D) facility to demonstrate the safe disposal of radioactive wastes in bedded (layered) salt. This project provides for an in situ testing facility to address the technical issues of repository development, waste package performance assessment, and waste handling demonstrations. In situ tests (a part of the R and D program) were designed to verify laboratory data and theoretical analyses. This report documents the planning and development activities associated with the WIPP In Situ Testing Program. It describes the procedures followed during design, construction, and installation of the underground thermal/structural interactions, plugging and sealing, waste package performance, and operational demonstration tests. To successfully achieve this in situ test installation program required continuous coordination of Sandia's R and D testing requirements with the technical supporting activities of the other WIPP participants. 13 refs., 16 figs.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789
OSTI ID:
5326865
Report Number(s):
SAND-84-1390C; CONF-850938-2; ON: DE85016195
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English