Stress measurements in rock salt using hydraulic fracturing

Conference · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:5525896

Wawersik, W R; Stone, C M

Hydraulic fracturing was applied in horizontal drillholes in the Salado salt formation near Carlsbad, New Mexico. Testing took place approximately 650 m below surface in order to support the design of a Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) for the disposal of radioactive waste from defense activities of the United States. Hydraulic fracturing was performed primarily to determine whether the virgin in situ stress state at the WIPP site is isotropic and whether the magnitudes of the the virgin in situ stresses correspond to the weight of the overburden. Beyond these limited objectives, measurements are being analyzed to evaluate the usefulness of hydraulic fracturing in salt formations in general. Such measurements are desirable to determine stresses induced by mining and to monitor time-dependent stress changes around underground excavations in salt masses. Hydraulic fracturing measurements are also relevant to the evaluation of allowable pressures before fracturing is induced in pressurized boreholes and storage caverns.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 5525896
• Report Number(s): SAND-86-1034C; CONF-8604199-1; ON: DE86010096
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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COMMINUTION
FEDERAL REGION VI
FRACTURING
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NEW MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
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RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
SALT DEPOSITS
STRESSES
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS
USA
WIPP