Rock mass sealing: experimental assessment of borehole plug performance. Annual report, June 1982-May 1983
This report summarizes rock mass sealing work, primarily experimental borehole plugging performance assessments, completed, started, or planned during the period June 1, 1982-May 31, 1983. Flow testing of confined and unconfined cylindrical samples of granite, basalt, and tuff with cement and bentonite plugs in coaxial demonstrates that hole sealing is possible (under laboratory and short-term conditions), to a quality where neither plug nor plug-rock interface form preferential flowpaths. Cement plugs in basalt and granite have sufficient interface strength to make axial failure improbable at expected repository loading. Both flow and strength are impaired significantly and rapidly when plugs dry. Partial performance recovery occurs upon resaturation. Cement plug interface strength is erratic, making extrapolations to larger diameters or lengths difficult. A cement plug has been installed in a borehole running between two mine drifts. Plug testing is in progress. Field work, instrumentation and design are completed for in-situ testing of plugs in basalt (McNary damsite, Washington). Static laboratory testing of cement plugs in granite, a reference basis for planned dynamic testing, is complete. Dynamic testing equipment has been assembled. Studies of damage induced by drilling in the walls of holes in basalt have started. Equipment for studying the influence of in-situ ambient rock temperatures on plug performance is being assembled. An assessment is given of rock mass features and construction procedures that might influence sealing of larger size excavations.
- Research Organization:
- Arizona Univ., Tucson (USA). Dept. of Mining and Geological Engineering
- OSTI ID:
- 5625603
- Report Number(s):
- NUREG/CR-3473; ON: DE83910814
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products. Original copy available until stock is exhausted
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Rock mass sealing: experimental assessment of borehole plug performance. Annual report, June 1983-May 1984
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Related Subjects
BOREHOLES
PLUGGING
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
SEALING MATERIALS
BASALT
BENTONITE
CEMENTS
CLOSURES
FORMATION DAMAGE
GRANITES
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PERMEABILITY
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
TUFF
BUILDING MATERIALS
CAVITIES
CLAYS
IGNEOUS ROCKS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
PLUTONIC ROCKS
ROCKS
TESTING
VOLCANIC ROCKS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
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