First status report on regional ground-water flow modeling for Vacherie Dome, Louisiana

Technical Report · Tue Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:5667854

Regional ground-water flow within the principal geohydrologic units in the vicinity of Vacherie Dome, Louisiana is evaluated by developing a conceptual model of the flow regime within these units and testing the model using a three-dimensional, finite-difference flow code (SWENT). Semiquantitative sensitivity analyses (a limited parametric study) are conducted to define the system responses to changes in the conceptual model, particularly in regard to the geohydrologic properties. All steps leading to the final results and conclusions are incorporated in this report. The available data utilized in this study are summarized. The conceptual model is defined in terms of the areal and vertical averaging of lithologic units, aquifer properties, and hydrologic boundary conditions. The simulated ground-water flow fields are described with potentiometric surfaces, areas of upward and downward flow across aquitards, tables summarizing the horizontal and vertical volumetric flows through the principal units, ground-water travel times and paths, and Darcy velocities within specified finite-difference blocks. The reported work is the first stage of an ongoing evaluation of Vacherie Dome as a potential repository for high-level radioactive wastes. The results and conclusions should thus be considered preliminary and subject to modification with the collection of additional data. However, the report does provide a useful basis for describing the sensitivity of the conceptualization of ground-water flow to parameterization and, to a lesser extent, the uncertainties in the present conceptualization. 34 refs., 57 figs., 19 tabs.

• Research Organization: Intera Technologies, Inc., Austin, TX (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-83CH10140
• OSTI ID: 5667854
• Report Number(s): BMI/ONWI-602; ON: DE86014328
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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AQUIFERS
FEDERAL REGION VI
FINITE DIFFERENCE METHOD
FLOW MODELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GROUND WATER
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
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POTENTIOMETRY
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
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SALT DEPOSITS
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SITE SELECTION
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
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