Geologic and well-construction data for the H-8 borehole complex near the proposed Waste Isolation Pilot Plant Site, southeastern New Mexico

Technical Report · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5873598

Wells, J G; Drellack, Jr, S L

The H-8 borehole complex, a group of three closely spaced boreholes, is located 9 miles south of the proposed Waste Isolation Pilot Plant site in southeastern Eddy County, New Mexico. The holes were drilled during July, August, and September 1979 to obtain geologic and hydrologic data to better define the regional ground-water-flow system. The geologic data presented in this report are part of a site-characterization study for the possible disposal of defense-associated radioactive wastes within salt beds of the Salado Formation of Permian age. The geologic data include detailed descriptions of cores, cuttings, and geophysical logs. Each borehole was designed to penetrate a distinct water-bearing zone: H-8a (total depth 505 feet) was completed just below the Magenta Dolomite Member of the Rustler Formation of Permian age; H-8b (total depth 624 feet) was completed just below the Culebra Dolomite Member of the Rustler Formation; and H-8c (total depth 808 feet) was completed just below the Rustler Formation-Salado Formation contact. The geologic units penetrated in borehole H-8c are surficial alluvium and eolian sand of Holocene age (0-4 feet); the Mescalero caliche (4-10 feet) and Gatuna Formation (10-153 feet), both of Pleistocene age; and the Dewey Lake Red Beds (153-399 feet), the Rustler Formation (399-733 feet), and part of the Salado Formation (733-808 feet), all of Permian age. The upper 41 feet of the Salado Formation penetrated by borehole H-8c is composed of residue from dissolution of halite and associated rocks and the hydration of anhydrite to gypsum, indicating that the eastward-moving dissolution on top of the Salado, found west of the WIPP site, has reached the H-8 site. 11 refs., 2 figs., 7 tabs.

• Research Organization: Geological Survey, Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AI08-76DP00474
• OSTI ID: 5873598
• Report Number(s): USGS/WRI-82-4118; ON: DE85010116
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
510500 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
520500 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
58 GEOSCIENCES
580100 -- Geology & Hydrology-- (-1989)
BOREHOLES
CAVITIES
DATA
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FEDERAL REGION VI
FLOW MODELS
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGY
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLOGY
INFORMATION
LITHOLOGY
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NEW MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUMERICAL DATA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PILOT PLANTS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
SALT DEPOSITS
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS
USA
WATER
WIPP