Development of models for fast fluid pathways through unsaturated heterogeneous porous media

Technical Report · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1994

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/60736· OSTI ID:60736

Robey, T H ^[1]

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1. Spectra Research Inst., Albuquerque, NM (United States)

The pre-waste-emplacement ground water travel time requirement is a regulatory criterion that specifies ground water travel time to the accessible environment shall be greater than 1,000 years. Satisfying the ground water travel time criterion for the potential repository at Yucca Mountain requires the study of fast travel path formation in the unsaturated zone and development of models that simulate the formation of fast paths. Conceptual models for unsaturated flow that have been used for total-systems performance assessment generally fall into the categories of composite-porosity or fracture models. The actual hydrologic conditions at Yucca Mountain are thought to lie somewhere between the extremes of these two types of models. The current study considers the effects of heterogeneities on composite-porosity models and seeks to develop numerical methods (and models) that can produce locally saturated zones where fracture flow can occur. The credibility of the model and numerical methods is investigated by using test data from the INTRAVAL project (Swedish Nuclear Inspectorate, 1992) to attempt to predict in-situ volumetric water content at specific locations in Yucca Mountain. Work based on the numerical methods presented in this study is eventually intended to allow the calculation of ground water travel times in heterogeneous media. 60 refs.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 60736
• Report Number(s): SAND--93-7109; ON: DE95004269
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLOW MODELS
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
GROUND WATER
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
SPECIFICATIONS
STRATIGRAPHY
TIME DEPENDENCE
YUCCA MOUNTAIN
Yucca Mountain Project