Description of the site and preliminary design validation program for the WIPP site

Technical Report · Wed Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1980

OSTI ID:6154548

Little, C C; Gurney, F J; Bell, D S

The WIPP Site and Preliminary Design Validation Program, referred to as SPDV throughout this paper, is designed to provide confirmation of the characteristics of the proposed Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) site. This information will, when added to existing knowledge create a solid foundation for future decision making on the WIPP Project. The SPDV Program represents a logical extension of previous investigations conducted since 1975. While these prior investigations have produced considerable knowledge about the surface and subsurface characteristics of the site, ultimate confirmation of the site's appropriateness can only be obtained by direct observation of geology at the proposed facility depth. The SPDV Program as planned will require approximately 2 yr to complete. The Program calls for drilling two shafts at the site - one 12 ft in diameter and another 6 ft in diameter - to the anticipated facility depth of approximately 2150 ft. This will place the bottom of the two shafts approximately 1300 ft below the top of the 2000 ft thick Salado evaporite (salt rock) formation. The 12-ft-dia shaft will provide the main entryway for underground exploration. It will be lined with a steel casing 10 ft in diameter to a depth of about 850 ft where the salt formation begins. The lower 1300 ft of the shaft within the salt formation will be unlined. A sand/cement grout will be injected through pipes along the outside of the liner throughout its length to seal off any inflow of underground water. The 12-ft dia shaft will be outfitted with a temporary hoist and headframe (a derrick-like structure). The hoisting system will be used to transport mined salt, personnel, equipment and supplies to and from the underground experimental area.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Electric Corp., Carlsbad, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-78AL05346
• OSTI ID: 6154548
• Report Number(s): WTSD-TME-3063; ON: DE86004312
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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DESIGN
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGY
HYDROLOGY
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
PILOT PLANTS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
SALT DEPOSITS
SHAFT EXCAVATIONS
SITE SELECTION
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS
WIPP