Changes in rock salt permeability due to nearby excavation

Conference · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991

OSTI ID:6245969

Stormont, J C ^[1]; Howard, C L ^[2]; Daemen, J J.K. ^[3]

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1. Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
2. RE/SPEC, Inc., Carlsbad, NM (United States)
3. Nevada Univ., Reno, NV (United States)

Changes in brine and gas permeability of rock salt as a result of nearby excavation (mine-by) have been measured from the underground workings of the WIPP facility. Prior to the mine-by, the formation responds as a porous medium with a very low brine permeability, a significant pore (brine) pressure and no measurable gas permeability. The mine-by excavation creates a dilated, partially saturated zone in the immediate vicinity of the excavation with an increased permeability to brine and a measurable permeability to gas. The changes in hydrologic properties are discussed in the context of pore structure changes.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 6245969
• Report Number(s): SAND-91-0269; CONF-910728--8; ON: DE92003589
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052002* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Disposal & Storage
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
BOREHOLES
BRINES
CAVITIES
EXCAVATION
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDROLOGY
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
PERMEABILITY
PILOT PLANTS
POROSITY
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
SALT DEPOSITS
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS
WIPP