Modeling of ground-water flow in the Culebra Dolomite at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) site: Interim report

Technical Report · Sat Feb 28 23:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6351190

Haug, A; Kelley, V A; LaVenue, A M; Pickens, J F

This hydrogeologic modeling study has been performed as part of the regional hydrologic characterization of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in southeastern New Mexico. The study resulted in an estimation of the transmissivity distribution, hydraulic potentials, flow field, and fluid densities in the Culebra Dolomite Member of the Permian Rustler Formation at the WIPP site. The site characterization studies are being conducted as part of the evaluation of the suitability of bedded salt of the Salado Formation for isolation of defense transuranic waste. The objectives of this report are to document the hydrogeologic data base for the Culebra dolomite at the WIPP site (including Culebra elevations, transmissivities, fluid densities, freshwater heads, and hydrologic stresses during the period 1981 to 1986); develop a conceptualization and modeling strategy for describing ground-water flow in the Culebra; present the calibration approach and results for simulating ground-water flow in the Culebra under undisturbed hydraulic conditions and during the transient period (1981 to 1986) resulting from shaft activities and well tests (in particular, the H-3 multipad pumping test); present the results of sensitivity analyses to assess the impact of vertical fluxes to the Culebra on the freshwater head and fluid-density distributions; and present the results of calculations and analyses to assess the impact of double-porosity flow on the transient behavior of the simulated hydrogeology in the Culebra dolomite. 118 refs., 98 figs., 26 tabs.

• Research Organization: Intera Technologies, Inc., Austin, TX (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 6351190
• Report Number(s): SAND-86-7167; ON: DE87009387
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
510300 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
510500 -- Environment
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520300 -- Environment
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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ALPHA-BEARING WASTES
CALCIUM CARBONATES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATE MINERALS
CARBONATES
DOLOMITE
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FEDERAL REGION VI
FLOW RATE
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MAGNESIUM CARBONATES
MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MINERALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NEW MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PILOT PLANTS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
SALT DEPOSITS
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS
USA
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WATER
WIPP