Geohydrology of the proposed waste-isolation pilot-plant site in southeastern New Mexico
The drilling and testing of 30 hydrologic test holes have identified three flow zones above the Salado Formation that could potentially transport wastes to the biosphere if the proposed storage facility were breached. These zones include the contact between the Salado and Rustler formations and the Culebra and Magenta Dolomite Members of the Permian Rustler formation. Potentiometric-surface maps (as equivalent freshwater heads) show flow to the west toward Nash Draw within the Rustler-Salado contact and the Magenta Dolomite Member, and flow to the south within the Culebra Dolomite Member. Determinations of hydraulic gradients, directions of flow, and hydraulic properties have been hindered because of the low permeability of the water-bearing zones. Special techniques in drilling completion and hydraulic testing have been developed to adapt conventional methods to low permeable rock. Calculations from pump, slug, and pressure-pulse tests indicate that transmissivity varies laterally within as well as between the beds. Because groundwater may flow predominantly along fractures, a two-well recirculating test was performed to evaluate the effective porosity and coefficients of dispersivity.
- Research Organization:
- Geological Survey, Albuquerque, NM (USA); Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 6495409
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-81-0197C; CONF-810457-1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Results of hydrologic tests and water-chemistry analyses, wells H-6A, H-6B, and H-6C, at the proposed waste isolation pilot plant site, southeastern New Mexico
Results of hydrologic tests and water-chemistry analyses, wells H-6A, H-6B, and H-6C, at the proposed Waste Isolation Pilot Plant site, southeastern New Mexico. Water resources investigations (final)
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ANTITHYROID DRUGS
AQUIFERS
BOREHOLES
CARBONIC ACID DERIVATIVES
CAVITIES
DATA
DRUGS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FAILURES
FLOW MODELS
FLUID FLOW
FRACTURES
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GROUND WATER
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HORMONE ANTAGONISTS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLOGY
INFORMATION
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NEW MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERMEABILITY
PILOT PLANTS
POROSITY
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
SALT DEPOSITS
SOUTHWEST REGION
TESTING
THIOCYANATES
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
USA
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WATER