Schematic designs for penetration seals for a reference repository in bedded salt
The isolation of radioactive wastes in geologic repositories requires that man-made penetrations such as shafts, tunnels, or boreholes are adequately sealed. This report describes schematic seal designs for a repository in bedded salt referenced to the straitigraphy of southeastern New Mexico. The designs are presented for extensive peer review and will be updated as site-specific conceptual designs when a site for a repository in salt has been selected. The principal material used in the seal system is crushed salt obtained from excavating the repository. It is anticipated that crushed salt will consolidate as the repository rooms creep close to the degree that mechanical and hydrologic properties will eventually match those of undisturbed, intact salt. For southeastern New Mexico salt, analyses indicate that this process will require approximately 1000 years for a seal located at the base of one of the repository shafts (where there is little increase in temperature due to waste emplacement) and approximately 400 years for a seal located in an access tunnel within the repository. Bulkheads composed of contrete or salt bricks are also included in the seal system as components which will have low permeability during the period required for salt consolidation.
- Research Organization:
- D'Appolonia Consulting Engineers, Albuquerque, NM (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 6679410
- Report Number(s):
- ONWI-405; ON: DE83004369
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
BOREHOLES
CAVITIES
DESIGN
FEDERAL REGION VI
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MANAGEMENT
NEW MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
PERFORMANCE
PLUGGING
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
SALT DEPOSITS
SEALS
SHAFT EXCAVATIONS
TUNNELS
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
USA
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT