Disposal of waste by hydraulic fracturing
Liquid radioactive waste solutions at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have been disposed of for nearly 20 years by preparing a slurry, injecting it into bedding plane fractures formed in low-permeability shale, and allowing the slurry to set into a solid. Three major considerations are required for this method: a rock formation that forms horizontal or bedding plane fractures and is highly impermeable, a plant facility that can develop sufficient hydraulic pressure to fracture the rock and to inject the slurry, and a slurry that can be pumped into the fracture and that will set, preferably, into a low-leaching solid. The requirements and desirable conditions of the formation, the process and facility as used for radioactive waste disposal, and the mix formulation and slurry properties that were required for injection and solidification are described. The intent of this paper is to stimulate interest in this technique for possible application to nonnuclear wastes.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 6716432
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8406142-4; ON: DE84014052
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Waste disposal by shale fracturing at ORNL
Waste disposal by shale fracturing at ORNL
Related Subjects
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
COMMINUTION
DISPERSIONS
FRACTURING
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
LIQUID WASTES
MANAGEMENT
MIXTURES
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
ORNL
PUMPING
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SHALES
SLURRIES
SUSPENSIONS
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES