A modeling study of the Culebra dolomite
A modeling study has been performed as part of the regional hydrologic characterization of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) site in New Mexico. The study resulted in an estimation of the transmissivity distribution, the hydraulic potentials, the flow field, and the fluid densities in the Culebra Dolomite Member of the Rustler Formation at the WIPP site. The work performed consisted of modeling the hydrogeology in the Culebra using two different approaches: steady-state modeling of the best estimate of the undisturbed situation, and transient modeling of the hydrogeologic conditions resulting from excavating three shafts at the center of the WIPP site as well as from various well tests. The three-dimensional finite-difference code SWIFT II with variable fluid density formulation was employed. The size of the model area was 12.24 km x 11.70 km. The boundary conditions (prescribed pressures and fluid densities) were estimated using the hydraulic head and fluid density data obtained from 40 wells at the WIPP site. The initial spatial transmissivity distribution in the Culebra dolomite was estimated using kriging techniques. The steady-state model was calibrated against the observed formation pressures and fluid densities. The calibration parameters were the transmissivities and the boundary conditions. The transmissivities were modified during the calibration process using kriging techniques, thus maintaining the statistical properties of the observed transmissivity data. The calibrated steady-state model was used as initial conditions for simulating transient processes in the Culebra at the WIPP site. The examples presented include the shaft history beginning in 1981 and a long-term pumping test (denoted the H-3 multipad pumping test) conducted in 1985.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA); Intera Technologies, Inc., Austin, TX (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 6774026
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-87-7001C; CONF-870252-1; ON: DE87005064
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: NWWA conference on solving ground water problems with models, Denver, CO, USA, 10 Feb 1987; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
DOLOMITE
HYDROLOGY
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
NEW MEXICO
WIPP
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM CARBONATES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATE MINERALS
CARBONATES
FEDERAL REGION VI
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
MAGNESIUM CARBONATES
MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS
MINERALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PILOT PLANTS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
SIMULATION
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS
USA
580100* - Geology & Hydrology- (-1989)
052002 - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage