Mineability study of the terminal waste storage program: Eleana investigation. [Argillites]
A mineability study was undertaken to determine if shafts, drifts and large open chambers could be mined in the Eleana argillite, and to estimate mining costs. The assumption was made that the facility would contain 30,000 cannisters emplaced at the rate of 1,000 per year in holes drilled both horizontally in the pillars and vertically down in the floor of the emplacement rooms at a 5 m spacing. An area 3,500 feet by 10,000 feet (800 acres) would be required. Not included in the study were effects due to seismic activity or thermal loading. It is concluded, based on present information, which is scanty, that much of the ground appears to be poor due to extensive faulting and fracturing; tunneling will be slow, difficult and expensive. The total estimated cost for disposal of 30,000 waste cannisters using the conceptual configuration assumed for this study, is $811,350,000. Time required for initial development work prior to first cannister emplacement is estimated to be 2.22 years. The following report gives the detailed analyses, time required and costs arrived at during this study.
- Research Organization:
- Fenix and Scisson, Inc., Mercury, Nev. (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- EY-76-C-08-0038
- OSTI ID:
- 6870251
- Report Number(s):
- NVO-0038-35; TRN: 78-014137
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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