Mechanics of hydraulic fractures in shales
The Oak Ridge National Laboratory is now using an adaptation of the oil-field technique of hydraulic fracturing for the disposal of some of its liquid radioactive wastes. In this adaptation, the aqueous wastes are mixed with Portland cement and other solids and then pumped into a hydraulically induced horizontal fracture in shale rocks at about 1,000-ft depth. Since 1966, about 515,000 gal of waste containing more than 215,000 curies of activity have been disposed of by this method. The rocks overlying the solidified grout sheets provide the primary isolation and containment barrier for the wastes, and their integrity must be preserved. The development of the hydraulic fracturing waste disposal method, therefore, required an examination of both the mechanics of the induced fractures and the influence which each injection has on the surrounding rocks. These investigations indicated that the orientation of fractures are apparently controlled by both the state of stress in the ground and the anisotropy, that is, the bedding planes, of the shales. (10 refs.)
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab.
- OSTI ID:
- 6882558
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-690456-
- Journal Information:
- Symp. Salt, (Proc.); (United States), Journal Name: Symp. Salt, (Proc.); (United States) Vol. 2; ISSN SSAPD
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Radioactive waste disposal by hydraulic fracturing
Radioactive waste disposal by hydraulic fracturing
Related Subjects
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
58 GEOSCIENCES
580300 -- Mineralogy
Petrology
& Rock Mechanics-- (-1989)
COMMINUTION
FAILURES
FLUID FLOW
FRACTURES
FRACTURING
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDRAULIC FRACTURES
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
LIQUID WASTES
MANAGEMENT
MECHANICS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
ORNL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
ROCK MECHANICS
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SHALES
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES