Additional geotechnical studies: Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), Weeks Island, Louisiana. [Weeks Island, LA]

Technical Report · Mon Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:7095822

Previous studies undertaken at the Weeks Island SPR site placed high risk potential on shaft leakage that could lead to shaft failure and ultimately to loss of the crude oil containment. As a result, a geotechnical investigation was undertaken by Sandia National Laboratories (Sandia) and Acres International Corporation (Acres) to define the stratigraphy and hydrologic conditions around the shafts in an attempt to quantify the actual risk potential and define various failure scenarios. In addition, various alternative remedial actions, which could be employed to either eliminate or minimize these risks, were addressed. The investigation program consisted of the drilling of two test borings in proximity to the Service and Production Shafts. These borings confirmed that the stratigraphy overlying the dome in this area consists principally of unconsolidated, well sorted, sandy gravel and sand with permeabilities in the range of 10/sup -2/ to 10/sup -4/ cm/sec. The upper zone of salt was found to be highly friable and fractured with high permeability. The ground water regime over the dome consists of a single aquifer whose water level corresponds with sea level. The salinity of the ground water increases with depth, becoming fully saturated at the top of the salt. Normal recharge of the aquifer is from downward migration of precipitation with radial drainage to the various water courses surrounding the dome. Based on the field and laboratory testing, it is concluded that an uncontrolled leak developing in the shafts could result in rapid flooding of the mine workings, with water flowing from the water courses surrounding the dome. The oil withdrawal system would be inoperable. Subsequent erosion/solutioning of the salt around the oil containment bulkheads could lead to the ultimate loss of oil. 28 figs.

• Research Organization: Acres International Corp., Buffalo, NY (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 7095822
• Report Number(s): SAND-86-7181; ON: DE87007360
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
024000* -- Petroleum-- Storage-- (-1989)
AQUIFERS
CAVITIES
DISSOLUTION
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION VI
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGY
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLOGY
LEAKS
LOSSES
LOUISIANA
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
RESERVES
RESOURCES
RISK ASSESSMENT
SALT CAVERNS
SALT DEPOSITS
SHAFT EXCAVATIONS
STORAGE
STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE
STRATIGRAPHY
UNDERGROUND STORAGE
USA
WATER
WATER INFLUX