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Title: Basic Data Report for Drillhole SNL-18 (C-3233)

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/989397· OSTI ID:989397
 [1]
  1. Consulting Geologist, Anthony, TX (United States)

SNL -18 (permitted by the New Mexico (NM) State Engineer as C.3233) was drilled and completed during June 2006 to provide geological data and hydrological testing of the Culebra Dolomite Member of the Permian Rustler Formation along the margin of the northeastern arm of Nash Draw, north of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) site. SNL -18 is in the area where upper Salado Formation halite has been dissolved and is in the mudflat facies tract of Rustler mudstone -halite units. Culebra transmissivity is expected to be relatively high. SNL -18 is located near the southeast corner of section 20, T21S, R31E, in eastern Eddy County, NM. SNL.18 was drilled to a total depth (TD) of 566 feet (ft) below ground level (bgl), based on driller’s measurements. Below the caliche pad, SNL.18 encountered poorly consolidated sands, the Mescalero caliche, and the Gatuña, Dewey Lake, and Rustler Formations. The Santa Rosa and upper Dewey Lake have been eroded at SNL -18. The Rustler was cored from the lower Forty-niner Member into the upper Culebra Dolomite Member, with generally poor recovery. Geophysical logs were acquired from the open hole to a depth near TD. Water was encountered in the interval including lower Dewey Lake to Forty -niner Member. SNL -18 was drilled to 307 ft (Dewey Lake) using air. Air and mist were used to drill and core from 307–496 ft. From 496 ft to TD, mud was used for drilling and coring with poor to no returns circulating to the surface. Coring was abandoned in the upper Culebra Dolomite due to hole conditions. Core recovery was variable, and cuttings are limited to lacking below 496 ft. Cement was pumped into the drillhole to control loss of circulation and fill during drilling. The Los Medaños was drilled through mudstone 2 (M -2) and into the top of anhydrite 1 (A -1) based on geophysical logs and drilling rates. The thickness of M -2 is normal. No cuttings were obtained.

Research Organization:
Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), Carlsbad, NM (United States); Washington Regulatory and Environmental Services Solutions LLC, Carlsbad, NM (United States); Washington TRU Solutions LLC, Hanford, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM)
DOE Contract Number:
AC29-01AL66444
OSTI ID:
989397
Report Number(s):
DOE/WIPP-07-3366
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English