Analysis of Potential Impacts of Brine Flow Through Boreholes Penetrating the WIPP Storage Facility

摘要

In November 1981, during deepening of the WIPP-12 borehole, located about one mile north of the center of the WIPP site, a pressurized brine reservoir was encountered in the Anhydrite III member of the Castile Formation at a depth of about 3012 ft. Field tests have indicated that this reservoir might be large enough and sufficiently pressurized to cause a release of radioactivity if its waters were to pass through the stored waste and reach ground surface. Consequently, a new set of scenarios involving such a brine reservoir has been created for consequence analysis. The mechanics and hydrologic aspects of these scenarios are examined in this report. The results of the analysis of single penetration through the waste to brine reservoir are: Up to 1700 ft exp 3 of brine could circulate through the waste before reaching ground surface. No solid wastes, other than those removed by drilling (10.7 ft exp 3 ) could be removed from the storage room. Results of scenario 2 of borehole connecting the brine reservoir to the contact-handled (CH) wastes and another borehole from ground surface to CH wastes are: During transient flow, about 800 ft exp 3 of brine, waste, and crushed salt could be flushed to form a cavity with roughly the shape of a quarter ellipsoid. Of this volume about 444 ft exp 3 could be contaminant-saturated brine, 304 ft exp 3 crushed salt, and 52 ft exp 3 waste. During steady flow, about 290 ft exp 3 of light solid wastes could be removed and about 112,300 ft exp 3 of contaminant-saturated brine could be flushed to the surface. Total releases in this scenario are: contaminant-saturated brine - 112,744 ft exp 3 ; crushed salt (disregarding settlement from the borehole after transient flow) - 304 ft exp 3 ; and waste (disregarding settlement from the borehole after transient flow) - 342 ft exp 3 . (ERA citation 11:008490)