Beauheim 1987 - Waste Isolation Pilot Plant - U.S. Department of ...

1.0,
0
I
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
MATCH PARAMETERS
- p* = 141.30prig
p, = 174.15prig
B - 1.0
t 2.15hr
- rc* = 0.181 fl
I I I I
0.3
0.2
0.1
'B
0.0
to = 170:10:05:00
10-2 10" 100 10'
ELAPSED TIME, hours
102 103
Figure 5-64. WIPP-22/Culebra Slug-Test Plot
Evaluation of the Culebra transmissivity at WlPP-30
was accomplished by performing two falling-head
slug tests in December 1987. The fluid-pressure
data collected during these tests will be presented in
Stensrud et al. (in preparation). The first test was
initiated on December 10, 1987, and lasted about
28 hr, by which time almost 99% of the induced
pressure differential had dissipated. A semilog plot
of the data from this test is shown in Figure 5-65,
along with the best-fit typecurve match. This match
provides a transmissivity estimate for the Culebra at
WIPP-30 of 0.18 ftz/day (Table 53), 40% lower than
the value reported by Mercer (1983).
The second test was initiated on December 15,1987,
and lasted about 52 hr, allowing >99% of the induced
pressure differential to dissipate. Figure 5-66 shows
a semilog plot of the data from this test, along with
the best-fit type-curve match. This match is very
similar to that obtained for the first test, and provides
a transmissivity estimate of 0.17 ft2/day (Table 5-3).
The transmissivity values from both December 1987
tests are in fair agreement with the original value
reported by Mercer (1983) and, most importantly,
confirm the observation of low Culebra transmissivity
at WIPP-30. Reconciliation of this low transmissivity
with the absence of halite in the unnamed lower
member at WIPP-30 is discussed in Section 6.1.
5.2.2.16 P-15. The transmissivity of the Culebra
at P-15 was reported by Mercer (1983) to be
0.07 ftzlday based on a bailing test performed by the
USGS in 1977 (Mercer and Orr, 1979). Because this
value is significantly lower than the transmissivity of
0.9 ftz/day reported by Mercer (1983) for H4b, the
nearest other well, and because of limited well
development before the bailing test, well
development and retesting were performed in early
1987. Fluid-pressure data collected during the well
development and testing are reported in Stensrud et
al. (1988).
94