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WIPP Experiments

Experiments performed in and about transuranic nuclear waste in the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant salt bed.

WIPP-DOE Website Science at WIPP

SDDI Heated Canister Test

The Salt Defense Disposal Investigations (SDDI) heater tests included both numerical models and field experiments to investigate a method for the disposal of DOE high-level waste canisters.

The canisters were placed in an open drift at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) and covered with run-of-mine salt backfill (about 6 feet deep). The canisters emitted heat, acting as a proxy for radiative emissions, where the salt piles were intended to act as a shield preventing the heat from escaping.

Further, it was expected that the self-sealing plasticity of salt will seal fractures, compact the salt backfill, and close the test drift, effectively permenantly sealing in high-level waste products.

• Johnson, P.J., S. Otto, D.J. Weaver, B. Dozier, T.A. Miller, A.B. Jordan, N. Hayes-Rich, and P.H. Stauffer, "Heat-Generating Nuclear Waste in Salt: Field Testing and Simulation", Vadose Zone J., 18(1).
DOI: 10.2136/vzj2018.08.0160

• Johnson, P.J., G.A. Zyvoloski, and P.H. Stauffer, "Impact of a porosity dependent capillary function on simulations of porous flow", In Press, Transport in Porous Media, October 2018.
DOI: 10.1007/s11242-018-1188-x

• Jordan, A.B., H. Boukhalfa, F.A. Caporuscio, B.A. Robinson, P.H. Stauffer, "Hydrous Mineral Dehydration around Heat-Generating Nuclear Waste in Bedded Salt Formations", Environmental Science & Technology, 5:1-13.
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b01002

• August 31, 2017. Johnson, P.J., S.M. Bourret, H. Boukhalfa, F.A. Caprouscio, G.A. Zyvoloski, D.J. Weaver, S. Otto, P.H. Stauffer, "Experiments and Modeling to Support Field Test Design", Milestone M4SF-17LA010303022, LA-UR-17-27759, 98p.
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• 2016. Bourret, S.M., P.J. Johnson, G.A. Zyvoloski, S.P. Chu, D.J. Weaver, S. Otto, H. Boukhalfa, F.A. Caporuscio, A.B. Jordan, P.H. Stauffer, "Experiments and Modeling in Support of Generic Salt Repository Science", Los Alamos National Laboratory, USDOE Used Fuel Disposition Campaign, LA-UR-16-2732.
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• August 2015. A.B. Jordan, H. Boukhalfa, F.A. Caporuscio, P.H. Stauffer, "Brine Transport Experiments in Granular Salt", LA-UR-15-26804.
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• October 2014. The S.M. Stoller Corporation, "Independent Design Analysis and Verification of 'Heater Canister' as Part of the Salt Defense Disposal Investigation: Comprehensive Final Report", LA-UR-XX-XXXXX.
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Field Scale Experiment and Simulations of Heat Generating Nuclear Waste in Salt

P.H. Stauffer, P.J. Johnson, T.A. Miller, M. Bourret, D. Weaver, S. Otto, B. Dozier, E. Guiltinan

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Brine Availability Test in Salt (BATS)

The Brine Availability Test in Salt (BATS) is two-phase thermal testing program in bedded salt at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in Carlsbad, New Mexico.

Phase 1s of the BATS experiment ran from June 2018 to May 2019, and marked the first heated borehole salt experiments conducted underground at WIPP in more than 28 years. This phase used existing boreholes and was used to "shakedown" the process for Phase 1.

Phase 1 of the BATS experiment is currently under development. Bespoke borehole patterns have been drilled and instrumented for electrical resistivity measurements, acoustic emission monitoring, strain gauges, fiber optic cables, temperature monitoring locations, gas composition analysis, gas stable isotope analysis, and injection and sampling locations for both liquid and gas tracers.

BATS General Info

• E.J. Guiltinan, H. Boukhalfa, B. Dozier, K. L. Kuhlman, J. Rutqvist, M. Hu, M. Mills, S. Otto, D.J. Weaver, and P.H. Stauffer, "Temperature response and brine availability to heated boreholes in bedded salt", Vadose Zone J., 19(1). 2020.
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• P. H. Stauffer, A. B. Jordan, D. J. Weaver, F. A. Caporuscio, J. A. Ten Cate, H. Boukhalfa, B. A. Robinson, "Test Proposal Document for Phased Field Thermal Testing in Salt", LA-UR-15-23154.
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• F. Hansen, S. Sobolik, P.H. Stauffer, "Intermediate Scale Testing Recommendation Report", SAND2016-XXXX.
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• M. Mills, K. Kuhlman, E. Matteo, C. Herrick, M. Nemer, J. Heath, Y. Xiong, C. Lopez, P. Stauffer, H. Boukhalfa, E. Guiltinan, T. Rahn, D. Weaver, B. Dozier, S. Otto, J. Rutqvist, Y. Wu, M. Hu, D. Crandall, "Salt Heater Test (FY19)", M3SF-19SN01030303, SAND2019-10240 R.
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• H. Boukhalfa, E. Guiltinan, T. Rahn, D. Weaver, B. Dozier, S. Otto, P. H. Stauffer, M. Mills, K. Kuhlman, E. Matteo, C. Herrick, M. Nemer, J. Heath, Y. Xiong, C. Lopez, J. Rutqvist, Y. Wu, M. Hu, "2019 LANL Experiments and Simulations in Support of Salt R&D", LA-UR-19-29830.
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• September 2018. H. Boukhalfa, P.J. Johnson, D. Ware, D.J. Weaver, S. Otto, B.L. Dozier, P.H. Stauffer, M.M. Mills, E.N. Matteo, N.B. Nemer, C.G. Herrick, K.L. Kuhlman, Y. Wu, J. Rutqvist, "Implementation of Small Diameter Borehole Thermal Experiments at WIPP", LA-UR-18-29203.
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Phase 1s (Shakedown)

• September 2018. H. Boukhalfa, P.J. Johnson, D. Ware, D.J. Weaver, S. Otto, B.L. Dozier, P.H. Stauffer, M.M. Mills, E.N. Matteo, N.B. Nemer, C.G. Herrick, K.L. Kuhlman, Y. Wu, J. Rutqvist, "Implementation of Small Diameter Borehole Thermal Experiments at WIPP", LA-UR-18-29203.
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• P. H. Stauffer, A. B. Jordan, D. J. Weaver, F. A. Caporuscio, J. A. Ten Cate, H. Boukhalfa, B. A. Robinson, "Test Proposal Document for Phased Field Thermal Testing in Salt", LA-UR-15-23154.
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• F. Hansen, S. Sobolik, P.H. Stauffer, "Intermediate Scale Testing Recommendation Report", SAND2016-XXXX.
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• H. Boukhalfa, E. Guiltinan, T. Rahn, D. Weaver, B. Dozier, S. Otto, P. H. Stauffer, M. Mills, K. Kuhlman, E. Matteo, C. Herrick, M. Nemer, J. Heath, Y. Xiong, C. Lopez, J. Rutqvist, Y. Wu, M. Hu, "2019 LANL Experiments and Simulations in Support of Salt R&D", LA-UR-19-29830.
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Horizontal borehole experiments and simulations to understand heat, brine and vapor migration in bedded salt

P.H. Stauffer, P.J. Johnson, T.A. Miller, M. Bourret, D. Weaver, S. Otto, B. Dozier, E. Guiltinan

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SPRING 2019 WORKSHOP - APRIL 24-25, 2019
U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board
Talk: DOE Salt Research and WIPP Test

• Kristopher L. Kuhlman (Sandia National Laboratories)
• Philip H. Stauffer (Los Alamos National Laboratory)

NWTRB Home Workshop Documents View Talk Webcast Download Slides (PDF)

Phase 1

• M. Mills, K. Kuhlman, E. Matteo, C. Herrick, M. Nemer, J. Heath, Y. Xiong, C. Lopez, P. Stauffer, H. Boukhalfa, E. Guiltinan, T. Rahn, D. Weaver, B. Dozier, S. Otto, J. Rutqvist, Y. Wu, M. Hu, D. Crandall, "Salt Heater Test (FY19)", M3SF-19SN01030303, SAND2019-10240 R.
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Conference Papers


• Rahn, T., Kuhlman, K., Boukhalfa, H., Dozier, B., Ware, D., Otto, S., Weaver, D., Mills, M., Herrick, C., Rutqvist, J., Wu, Y., Guiltinan, E., Stauffer, P. H., "Brine Availability Test in Salt, a Heated Borehole Experiment at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, New Mexico, USA - 20233"
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• Guiltinan, E. J., Miller, T., Kuhlman, K. L., Rutqvist, J., Stauffer, P. H., "Brine Availability Test in Salt: THMC Simulations of a Heated Borehole in Salt - 20239"
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• Stauffer, P.H., Kuhlman, K.L., Sevougian, S.D., and Rutqvist, J., "Waste Management 2020 Paper 20307 - Salt Program Overview"
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Posters/Presentation Slides

Brine Availability Test in Salt, a Heated Borehole Experiment at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, New Mexico, USA

Rahn, T., Kuhlman, K., Boukhalfa, H., Dozier, B., Ware, D., Otto, S., Weaver, D., Mills, M., Herrick, C., Rutqvist, J., Wu, Y., Guiltinan, E., Stauffer, P.H.

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Brine Availability Test in Salt: THMC Simulations of a Heated Borehole in Salt - 20239

Guiltinan, E. J., Miller, T., Kuhlman, K. L., Rutqvist, J., Stauffer, P. H.



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