Publications

LaForce, Tara; Basurto, Eduardo B.; Chang, Kyung W.; Ebeida, Mohamed S.; Eymold, William K.; Faucett, Christopher F.; Jayne, Richard S.; Kucinski, Nicholas K.; Leone, Rosemary C.; Mariner, Paul M.; Perry, Frank V.

Abstract not provided.

Kuhlman, Kristopher L.; Matteo, Edward N.; Mills, Melissa M.; Jayne, Richard S.; Reedlunn, Benjamin R.; Sobolik, Steven R.; Bean, James B.

This report summarizes the international collaborations conducted by Sandia funded by the US Department of Energy Office (DOE) of Nuclear Energy Spent Fuel and Waste Science & Technology (SFWST) as part of the Sandia National Laboratories Salt R&D and Salt International work packages. This report satisfies the level-three milestone M3SF-22SN010303063. Several stand-alone sections make up this summary report, each completed by the participants. The sections discuss international collaborations on geomechanical benchmarking exercises (WEIMOS), granular salt reconsolidation (KOMPASS), engineered barriers (RANGERS), numerical model comparison (DECOVALEX) and an NEA Salt Club working group on the development of scenarios as part of the performance assessment development process. Finally, we summarize events related to the US/German Workshop on Repository Research, Design and Operations. The work summarized in this annual update has occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, and little international or domestic travel has occurred. Most of the collaborations have been conducted via email or as virtual meetings, but a slow return to travel and in-person meetings has begun.

LaForce, Tara; Jayne, Richard S.; Leone, Rosemary C.; Stein, Emily S.; Nguyen, Son N.

This report is the revised (Revision 8) Task F specification for DECOVALEX-2023. Task F is a comparison of the models and methods used in deep geologic repository performance assessment. The task proposes to develop a reference case for a mined repository in a fractured crystalline host rock and a reference case for a mined repository in a salt formation. Teams may choose to participate in the comparison for either or both of the reference cases. For each reference case, a common set of conceptual models and parameters describing features, events, and processes that impact performance will be given, and teams will be responsible for determining how best to implement and couple the models. The comparison will be conducted in stages, beginning with a comparison of key outputs of individual process models, followed by a comparison of a single deterministic simulation of the full reference case, and moving on to uncertainty propagation and uncertainty and sensitivity analysis. This report provides background information, a summary of the proposed reference cases, and a staged plan for the analysis.

Simo, Eric K.; Herold, Philipp H.; Keller, Andreas K.; Lommerzheim, Andree L.; Matteo, Edward N.; Hadgu, Teklu H.; Jayne, Richard S.; Kuhlman, Kristopher L.; Mills, Melissa M.

The construction of deep geological repositories (DGR) in salt formations requires penetrating through naturally sealing geosphere layers. While the emplaced nuclear waste is primarily protected by the containment-providing rock zone (CRZ), technical barriers are required, for example during handling. For closure geotechnical barriers seal the repository along the accesses against water or solutions from outside and the possible emission paths for radionuclides contained inside. As these barriers must ensure maintenance-free function on a long-term basis, they typically comprise a set of specialized elements with diversified functions that may be used redundantly. The effects of the individual elements are coordinated so that they are collectively referred to as the Engineered Barrier System (EBS).

Jayne, Richard S.

Abstract not provided.

LaForce, Tara; Basurto, Eduardo B.; Chang, Kyung W.; Jayne, Richard S.; Leone, Rosemary C.; Nole, Michael A.; Perry, Frank V.; Stein, Emily S.

The Spent Fuel and Waste Science and Technology (SFWST) Campaign of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy, Office of Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition (SFWD), has been conducting research and development on generic deep geologic disposal systems (i.e., geologic repositories). This report describes specific activities in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 associated with the Geologic Disposal Safety Assessment (GDSA) Repository Systems Analysis (RSA) work package within the SFWST Campaign. The overall objective of the GDSA RSA work package is to develop generic deep geologic repository concepts and system performance assessment (PA) models in several host-rock environments, and to simulate and analyze these generic repository concepts and models using the GDSA Framework toolkit, and other tools as needed.

Jayne, Richard S.

Abstract not provided.

Simo, E.S.; Herold, P.H.; Keller, A.K.; Lommerzheim, A.L.; Leon-Vargas, P.L.; Matteo, Edward N.; Kuhlman, Kristopher L.; Hadgu, Teklu H.; Jayne, Richard S.; Mills, Melissa M.

Abstract not provided.

Kuhlman, Kristopher L.; Mills, Melissa M.; Jayne, Richard S.; Matteo, Edward N.; Herrick, Courtney G.; Nemer, Martin N.; Xiong, Yongliang X.; Choens, Robert C.; Paul, Matthew J.; Stauffer, Phil S.; Boukhalfa, Hakim B.; Guiltinan, Eric J.; Rahn, Thom R.; Weaver, Doug W.; Otto, Shawn O.; Davis, Jon D.; Rutqvist, Jonny R.; Wu, Yuxin W.; Hu, Mengsu H.; Wang, Jiannan W.

This report summarizes the 2021 fiscal year (FY21) status of ongoing borehole heater tests in salt funded by the disposal research and development (R&D) program of the Office of Spent Fuel & Waste Science and Technology (SFWST) of the US Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy’s (DOE-NE) Office of Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition (SFWD). This report satisfies SFWST milestone M2SF- 21SN010303052 by summarizing test activities and data collected during FY21. The Brine Availability Test in Salt (BATS) is fielded in a pair of similar arrays of horizontal boreholes in an experimental area at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). One array is heated, the other unheated. Each array consists of 14 boreholes, including a central borehole with gas circulation to measure water production, a cement seal exposure test, thermocouples to measure temperature, electrodes to infer resistivity, a packer-isolated borehole to add tracers, fiber optics to measure temperature and strain, and piezoelectric transducers to measure acoustic emissions. The key new data collected during FY21 include a series of gas tracer tests (BATS phase 1b), a pair of liquid tracer tests (BATS phase 1c), and data collected under ambient conditions (including a period with limited access due to the ongoing pandemic) since BATS phase 1a in 2020. A comparison of heated and unheated gas tracer test results clearly shows a decrease in permeability of the salt upon heating (i.e., thermal expansion closes fractures, which reduces permeability).

Kuhlman, Kristopher L.; Matteo, Edward N.; Mills, Melissa M.; Jayne, Richard S.; Reedlunn, Benjamin R.; Sobolik, Steven R.; Bean, James B.; Stein, Emily S.; Gross, Michael B.

This report summarizes the international collaboration work conducted by Sandia and funded by the US Department of Energy Office (DOE) of Nuclear Energy Spent Fuel and Waste Science & Technology (SFWST) as part of the Sandia National Laboratories Salt R&D and Salt International work packages. This report satisfies the level-three milestone M3SF-20SN010303062. Several stand-alone sections make up this summary report, each completed by the participants. The sections discuss international collaborations on geomechanical benchmarking exercises (WEIMOS), granular salt reconsolidation (KOMPASS), engineered barriers (RANGERS), and model comparison (DECOVALEX). Lastly, the report summarizes a newly developed working group on the development of scenarios as part of the performance assessment development process, and the activities related to the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) Salt club and the US/German Workshop on Repository Research, Design and Operations.

Simo, E.S.; Herold, P.H.; Keller, A K.; Lommerzheim, A.L.; Matteo, Edward N.; Hadgu, Teklu H.; Jayne, Richard S.; Mills, Melissa M.; Kuhlman, Kristopher L.

Abstract not provided.

Simo, E.S.; Herold, P.H.; Keller, A K.; Lommerzheim, A.L.; Matteo, Edward N.; Hadgu, Teklu H.; Jayne, Richard S.; Mills, Melissa M.; Kuhlman, Kristopher L.

Abstract not provided.

Simo, E.S.; Herold, P.H.; Keller, A K.; Lommerzheim, A.L.; Matteo, Edward N.; Hadgu, Teklu H.; Jayne, Richard S.; Mills, Melissa M.; Kuhlman, Kristopher L.

Abstract not provided.

Keller, Andreas K.; Simo, Eric K.; Herold, Phillipe H.; Lommerzheim, Andreas L.; Matteo, Edward N.; Hadgu, Teklu H.; Jayne, Richard S.; Mills, Melissa M.; Kuhlman, Krisotpher K.

Abstract not provided.

Jayne, Richard S.

Abstract not provided.

Kuhlman, Kristopher L.; Mills, Melissa M.; Jayne, Richard S.; Herrick, Courtney G.; Choens, Robert C.; Nemer, Martin N.; Heath, Jason; Matteo, Edward N.; Xiong, Yongliang X.; Otto, Shawn O.; Dozier, Brian D.; Weaver, Doug W.; Stauffer, Phil S.; Guiltinan, Eric J.; Boukhalfa, Hakim B.; Rahn, Thom R.; Wu, Yuxin W.; Rutqvist, Jonny R.; Hu, Mengsu H.; Crandall, Dustin C.

Abstract not provided.

Minerals

Jayne, Richard S.; Kuhlman, Kristopher L.

Brine availability in salt has multiple implications for the safety and design of a nuclear waste storage facility. Brine availability includes both the distribution and transport of brine through a damaged zone around boreholes or drifts excavated into the salt. Coupled thermal, hydrological, mechanical, and chemical processes taking place within heated bedded salt are complex; as part of DECOVALEX 2023 Task E this study takes a parsimonious modeling approach utilizing analytical and numerical one-dimensional simulations to match field measurements of temperature and brine inflow around a heater. The one-dimensional modeling results presented arrive at best-fit thermal conductivity of intact salt, and the permeability and porosity of damaged salt of 5.74 W/m · K, 10−17 m2, and ≈0.02, respectively.

Jayne, Richard S.; Kuhlman, Kristopher L.

Abstract not provided.

Jayne, Richard S.

Abstract not provided.

Matteo, Edward N.; Kuhlman, Kristopher L.; Hadgu, Teklu H.; Herrera-Mills, Marissa H.; Jayne, Richard S.; Simo, Eric K.; Lommerzheim, Andree L.; Hrold, Phillip H.; Kellers, Adreas K.

Abstract not provided.

Kuhlman, Kristopher L.; Matteo, Edward N.; Mills, Melissa M.; Jayne, Richard S.; Reedlunn, Benjamin R.; Sobolik, Steven R.; Bean, James B.; Stein, Emily S.; Gross, Michael B.

This report is a summary of the international collaboration work conducted by Sandia and funded by the US Department of Energy Office (DOE) of Nuclear Energy Spent Fuel and Waste Science & Technology (SFWST) as part of the Sandia National Laboratories Salt R&D and Salt International work packages. This report satisfies milestone level-three milestone M3SF-205N010303062. Several stand-alone sections make up this summary report, each completed by the participants. The first two sections discuss international collaborations on geomechanical benchmarking exercises (WEIMOS), granular salt reconsolidation (KOMPASS), engineered barriers (RANGERS), and documentation of Features, Events, and Processes (FEPs).

Jayne, Richard S.

Abstract not provided.