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G.A. Dinwiddie

Publications and source records attributed to G.A. Dinwiddie.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS1986

U.S. Geological Survey research in radioactive waste disposal - Fiscal years 1983, 1984, and 1985

The report summarizes progress on geologic and hydrologic research related to the disposal of radioactive wastes. The research is described according to whether it is related most directly to: (1) high-level and transuranic wastes, (2) low-level wastes, or (3) uranium mill tailings. Included is research applicable to the identification and geohydrologic characterization of waste-disposal sites, to investigations of specific sites where wastes have been stored, and to studies of regions or environments where waste-disposal sites might be located. A significant part of the activity is concerned with techniques and methods for characterizing disposal sites and studies of geologic and hydrologic processes related to the transport and (or) retention of waste radionuclides.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1974

Geologic and hydrologic considerations for various concepts of high-level radioactive waste disposal in conterminous United States

The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate and identify which geohydrologic environments in conterminous United States are best suited for various concepts or methods of underground disposal of high-level radioactive wastes and to establish geologic and hydrologic criteria that are pertinent to high-level waste disposal. The unproven methods of disposal include (1) a very deep drill hole (30,000-50,000 ft or 9,140-15,240 m), (2) a matrix of (an array of multiple) drill holes (1,000-20,000 ft or 305-6,100 m), (3) a mined chamber (1,000-10,000 ft or 305-3,050 m), (4) a cavity with separate manmade structures (1,000-10,000 ft or 305-3,050 m), and (5) an exploded cavity (2,000-20,000 ft or 610-6,100 m) o The geohydrologic investigation is made on the presumption that the concepts or methods of disposal are technically feasible. Field and laboratory experiments in the future may demonstrate whether or not any of the methods are practical and safe. All the conclusions drawn are tentative pending experimental confirmation. The investigation focuses principally on the geohydrologic possibilities of several methods of disposal in rocks other than salt. Disposal in mined chambers in salt is currently under field investigation, and this disposal method has been intensely investigated and evaluated by various workers under the sponsorship of the Atomic Energy Commission. Of the various geohydrologic factors that must be considered in the selection of optimum waste-disposal sites, the most important is hydrologic isolation to assure that the wastes will be safely contained within a small radius of the emplacement zone. To achieve this degree of hydrologic isolation, the host rock for the wastes must have very low permeability and the site must be virtually free of faults. In addition, the locality should be in (1) an area of low seismic risk where the possibility of large earthquakes rupturing the emplacement zone is very low, (2) where the possibility- of flooding by rise is very low, (3) where a possible return of glacial or pluvial climate will not cause potentially hazardous changes in surface- or ground-water regimens, and (4) where danger of exhumation by erosion is nil. The geographic location for an optimum site is one that is far removed from major drainages, lakes, and oceans, where population density is low, and where the topographic relief is gentle in order to avoid steep surface-water drainage gradients that would allow rapid distribution of contaminants in case of accident. The most suitable medium for the unproven deep drill-hole, matrix-holes, and exploded-cavity methods appears to be crystalline rocks, either intrusive igneous or metamorphic because of their potentially low permeabilities and high mechanical strengths. Salt (either in thick beds or stable domes), tuff, and possibly shale appear to be suitable for mined chambers and cavities with separate manmade structures. Salt appears to be suitable because of its very low permeability, high thermal conductivity, and natural plasticity. Tuff and shale appear suitable because of their very low permeabilities and high ion-exchange capacities. Sedimentary rocks other than shale and volcanic rocks, exclusive of tuff, are considered to be generally unsuitable for waste emplacement because of their potentially high permeabilities. Areas that appear to satisfy most geohydrologic requirements for the deep drill hole and the matrix holes include principally (1) the stable continental interior where the sedimentary cover is thin or absent, (2) the shield area of the North-Central States, and (3) the metamorphic belt of Eastern United States--primarily the Piedmont. These areas are possibly suitable also for the exploded cavity and the mined chamber because the possibility of finding rock with very- permeability at depths from 1,000? feet (305? m) to 20,000 feet (6,100 m) appears to be high. The Basin and Range province of Western United States, particula

Open-File Report↗
USGS1972

Hydraulic testing of hole UA-1-HTH-1, Amchitka Island, Alaska

Total depth of the hole was 1,054 meters (3,458 feet) but, because of borehole erosion and bridging, only about 198 meters (650 feet) of the hole was·hydraulically tested with straddle packers. Some information was obtained on the lower part of the hole by use of the pressure recorders which are used with the straddle packers. The heads below land surface in that part of the hole tested with. straddle packers. ranged from·3.9 meters {12.7 feet) in the .. interval 80.5 to 125. 0. meters (264- to 410 feet), the uppermost zone tested with straddle packers, to 5.1 meters (18.6 feet) in the interval 227.4 to 278.6 meters (.746 to 914 feet), the lowermost part of the hole tested with straddle packers. The composite static water level obtained following a pumping test.was 5.5 meters (18,0 feet). The composite head below 278.6 meters (914 feet), determined from a pressure recorder, was about 12.2 meters (40 feet). The head distribution. indicates a decreasing· head with depth. Water samples were collected from two intervals for chemical, radiochemical, and C-14 analysis. The unadjusted age of water in the interval 183.5 to 234.7 meters (602 to 770. feet) was determined to be 8,410 years, and for the interval 227.4 to 278.6 meters (746 to 914 feet) was 17,880 years. After adjustment the.ages of the waters may be less; however, they would still be. in the thousands of years and the relative difference probably would still be real.

Alaska↗
USGS1970

Hydraulic testing and sampling of hole Ue-1 in central Nevada

Hydraulic testing and sampling of hole Ue-1 began on January 31, 1967, and ended on February 13, 1967. Depth intervals tested and sampled were: zone 1, 1,710 feet to total depth; zone 2, 1,508 to 1,706 feet; zone 3, 1,266 to 1,464 feet; zone 4, 788 to 986 feet; and zone 5, 400 to 598 feet. Injection and recovery tests were run on each depth interval. Relative specific capacities calculated from injection data were much smaller than those calculated from recovery data. More mud and lost circulation material in the hole and in the formation during the injection test account for the different relative specific capacities. Comparative composite hydrostatic heads before and after the injection and recovery tests were 211.5 feet below lsd (land-surface datum) and 218.0 feet below lsd. The difference may be due to differences in the conditions of the measurements. Of the five zones tested, only zone 5 did not have at least partial communication around the bottom packer.

Nevada↗