Summary of the Dining Car Tracer-Gas Chimney-Pressurization Studies

Peterson, Eric W.; Lagus, P.L.; Lie, K.

doi:10.21236/ada589384

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Permeability measurements from chimneys in alluvium range from 7-99 darcies, similar to values measured for in-situ alluvium (Rozsa et al, 1975). Chimney permeabilities in tuffs at Rainier Mesa range from about 10-150 darcies (Peterson et al, 1977 andPeterson et al, 1978), and 1-200 darcies for Pahute Mesa rocks (Burkhard et al, 1987). Field measurements of permeability by air-injection, tracer gas pressurization, and atmospheric pressure variations are effected by the bulk media and probably don't distinguish the rubblized areas of the cavity region above the melt glass from the chimney region.…”

Section: Permeabilitymentioning

confidence: 53%

Development of Phenomenological Models of Underground Nuclear Tests on Pahute Mesa, Nevada Test Site - BENHAM and TYBO

Pawloski¹

1999

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Section: Permeabilitymentioning

confidence: 53%

Development of Phenomenological Models of Underground Nuclear Tests on Pahute Mesa, Nevada Test Site - BENHAM and TYBO

Pawloski¹

1999

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“…The damage in the CCS (1R c ) applies to both the matrix and fracture nodes, and the fractures are assigned an 8% (v/v) fraction to represent a rubbled rock in the collapse chimney and cavity. This value is based on an average CCS bulk porosity determined from chimney pressurization and tracer tests conducted in the late 1970s at analog UNE sites on the NNSS, where an average value of 8% chimney porosity was estimated for a series of post-detonation site characterization studies to evaluate chimney properties in tuff on Rainier Mesa (Peterson et al, 1977a(Peterson et al, , 1977b(Peterson et al, , 1978. All other damage zones assume that damage applies only to the fracture nodes where increased fracturing is expected; the matrix properties are assumed to remain at background values.…”

Section: )mentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating the Importance of Barometric Pumping for Subsurface Gas Transport Near an Underground Nuclear Test Site

Bourret

Kwicklis

Miller

et al. 2019

Vadose Zone Journal

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Core Ideas Gas transport modeling can estimate ground surface breakthrough after an underground nuclear explosion. Comparison tracer‐injection experimental and model results reveals parameter sensitivity. Barometric pumping may explain gas breakthrough following an underground nuclear explosion. Amplitude and period of barometric pressure signal are key in controlling breakthrough. An underground nuclear explosion (UNE) generates and distributes radioactive gases that can be transported to the ground surface though preexisting and explosion‐induced fractures over timescales of hours to months. If detected, the presence of short‐lived radionuclides in gas is evidence of a recent UNE. Numerical modeling can provide estimates of surface arrival times that can help inform gas monitoring strategies at suspected foreign test sites. Efforts are underway at historic US UNE sites to better understand subsurface gas‐transport processes following a UNE by geologic characterization of the near‐field damage structures, field‐scale tracer experiments, and subsurface air pressure monitoring. The development of numerical models using historical and experimental datasets from former UNE sites can improve predictions by testing conceptual models, highlighting key processes, and constraining parameter ranges. The models developed in this study represent the U20az site at the Nevada National Security Site where the Barnwell device was expended in December 1989. A two‐phase (water and air), dual‐permeability flow and transport model of the U20az site was built to investigate gas transport processes under recent experimental conditions and following the Barnwell nuclear event. Results indicate that the model can explain both the lack of arrival of radioactive gas tracers in a 2013 field experiment as well as the observed arrival of radioactive gases following the 1989 Barnwell event using barometric pressure records from the respective periods, even when additional advective processes associated with the Barnwell detonation are ignored. The results demonstrate that the character of the barometric records may be a key factor in explaining the differences in transport behavior.

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Summary of the Dining Car Tracer-Gas Chimney-Pressurization Studies

Cited by 2 publications

References 2 publications

Development of Phenomenological Models of Underground Nuclear Tests on Pahute Mesa, Nevada Test Site - BENHAM and TYBO

Development of Phenomenological Models of Underground Nuclear Tests on Pahute Mesa, Nevada Test Site - BENHAM and TYBO

Evaluating the Importance of Barometric Pumping for Subsurface Gas Transport Near an Underground Nuclear Test Site

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