Hostname: page-component-6bf8c574d5-9f2xs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-03-09T23:41:09.949Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Oak Ridge National Laboratory Hydrofracture Process for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2011

Herman Weeren  and
Earl Mcdaniel
Herman Weeren
Affiliation:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Post Office Box X, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830
Earl Mcdaniel
Affiliation:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Post Office Box X, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830
Get access

Abstract

The hydrofracture process is currently being used at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) for the permanent disposal of locally generated radioactive waste solutions. In this process, the waste solution is mixed with a blend of cement and other solid additives; the resulting grout is then injected into an impermeable shale formation at a depth of 200 to 300 m (700 to 1000 ft). The grout sets a few hours after completion of the injection, fixing the radioactive waste in the shale formation.

Between 1966 and 1979, ORNL has used hydrofracture to dispose of more than 8 million L (2 million gal) of waste grout containing more than 600,000 Ci of radionuclide activity. Calculations show that operational costs are on the order of $0.16/L ($0.60/gal). Construction of a new hydrofracture disposal facility has been completed, and operational injections were initiated in June 1982.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 15: Symposium D – Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management VI , 1982 , 565
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1983

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

*

Research sponsored by the Office of Defense Waste and Byproducts Management, U.S. Department of Energy under contract W-7405-eng-26 with the Union Carbide Corporation.

References

REFERENCES

1. Moore, J. G. et al. , Development of Cementitious Grouts for the Incorporation of Radioactive Wastes, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL-4962 (1975).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2. Mendel, J. E. et al. , A State-of-the-Art Review of Materials Properties of Nuclear Waste Forms, Pacific Northwest Laboratory, PNL-3802 (April 1981).Google Scholar
3. de Laguna, W. et al. , Engineering Development of Hydraulic Fracturing as a Method for Permanent Disposal of Radioactive Wastes, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL-4259 (1968).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4. Sun, R. J., Site Selection and Investigation for Subsurface Disposal of Radioactive Wastes in Hydraulically Induced Fractures, U.S. Geological Survey, Open-file Report 80–450 (1980).Google Scholar
5. Weeren, H. O. et al. , Hydrofracture Site Proof Study at ORNL, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL/TM-4713 (November 1974).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6. Sun, R. J. and Mongan, C. E., Hydraulic Fracturing in Shale at West Valley, New York - A Study of Bedding-Plane Fractures Induced in Shale for Waste Disposal, U.S. Geological Survey, Open-file Report 74–365 (1974).CrossRefGoogle Scholar