Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-vdxz6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T20:58:12.327Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

On Pressure Pulse Techniques for Testing Low Permeability Geological Materials and Formations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

M. Zhang  and
M. Takeda
M. Zhang
Affiliation:
Research Center for Deep Geological Environments, AIST, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305–8567, JAPAN
M. Takeda
Affiliation:
Research Center for Deep Geological Environments, AIST, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305–8567, JAPAN
Get access

Abstract

The accurate hydraulic characterization of low permeability geological materials and formations has important practical implications, such as the geological disposal of radioactive nuclear waste. In this paper, we discuss pressure pulse techniques, which are methods that are commonly adopted both in the laboratory and in situ for testing low permeability geological materials and formations. The results obtained in this study illustrate that: 1) the use of nominal values for water compressibility will lead to significant underestimation of permeability from the pressure pulse tests; 2) specific storage is also an important parameter that should be evaluated simultaneously with permeability; 3) to shorten the time required to measure low permeability in the laboratory, it is advisable to use disk-shaped specimens; 4) when a geological formation is anisotropic, the value of permeability calculated using an isotropic model is between the maximum and minimum permeabilities of the geological formation; 5) the values of permeability and specific storage derived from an in situ pressure pulse test may only reflect the hydraulic properties of the domain closely surrounding the test well. Caution should be exercised when interpreting data derived from the pressure pulse tests for the purpose of safety assessment.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 807: Symposium Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XXVII , 2003 , 545
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2004

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.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Zhang, M., et al, in Evaluation and Remediation of Low Permeability and Dual Porosity Environments, ASTM STP 1415, edited by Sara, M. N. and Everett, L. G. (ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2002), pp. 83–98.Google Scholar
2. ASTM, Annual Book of ASTM Standards, 04.08, (D4043) 485–490; (D4631) 784–790 (2002).Google Scholar
3. Brace, W. F., et al., Journal of Geophysical Research, 73(6), 2225–2236(1968).Google Scholar
4. Hsieh, P. A., et al, Int. J. Rock Mech. Sci. & Geomech. Abstr. 18(3), 245–252(1981).Google Scholar
5. Neužil, C. E., et al, Int. J. Rock Mech. Sci. & Geomech. Abstr. 18(3), 253–258(1981).Google Scholar
6. Zhang, M., et al, Geotechnical Testing Journal, 23(1), 91–99(2000).Google Scholar
7. Cooper, H. H., et al, Water Resource Research, 3, 263–269(1967).Google Scholar
8. Bredehoeft, J. D. and Papadopulos, S. S., Water Resources Research, 16, 233–238(1980).Google Scholar
9. Novakowski, K. S. and Bickerton, G. S., Water Resources Research, 33, 2509–2517(1997).Google Scholar
10. Takeda, M., et al, in Rock Engineering Problems and Approaches in Underground Construction, edited by Choi, S. Y. et al (Korean Society for Rock Mechanics, Seoul, 2002), pp. 335–342.Google Scholar
11. Trimmer, D., Review of Scientific Instruments, 53(8), 1246–1254(1982).Google Scholar
12. Neužil, C. E., Water Resources Research, 18, 439–441(1982).Google Scholar