Documentation of slug and shut-in test data for wells H-1, H-2A, H-2B, H-2C, and H-3 at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant
Project Number: 8636-C3K00
Project Chief: Rick Huff
Cooperator: Sandia National Laboratories
Period of Project: Jan 1, 2005 through Sept 30, 2005
SUMMARY
 Entance to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant near Carlsbad (U.S.Department of Energy). The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has collected, documented, and published an extensive amount of hydrogeologic data collected from and near the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) site in southeastern New Mexico. The objective of the proposed work is to document and publish the data that was used to estimate values of transmissivity and storage coefficients for water-bearing zones open to wells H-1, H-2 well complex (H-2A, H-2B, and H-2C), and H-3. Files of the USGS contain detailed information on the results of slug and shut-in tests performed using wells H-1, H-2A, H-2B, H-2C, and H-3. Data collected during the tests will be tabulated and published in a USGS Open-File Report.
PROBLEM
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has collected, documented, and published an extensive amount of hydrogeologic data collected from and near the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) site in southeastern New Mexico (Dennehy, 1982; Drellack and Wells, 1982; Mercer and Orr, 1979; Richey, 1986; 1987a; 1987b; 1989; Wells and Drellack, 1982). The Culebra and Magenta dolomites within the Rustler Formation and the contact zone between the Rustler and Salado Formations, both of Permian age, are the principle water bearing zones at the WIPP site (Mercer, 1983). Wells H-1, H-2 complex (H-2A, H-2B, and H-2C), and H-3 were constructed for use in tests to estimate the transmissivities and storage coefficients of these water-bearing zones. Values of transmissivities and storage coefficients obtained from slug and shut-in tests were published by Mercer (1983). However, the data upon which these values are based have not been published.
OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE
The objective of the proposed work is to document the data used to estimate values of transmissivity and storage coefficients for water-bearing zones open to wells H-1, H-2A, H-2B, H-2C, and H-3. The scope of the project is confined to presentation of data collected in these wells.
RELEVANCE AND BENEFITS
Benefits of the proposed work to the USGS and the Department of Energy include documentation and publication of data values used to generate the previously published aquifer-test values for the principle water-bearing zones at the WIPP site. Accurate and unbiased information on the hydraulic characteristics of the water-bearing zones furnished by the USGS has, and will continue to, aid the Department of Energy in minimizing potential risk to life and property associated with operation of the WIPP.
APPROACH
Files of the USGS contain detailed information on the results of slug and shut-in tests performed using wells H-1, H-2A, H-2B, H-2C, and H-3. Dennehy and Davis (1981) and Dennehy (1982) discussed in detail the methods used to conduct the tests and interpret the resulting data, however the data used in the analyses were not published. Therefore, for this proposed work, the data collected during the slug and shut-in tests will be tabulated and well construction data for wells H-1, H-2A, H-2B, H-2C, and H-3 will be documented in the format used by Dennehy (1982). Obtained values of transmissivity and storage will be entered into the New Mexico Water Science Centers Ground Water Site Inventory (GWSI) data base. GWSI entries will reference original data contained in WIPP project archives stored by the New Mexico Water Science Center.
REFERENCES
Basler, J.A., 1983, Instrumentation used for hydraulic testing of potential water-bearing formations at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant site in southeastern New Mexico: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 83-144, 29 p.
Dennehy, K.F., 1982, Results of hydrologic tests and water-chemistry analyses, wells H-6A, H-6B, and H-6C, at the proposed Waste Isolation Pilot Plant site, southeastern New Mexico: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations 82-8, 68 p.
Dennehy, K.F. and Davis, P.A., 1981, Hydrologic testing of low transmissive zones in southeastern New Mexico: Ground Water, v. 19, p. 482-489.
Drellack, S.L., Jr. and Wells, J.G., 1982, Geologic and well-construction data for the H-7 borehole complex near the proposed Waste Isolation Pilot Plant site, southeastern New Mexico: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations 82-38, 25 p., 1 pl.
Jones, C.L, 1975, Potash resources in part of Los Medanos area of Eddy and Lea Counties, New Mexico: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 75-407, 37 p.
Mercer, J.W., 1983, Geohydrology of the proposed Waste Isolation Pilot Plant site, Los Medanos area, southeastern New Mexico: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 83-4016, 113 p
Mercer, J.W. and Orr, R.B., 1979, Interim data report on the geohydrology of the proposed Waste Isolation Pilot Plant site, southeast New Mexico: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations 79-98, 178 p.
Richey, S.F., 1986, Hydrologic-test data from wells at hydrologic-test pads H-7, H-8, H-9, and H-10 near the proposed Waste Isolation Pilot Plant site: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 86-413, 126 p.
Richey, S.F., 1987, Water-level data from wells in the vicinity of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, southeast New Mexico: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 87-120, 107 p.
Vine, J.D., 1963, Surface geology of the Nash Draw quadrangle, Eddy County, New Mexico: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1141-B, 46 p.
Wells, J.G. and Drellack, S.L., 1982, Geologic and well-construction data for the H-8 borehole complex near the proposed Waste Isolation Pilot Plant site, southeastern New Mexico: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations 82-4118, 42 p., 1 pl.
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