Dry Drilling and Coring Development for Unsaturated Zone Studies

by R. Long, Yucca Mountain Site Characterization, Project, Las Vegas, United States,
D. Wonderly, Yucca Mountain Site Characterization, Project, Las Vegas, United States,
E. Wright, Yucca Mountain Site Characterization, Project, Las Vegas, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: High Level Radioactive Waste Management 1991

Abstract:

Two areas of major difficulty associated with characterization of any unsaturated zone are the conventional drilling and coring processes used to acquire the samples. These processes are inherently contaminating processes if the circulation fluid used and the cuttings generated are not controlled. The Site Characterization Program at Yucca Mountain requires both uncontaminated core for analysis and a 'near borehole environment' as close to in-situ conditions as possible for hydrologic testing. As a result, a prototype development program has been initiated to develop drilling and coring processes which allow for acquisition of uncontaminated core and which cause minimal disturbance of in-situ conditions within the formation exposed at the borehole wall.

Subject Headings: Drilling | Radioactive wastes | Hydrology | Field tests | Geology | Boring | Waste sites | Nevada | United States

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