Sealing of Boreholes and Underground Excavations in Rock JOIN US ON THE INTERNET VIA WWW, GOPHER, FTP OR EMAIL: WWW: http://www.thomson.com GOPHER: gopher.thomson.com A service of lOOP FTP: ftp.thomson.com EMAIL: [email protected] Sealing of Boreholes and Underground Excavations in Rock Edited by K. Fuenkajorn Rock Engineering International, Tucson, USA and J. J. K. Daemen Mining Engineering Department, University of Nevada, USA CHAPMAN & HALL London· Weinheim . New York· Tokyo Melbourne· Madras Published by Chapman & Hall, 2-6 Boundary Row, London SEt 8HN, UK Chapman & Hall, 2-6 Boundary Row, London SEI 8HN, UK Chapman & Hall GmbH, Pappelallee 3, 69469 Weinheim, Germany Chapman & Hall USA, 115 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10003, USA Chapman & Hall Japan, ITP-Japan, Kyowa Building, 3F, 2-2-1 Hirakawacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102, Japan Chapman & Hall Australia, 102 Dodds Street, South Melbourne, Victoria 3205, Australia Chapman & Hall India, R. Seshadri, 32 Second Main Road, CIT East, Madras 600 035, India First edition 1996 © 1996 Chapman & Hall Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1996 Typeset in lOj12pt Times by Thomson Press (I) Ltd., Madras ISBN-l3: 978-94-010-7173-4 e-ISBN-13: 978-94-009-1505-3 001: 10.1007/978-94-009-1505-3 Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted under the UK Copyright Designs and Patents Act, 1988, this publication may not be reproduced, stored, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publishers, or in the case of reprographic reproduction only in accordance with the terms of the licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency in the UK, or in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the appropriate Reproduction Rights Organization outside the UK. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside the terms stated here should be sent to the publishers at the London address printed on this page. The publisher makes no representation, express or implied, with regard to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and cannot accept any legal responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions that may be made. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 95-71862 ~ Printed on acid-free text paper, manufactured in accordance with ANSljNISO Z39.48-1992 (Permanence of Paper). Contents List of Contributors ix Preface xi 1. Introduction ............... . 1 J. J. K. Daemen 1.1 Background.............. 1 1.2 Sealing Requirements-Rules and Regulations . 1 1.3 Current Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1.4 Recent Borehole Sealing Research-An Introductory Overview ................ . 2 1.5 Sealing of Shafts, Tunnels, Mine Adits, Portals and Drifts . 4 1.6 Book Summary 4 1. 7 The Future . . 7 Acknowledgements . 8 2. Laboratory Performance of Cement Borehole Seals . 9 D. L. South and K. Fuenkajorn 2.1 Introduction . . . . . . . 9 2.2 Conceptual Approach . 10 2.3 Experimental Apparatus . 11 2.4 Experimental Procedures 13 2.5 Analysis ........ . 15 2.6 Summary of Test Results . 19 2.7 Design Implications 26 Acknowledgements ...... . 27 3. Strength Parameters of Cement Borehole Seals in Rock . 28 H. Akgiln 3.1 Introduction .............. . 28 3.2 Push-Out Test Experimental Procedure. 29 3.3 Push-Out Test Mechanical Interactions. 29 3.4 Finite Element Analysis and Discussion. 31 VI Contents 3.5 Push-Out Test Results and Discussion . 36 3.6 Conclusions and Recommendations 39 Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 4. Dynamic Loading Impact on Cement Borehole Seals . 40 G. S. Adisoma 4.1 Introduction...... 40 4.2 Experimental Methods 42 4.3 Flow Test Results . . . 44 4.4 Dye Injection Test Results 50 4.5 Dynamic Loading Test Results . 52 4.6 Design Considerations. 56 4.7 Discussion .. 60 4.8 Conclusions . 62 Acknowledgements 64 5. Performance of Bentonite and Bentonite/Crushed Rock Borehole Seals . 65 S. Ouyang and J. J. K. Daemen 5.1 Introduction .......... . 65 5.2 Materials............. 66 5.3 Permeability Tests and Results. 70 5.4 Piping and Flow of Bentonite. . 82 5.5 Prediction of Bentonite Permeability . 86 5.6 Conclusions and Recommendations 93 Acknowledgements ............ . 95 6. In situ Performance of a Clay-Based Barrier. 96 B. H. Kjartanson, N. A. Chandler and A. W L. Wan 6.1 Introduction............ 96 6.2 The Canadian Nuclear Fuel Waste Management Program . . . . . . 97 6.3 Evaluation of Buffer Physical Performance. 99 6.4 In situ Experiments ..... 100 6.5 Buffer/Container Experiment 102 6.6 Isothermal Test 117 6.7 Conclusions . 123 Acknowledgements . 125 7. In situ Hydraulic Performance Tests of Borehole Seals: Procedure and Analyses . 126 W. B. Greer 7.1 Introduction....... 126 7.2 Proposed Test Schemes. 127 7.3 Seal Tests . . . . . . . . 131 Contents vii 7.4 Conclusions.. 152 Acknowledgements. 156 8. In situ Hydraulic Performance of Cement Borehole Seals . 157 W. B. Greer and D. R. Crouthamel 8.1 Introduction................ 157 8.2 Preliminary Survey for Seal Installation. 157 8.3 Seal Tests at Oracle Ridge Mine. . . . . 158 8.4 Discussion of Testing at Oracle Ridge Mine. 175 8.5 Seal Testing at Superior, Arizona. . . . . . . 178 8.6 Recommendations for Testing In situ Borehole Seals. 181 Acknowledgements . . . . . . . 183 9. Sealing Boreholes in Rock Salt . 184 J. C. Stormont and R. E. Finley 9.1 Introduction........ 184 9.2 General Practice in Sealing Boreholes in Rock Salt. 186 9.3 Rock Salt Properties Relevant to Borehole Sealing. 190 9.4 Materials for Sealing Boreholes in Rock Salt. 201 9.5 Seal System Performance . 211 9.6 Design Considerations 218 9.7 Conclusions . 223 Acknowledgement ..... 224 10. Design of Underground Plugs. 225 F. A. Auld 10.1 Introduction . . . . . . . 225 10.2 Types of Plugs . . . . . . 226 10.3 Factors to be Considered in Design of Plugs. 227 10.4 Design Calculations . . . . . . . . . . . . 233 10.5 Construction Aspects . . . . . . . . . . . 246 10.6 Plug Sealing and Resistance to Leakage. 249 10.7 Case Studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254 10.8 Conclusions and Recommendations . 264 11. Design of Borehole Seals: Process, Criteria and Considerations . . . . . . . . . 267 J. J. K. Daemen and K. Fuenkajorn 11.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . 267 11.2 Applications, Objectives and Requirements. 268 11.3 Considerations of Site Characteristics. . . . 270 11.4 General Design Criteria. . . . . . . . . . . 274 11.5 Material Selection and Placement Methods. 276 11.6 Summary.. 279 Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279 Vlll Contents 12. Sodium Bentonite as a Borehole Sealant. 280 1. E. Papp 12.1 Introduction . . . .. 280 12.2 Geographical Origin. 282 12.3 Geological Origin . . 282 12.4 Structure of Sodium Bentonite. 282 12.5 Properties of Sodium Bentonite. 284 12.6 Bentonite as a Borehole Sealant. 285 12.7 Bentonite as an Annular Sealant. 286 12.8 Types of Bentonite Sealants. . . . 287 12.9 Placement of Bentonite . . . . . . 292 12.10 Case History Featuring High-Solids Bentonite Grout 294 12.11 Conclusions 297 Bibliography . 298 Index .... 325 Contributors G. S. Adisoma Independent Mining Consultants, Inc., 2700 East Executive Drive, Suite 140, Tucson, Arizona 85706, USA H. Akgful Department of Geological Engineering, Orta Dogu Teknik Universitesi, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey F. A. Auld I. W. Farmer & Partners, Ltd, Jilland House, 329 Bawtry Road, Doncaster, DN4 7PB, England N. A. Chandler AECL Research, Whites hell Laboratories, Pinawa, Manitoba, Canada ROE 1LO D. R. Crouthamel Stone & Webster Engineering Corporation, 245 Summer Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210, USA J. J. K. Daemen Mining Engineering Department, Mackay School of Mines, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557-0139, USA R. E. Finley Sandia National Laboratories, Geotechnical Investigations Department, MS-1325, P.O. Box 5800, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA K. Fuenkajorn Rock Engineering International, 7226 West Rivulet Drive, Tucson, Arizona 85743, USA W. B. Greer U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, Water and Power Resources Management Division, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, California 95825, USA B. H. Kjartanson Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011-3232, USA x Contributors S.Ouyang Industrial Technology Research Institute, Energy and Resources Labora tories, Building #24, 195-6 Chung Hsing Road, Section 4, Chutung. Hsinchu, Taiwan 310, R.O.C. J. E. Papp Colloid Environmental Technologies Company, 1350 West Shure Drive, Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004-7803, USA D. L. South Washington State Department of Ecology, Northwest Regional Office, State of Washington, 3190-160th Avenue, S. E., Bellevue, Washington 98008-5452, USA J. C. Stormont Department of Civil Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA A. W.L. Wan AECL Research, Whiteshell Laboratories, Pinawa, Manitoba, Canada ROE 1LO Preface Sealing of boreholes and underground excavations has not received much engineering attention until fairly recently. The growing awareness of and sensitivity to environmental concerns of the technical community as well as of the public at large has resulted in an increasing recognition of the fact that these geological penetrations may have an environmental impact. The issue of possible contamination resulting from migration along boreholes, adits, shafts or tunnels unquestionably has been raised most forcefully with in the context of nuclear waste disposal. Several nuclear waste disposal programs, notably the Civilian and the Defence programs of the US De partment of Energy, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Canadian and Swedish radioactive waste disposal programs have conducted major research efforts aimed at developing adequate seal designs for penet rations in host rock formations for high-level nuclear waste repositories. While a considerable data base has been gathered over the last two decades or so with regard to the performance of seals, most of the information is presented in research reports and widely scattered papers in journals and proceedings of conferences. Hence, the materials are not readily accessible to potential users such as designers, contractors or regulators who are not familiar with nuclear waste disposal programs. Although many government agencies have implemented regulations requiring that unused boreholes and underground excavations in rock formations be sealed, these regulations tend to be generic and broad, and rarely allow for taking into account site-specific conditions. As a result, it is probable that, for example, they are excessively conservative for some locations and inadequate for others. We organize and structure the available information on sealing boreholes and underground excavations in a format that makes it much more readily accessible. This book presents a comprehensive integrated summary of re cent laboratory and in situ experiments conducted to assess the mechanical and hydraulic performance of the emplaced seals and host rocks. The con tents are structured so as to highlight design considerations and recommen dations under various aspects of seal and host rock characteristics, and installation environments. Uncertainties in terms of design, performance testing and performance predictions are recognized, and lead naturally to a discussion of remaining research needs. This book is immediately applicable as a compiled literature summary to senior college students and research graduates. It is intended to be a