The Yucca Mountain Project

The Single Heater Test

Objectives:

• Evaluate THMC coupled processes around a line heater source in fractured tuff.
• Develop testing methodologies and modeling approaches for high-temperature conditions.

Approaches:

• Heating with a 5 m long, 4 kW heater lasted 9 months, starting in 1996 and ending in 1997.
• Borehole sensing and cross-hole testing were used before, during, and after heating period.

Results:

• Extent of dryout (about 1 m around the heater hole) was measured with geophysical techniques (ERT, GRP and neutron).
• Condensate zone below the heater was found to be larger than above the heater horizon.
• Chemical composition of water collected during heating in packed borehole intervals was analyzed.
• Characterization data by air-injection tests and mechanical displacement measurements located high-k flow paths.

Reference:
Tsang, Y.W. and J.T. Birkholzer, "Predictions and Observations of the Thermal-Hydrological Conditions in the Single Heater Test", Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, vol. 38, 385-425, 1999.

For more information, please contact:
Jens Birkholzer
Ph: 510-486-7134

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