Investigations of Hydraulic Properties in Crystalline Rock.

Abstract

ABSTRACTHydraulic properties of crystalline rock from four potential repository sites in Sweden were analysed. The hydraulic conductivity of the bedrock was established by means of transient water-injection tests with constant head conducted in 25 m sections. The bedrock at the sites was divided into different hydraulic units. An effective hydraulic conductivity was calculated for the rock mass at each site. This was done on the basis of the frequency distribution of all measured values within this unit. A log-nornal distribution was found to fit the data reasonably well. Regression analysis of hydraulic conductivity as a function of depth indicated similar relationships between the four sites. At a depth of 500 m the effective hydraulic conductivity for three-dimensional flow was about 5.10-11 m/s.The fracture frequency of the sites was established from existing core-logs. At depths of about 500 m the mean fracture frequency of the rock mass at the four sites was 1.8-2.5 fractures per meter. Of this total fracture frequency only a a certain proportion is considered to be hydraulically conductive. This proportion was established from results of hydraulic tests perforned in 2 or 3 m sections. Results obtained indicated a frequency of hydraulically conductive fractures of 0.1-0.3 fractures per meter in the rock mass at depths below 300 m.