Shallow subsurface transport of Xe-133 in a dry alluvium geology
Abstract
As part of the Underground Nuclear Explosion Signatures Experiment (UNESE), a pair of boreholes were drilled in a dry alluvium geology and partitioned to have 3 distinct gas sampling zones at depths of approximately 26 ft, 13 ft, and 6 ft. In July 2018, the radioisotope Xe-133 was injected into the deepest zone of one of these boreholes and gas samples were subsequently collected and monitored for 10 days. The gas samples were monitored for the presence of Xe-133 in the upper two zones of the injection borehole and in the adjacent borehole. The presence and quantity of radioxenon was determined on-site with a mobile detector system, allowing for rapid analysis of samples and limiting the impact of radioactive decay. Prior to the injection, predictive subsurface transport modeling was conducted, and the results of that simulation were compared to the experimental results. The simulation was then honed in an effort to bring the observed and simulated results in agreement.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019AGUFM.H41H1768M
- Keywords:
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- 1805 Computational hydrology;
- HYDROLOGY;
- 1822 Geomechanics;
- HYDROLOGY;
- 1829 Groundwater hydrology;
- HYDROLOGY;
- 1832 Groundwater transport;
- HYDROLOGY