Hydrologic testing of tight zones in southeastern New Mexico

Increased attention is being directed toward the investigation of tight zones in relation to the storage and disposal of hazardous wastes. Shut-in tests, slug tests, and pressure-slug tests are being used at the proposed Waste Isolation Pilot Plant site, located in southeastern New Mexico, to evaluate the fluid-transmitting properties of several zones above the proposed repository zone. Apparatus used to conduct these tests includes a pressure-transducer system connected to a recording device at the land surface. All three testing methods were used in various combinations to obtain values for the hydraulic properties of the test zones. Multiple testing on the same zone produced similar results. Transmissivities determined by these tests range from 0.00001 to 10 feet squared per day (.000001 to 1 meter squared per day).