Interim data report on the geohydrology of the proposed waste isolation pilot plant site, southeast New Mexico

Data collected at the proposed Waste Isolation Pilot Plant site in southeast New Mexico through September 1977 help define hydrologic conditions at the contact between the Permian Rustler and Salado Formations, and Culebra and Magenta Dolomite Members of the Rustler Formation. Preliminary calculations of transmissivity along the Rustler-Salado contact range from 0.1 feet squared per day to 0.0001 feet squared per day. Fluids from the Rustler-Salado contact contain from 311,000 to 325,800 mg/l total dissolved solids. Fluids in the Culebra Dolomite Member move to the southeast at gradients ranging from 7 to 120 feet per mile. Preliminary transmissivity calculations range from 140 feet squared per day to 0.0004 feet squared per day. Total dissolved solids range from 23,721 to 29,683 mg/l. The extremely low vertical hydraulic conductivity within the Rustler Formation prevents fluid from communicating between the Magenta and Culebra Dolomite Members and between the Culebra and the Rustler-Salado contact. Heads are highest in the Magenta and lowest at the Rustler-Salado contact. (Kosco-USGS)