Characterization of Vadose Zone Sediment: Slant Borehole SX-108 in the S-SX Waste Management Area

Serne, R. Jeffrey; Last, George V; Schaef, Herbert T.; Lanigan, David C.; Lindenmeier, Clark W.; Ainsworth, Calvin C.; Clayton, Ray E.; Legore, Virginia L.; O’Hara, Matthew J.; Brown, Christopher F.; Orr, Robert D.; Kutnyakov, Igor V.; Wilson, Teresa C.; Wagnon, Kenneth B.; Williams, Bruce A.; Burke, Deborah Sd

doi:10.2172/938579

Cited by 20 publications

(73 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…This differs from the cation profile from borehole 299-W23-19 that shows very distinct separation of the divalent cations from the sodium plume (see Figure 4.4 in Serne et al 2002b) or the less pronounced but still discernable separation from the sodium profile at the two more saline plumes between SX-108 and SX-109 tanks (see Figures 4.3 in both Serne et al 2002c and2002d). Based on personal communication with Dr. Carl Steefel at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the ion exchange separation of the divalent cations, which are naturally the dominant cations on Hanford sediment exchange sites, from the invading high sodium fluids is maximized when the invading sodium concentrations are not large and when the ion exchange capacity of the sediments is moderate.…”

Section: 13contrasting

confidence: 58%

“…For the slant borehole sediments under SX-108 tank, greater than 80% of the sodium that was acid extractable was also water extractable showing the large mass of sodium that leaked from the SX-108 tank (see Serne et al 2002c for more details). No dramatic water leachable versus acid extractable percentages were observed for the sediments from 299-E33-46 because the composition of the fluids that leaked into the sediments was not as highly concentrated as the solutions that leaked at the SX tank farm.…”

Section: 72mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Characterization of Vadose Zone Sediment: Borehole 299-E33-46 Near B 110 in the B BX-BY Waste Management Area

Serne¹,

Bjornstad²,

Gee³

et al. 2008

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Executive SummaryThis report was revised in September 2008 to remove acid-ectractable sodium data from Table 4.17. The sodium data was removed due to potential contamination introduced during the acid extraction process. The rest of the text remains unchanged from the original report issued in December 2002.The overall goal of the of the Tank Farm Vadose Zone Project, led by CH2M HILL Hanford Group, Inc., is to define risks from past and future single-shell tank farm activities. To meet this goal, CH2M HILL Hanford Group, Inc., asked scientists from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to perform detailed analyses on vadose zone sediment from within the B-BX-BY Waste Management Area. This report is the third in a series of three reports to present the results of these analyses. Specifically, this report contains all the geologic, geochemical, and selected physical characterization data collected on vadose zone sediment recovered from a borehole installed approximately 4.5 m (15 ft) northeast of tank B-110 (borehole 299-E33-46).This report also presents our interpretation of the data in the context of the sediment lithologies, the vertical extent of contamination, the migration potential of the contaminants, and the likely source of the contamination in the vadose zone and groundwater east of the B Tank Farm. The information presented in this report supports the B-BX-BY field investigation report prepared by CH2M HILL Hanford Group, Inc. (a) Overall, our analyses identified common ion exchange and heterogeneous (solid phase-liquid solute) precipitation reactions as two mechanisms that influence the distribution of contaminants within that portion of the vadose zone affected by tank liquor. We did not observe significant indications of caustic alteration of the sediment mineralogy or porosity, but we did observe slightly elevated pH values between the depths of 15 and 25 m (52 and 83 ft) bgs. X-ray diffraction measurements indicate no evidence of mineral alteration or precipitation resulting from the interaction of the tank liquor with the sediment. However, no scans of samples by scanning electron microscopy were performed that might suggest that there is faint evidence of caustic attack.Our analyses do not firmly suggest that the source of the contamination in the groundwater below and to the east of B Tank Farm is the 1971 transfer line leak at B-110. However, we are firmly convinced that the fluids from the transfer line leak event are present in the vadose zone sediments at borehole 299-E33-46 to a depth of 52 m (170 ft) bgs, within the Hanford H2 sand unit. Below this depth the concentration of nitrate still appears to be slightly elevated above natural background levels. There is also elevated technetium-99 between 68 and 69 m (222 and 226 ft) bgs in the Plio-pleistocene mud layer but we can't show that this contamination traveled through the entire vadose zone and in fact may have migrated horizontally from other sources. iv The near horizontally bedded, northeasterly dipping sediment likely caused hor...

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Section: 13contrasting

confidence: 58%

Section: 72mentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of Vadose Zone Sediment: Borehole 299-E33-46 Near B 110 in the B BX-BY Waste Management Area

Serne¹,

Bjornstad²,

Gee³

et al. 2008

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“…The bulk of the leaked fluid currently resides in the upper Plio-Pleistocene unit between 38.1 and 47.5 meters 125 and 156 feet bgs). This is slightly deeper than the 6.6 contamination investigated at tank SX-108 (Serne et al 2002c) and at tank SX-109 (Serne et al 2002b) both of which have the bulk of contamination in the Hanford formation H2 unit.…”

Section: 4mentioning

confidence: 69%

“…The analytical results of samples from borehole 299-W23-19 are described in this report; detailed results from wells 299-W22-48 and 299-W22-50 are described in Serne et al 2002a, results from well 299-W23-234 (also known as 41-09-39) are in Serne et al 2002b, and results from borehole C3082 (also known as the SX-108 slant borehole) are described in Serne et al 2002c. This section summarizes the contaminant distributions found in borehole 299-W23-19 and compares those distributions with contaminant distribution at the other nearby boreholes.…”

Section: Contaminant Distribution In Borehole 200-w23-19 and Other Nementioning

confidence: 93%

Characterization of Vadose Zone Sediment: Borehole 299-W23-19 [SX-115] in the S-SX Waste Management Area

Serne¹,

Bjornstad²,

Lanigan³

et al. 2008

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Executive SummaryThis report was revised in September 2008 to remove acid-extractable sodium data from Tables 4.15 and 4.19. The sodium data was removed due to potential contamination introduced during the acid extraction process. The rest of the text remains unchanged from the original report issued in February 2002.The Tank Farm Vadose Zone Project is led by CH2M HILL Hanford Group, Inc. Their goals include defining risks from past and future single-shell tank farm activities, identifying and evaluating the efficacy of interim measures, and collecting geotechnical information and data. The purpose of these activities is to support future decisions made by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) regarding near-term operations, future waste retrieval, and final closure activities for the single-shell tank Waste Management Areas. To help in this effort, CH2M HILL Hanford Group, Inc. contracted with scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to analyze sediment samples collected from borehole 299-W23-19.Borehole 299-W23-19 was drilled at the southwestern edge of tank SX-115 as a characterization borehole to evaluate the depth distribution of contamination leaked from tank SX-115. The borehole was cored throughout the vadose zone during drilling. The geology, stratigraphy, and lithology of the drill core were described in the field and in the laboratory. The drill cores were sampled for analyses of physical, chemical, and hydraulic properties in order to better understand the distribution of contaminants and the mechanisms of contaminant movement beneath the SX tank farm.Electrical conductivity and chromium, nitrate, sodium, and technetium concentrations were found to be good indicators of the plume distribution. Data for the other measured contaminants indicate that leaked tank fluids have impacted the vadose zone beneath tank SX-115 from about 22.2 meters (73 feet) depth to the base of the upper Plio-Pleistocene unit at about a 47.5 meters (156 feet) depth. The technetium-99 plume, however, appears to occur as deep as 62.5 meters (205 feet), which is the depth of the deepest sample.The bulk of the leaked fluid beneath tank SX-115 resides in the upper Plio-Pleistocene unit between a 38.1 meters (125-feet) and 47.5 meters (156-foot) depth. This is slightly deeper than the contamination investigated at tank SX-108 and tank SX-109, both of which have the bulk of contamination in the shallower Hanford formation.Results of chemical analyses point to three potential mechanisms influencing the distribution of contaminants in the vadose zone. Common ion exchange reactions appear to have influenced the distribution of most mobile contaminants whereas oxidation-reduction reactions seem to have influenced chromium distribution. Observations from this study suggest that nitrate, technetium-99, and perhaps molybdenum migrate with no measurable retardation in the vadose zone whereas sodium, chromium, and selenium migrate with a small amount of retardation. These conclusions are similar to the conclusions found during the S...

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“…Other tables show dilution-corrected estimated values that represent concentrations in the vadose zone pore water within the sediment. As discussed in several other Vadose Zone Characterization Project reports, the dilution-corrected 1:1 sediment:water extractions are a reasonable estimate of the actual vadose zone pore water (see Serne et al 2002aSerne et al , 2002bSerne et al , 2002c.…”

Section: :1 Sediment:water Extractionsmentioning

confidence: 91%

Characterization of Vadose Zone Sediments from C Waste Management Area: Investigation of the C-152 Transfer Line Leak

Brown¹,

Serne²,

Bjornstad³

et al. 2008

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Executive SummaryThe overall goal of the Tank Farm Vadose Zone Project, led by CH2M HILL Hanford Group, Inc., is to define risks from past and future single-shell tank farm activities at Hanford. To meet this goal, CH2M HILL Hanford Group, Inc., tasked scientists from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to perform detailed analyses on vadose zone sediments from within waste management area (WMA) C. Specifically, this report contains all the geologic, geochemical, and selected physiochemical characterization data compiled on vadose zone sediment recovered from direct-push samples collected around the site of an unplanned release (UPR), UPR-200-E-82, adjacent to the 241-C-152 Diversion Box located in WMA C.UPR 200-E-82 was a waste-loss event near the 241-C-152 Diversion Box that occurred in December 1969 and involved the loss of approximately 2,600 gallons of cesium-137 recovery process feed solution (Wood et al. 2003). The leak event created a temporary ground-surface puddle measuring 100 gallons in volume, which was quickly covered over with clean gravel. It is estimated that 11,300 Ci of cesium-137, 18.3 kg of uranium, and 5.01 Ci of technetium-99 were released to the subsurface.An initial geologic/geochemical investigation in the vicinity of UPR-200-E-82 was performed using pairs of direct-push probe holes. A total of 41 vertical direct pushes extending to approximately 60 ft below ground surface (bgs) were completed between July and September 2005 to characterize vadose zone moisture and the distribution of contaminants. Twenty vadose zone sediment sample sets, containing one or two core samples in stainless-steel liners and one grab sample, were delivered to the laboratory for characterization and analysis. The sediments were collected around the documented location of the C-152 pipeline leak (UPR-200-E-82) and created an approximately 120-ft-diameter circular pattern around the waste site.A second series of six probe holes were emplaced around the site of the pipeline leak between March and June 2006. Unlike their 2005 vertical counterparts, these probe holes were driven at angles of 30º, 45º, or 60º from horizontal, and extended to approximately 80 ft bgs. Up to three sets of samples (1.5 ft of core plus material recovered from the drive shoe) were retrieved from each slant probe hole. The goal of this operation was to collect a sample at depth from directly beneath the projected site of the pipeline leak.A core log was generated for both sets of samples and a visual geologic evaluation of all liner samples was performed at the time of sample processing. Aliquots of sediment from the liners were analyzed and characterized in the laboratory for the following parameters: moisture content, gammaemitting radionuclides, one-to-one sediment:water extractions (which provided soil pH, electrical conductivity, cation, trace metal, and anion data), total carbon and inorganic carbon content, and 8-M nitric acid leaches (which provided a measure of the total leachable contaminant content in the sediment). Two key ra...

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Characterization of Vadose Zone Sediment: Slant Borehole SX-108 in the S-SX Waste Management Area

Cited by 20 publications

References 3 publications

Characterization of Vadose Zone Sediment: Borehole 299-E33-46 Near B 110 in the B BX-BY Waste Management Area

Characterization of Vadose Zone Sediment: Borehole 299-E33-46 Near B 110 in the B BX-BY Waste Management Area

Characterization of Vadose Zone Sediment: Borehole 299-W23-19 [SX-115] in the S-SX Waste Management Area

Characterization of Vadose Zone Sediments from C Waste Management Area: Investigation of the C-152 Transfer Line Leak

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