Title 40 CFR Part 191
Subparts B and C
Compliance Recertification
Application
for the
Waste Isolation Pilot Plant

Consideration of Drilling Events in Performance Assessments
(40 CFR § 194.33)

United States Department of Energy
Waste Isolation Pilot Plant

Consideration of Drilling Events in Performance Assessments
(40 CFR § 194.33)

List of Tables

Table 33-1.  WIPP Project Changes and Cross References

Acronyms and Abbreviations

%                     percent

AIC                 active institutional control

BLM                U.S. Bureau of Land Management

CARD             Compliance Application Review Document

CCA                Compliance Certification Application

DBR                Direct Brine Release

DOE                U.S. Department of Energy

EPA                 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPs                  event and process

FEP                 feature, event, and process

ft                      feet

in.                    inch

km2                  square kilometer

m                     meter

m3                    cubic meters

md                   millidarcy

mi                    mile

mi2                   square mile

NMOCD          New Mexico Oil Conservation Division

PA                   performance assessment

PAVT              Performance Assessment Verification Test

PIC                  passive institutional control

WIPP               Waste Isolation Pilot Plant

33.0  Consideration of Drilling Events in Performance Assessments (40 CFR § 194.33)

33.1  Requirements

 § 194.33  Consideration of Drilling Events in Performance Assessments (a) Performance assessments shall examine deep drilling and shallow drilling that may potentially affect the disposal system during the regulatory time frame. (b) The following assumptions and process shall be used in assessing the likelihood and consequences of drilling events, and the results of such process shall be documented in any compliance application: (1) Inadvertent and intermittent intrusion by drilling for resources (other than those resources provided by the waste in the disposal system or engineered barriers designed to isolate such waste) is the most severe human intrusion scenario. (2) In performance assessments, drilling events shall be assumed to occur in the Delaware Basin at random intervals in time and space during the regulatory time frame. (3) The frequency of deep drilling shall be calculated in the following manner: (i) Identify deep drilling that has occurred for each resource in the Delaware Basin over the past 100 years prior to the time at which a compliance application is prepared (ii) The total rate of deep drilling shall be the sum of the rates of deep drilling for each resource. (4) The frequency of shallow drilling shall be calculated in the following manner: (i) Identify shallow drilling that has occurred for each resource in the Delaware Basin over the past 100 years prior to the time at which a compliance application is prepared. (ii) The total rate of shallow drilling shall be the sum of the rates of shallow drilling for each resource. (iii) In considering the historical rate of all shallow drilling, the Department may, if justified, consider only the historical rate of shallow drilling for resources of similar type and quality to those in the controlled area. (c) Performance assessments shall document that in analyzing the consequences of drilling events, the Department assumed that: (1) Future drilling practices and technology will remain consistent with practices in the Delaware Basin at the time a compliance application is prepared. Such future drilling practices shall include, but shall not be limited to: the types and amounts of drilling fluids; borehole depths, diameters, and seals; and the fraction of such boreholes that are sealed by humans. (2) Natural processes will degrade or otherwise affect the capability of boreholes to transmit fluids over the regulatory time frame. (d) With respect to future drilling events, performance assessments need not analyze the effects of techniques used for resource recovery subsequent to the drilling of the borehole.

33.2  Background

40 CFR § 194.33 (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1996) requires the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to make assumptions about future deep and shallow drilling in the Delaware Basin and the vicinity of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP).  These assumptions pertain to the timing and duration of drilling, frequency of drilling, drilling practices and technology, and the effects of natural processes on boreholes.

Drilling in the near future within the Delaware Basin will most likely be for oil and gas exploration/exploitation, which constitutes a deep drilling event.  Shallow drilling may occur for other resources (e.g., water), but has been screened out of this and past analyses due to lack of consequence on the disposal system (Compliance Certification Application [CCA], U.S. Department of Energy 1996, Chapter 6.0, Section 6.2.5.2; Compliance Recertification Application of 2004 [CRA-2004], U.S. Department of Energy 2004, Appendix PA, Attachment SCR; Compliance Recertification Application of 2009 [CRA-2009], Appendix SCR-2009).  Drilling is incorporated in the performance assessment (PA) as a single event or combinations of events based upon different scenarios.  Deep and shallow drilling rates and related activities directly affect the cumulative potential for radionuclide releases to the surface or to subsurface geologic units around the WIPP.

Deep drilling is defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1996) as events that terminate 655 meters (m) (2,150 feet [ft]) or more below ground surface, while shallow drilling events terminate no deeper than 655 m (2,150 ft) below ground surface.  (Note that the repository level is 655 m (2,150 ft) below ground surface.)

33.3  1998 Certification Decision

33.3.1    40 CFR § 194.33(a) DOE Methodology and Conclusions

In the CCA, Chapter 6.0, Section 6.2.5, the DOE identified oil and gas exploration/exploitation and water and potash exploration as the principal human activities that must be considered within the PA.  The remaining human initiated activities—such as exploration for geothermal energy, water supplies, and sulfur and brine extraction (solution mining)—were eliminated based upon low probability, low consequence, or for regulatory reasons.

33.3.1.1  Deep Drilling Methods

Descriptions of well drilling, plugging, and abandonment practices typically followed in the Delaware Basin are provided in the CCA, Appendix DEL, Section DEL.5 (the CCA, Appendix DEL, pp. DEL-26 through DEL-46).  Chapter IX of the New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources (NMBMMR) Final Report (New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources 1995, pp. IX-1 through IX-69) includes a discussion of drilling targets and practices, with typical casing designs presented in the CCA, Appendix DEL (Figure DEL-13).  The typical operation sequence for well installation was presented in the CCA, Appendix DEL, Attachment 1 (Delaware Basin).  Oil and gas exploration, exploitation, and production comprise 99% of the deep boreholes in the Delaware Basin, with the remainder being sulfur, potash, and stratigraphic test boreholes (the CCA, Appendix DEL, Table DEL-4).

The CCA also provides extensive information pertaining to the deep drilling process, from acquisition of leases to well completion and abandonment (the CCA, Appendix DEL, Section DEL.6.1).  In the area near the WIPP site, deep drilling typically terminates between approximately 5,000 to 15,400 ft (1,524 to 4,695 m) below ground surface.  The DOE stated that mud rotary drilling is the typical drilling method used in the Delaware Basin.  A summary of deep drilling activities is provided in the CCA, Appendix DEL, Section DEL.5.1.

33.3.1.2  Shallow Drilling Methods

The CCA discusses shallow drilling methods in the CCA, Appendix DEL, Section DEL.5.2 (Potash Coreholes) and DEL.5.3 (Water Wells).  Although shallow drilling for hydrocarbons, sulfur, and brine extraction (solution mining) also occur, the CCA did not explicitly discuss drilling methods for hydrocarbons and brine extraction (solution mining) because they are comparable to those for deep drilling, while drilling methods for sulfur are comparable to those for potash drilling.

33.3.1.3  Evaluation of Borehole Properties

Typical borehole sizes and depths are evaluated in the CCA, Appendix DEL, Section DEL.5 (pp. DEL-26 through DEL-42).  These borehole properties are described as having the potential to affect the disposal system through radionuclide migration and transport, as detailed below.  The CCA, Chapter 6.0, Sections 6.5.3 and 6.5.5 provide the results of calculations showing that actinides expelled from the WIPP by these release mechanisms would not exceed EPA release limits.  In addition, the CCA shows that the properties and degradation history of borehole plugging material are very important to the containment capabilities of the WIPP (the CCA, Chapter 6.0, Section 6.4.7.2, pp. 6-156 through 6-161).

33.3.1.4  Future Drilling Events Considered in the Performance Assessment

Future shallow drilling events were not considered in the PA because they were determined to be of low consequence to the PA calculations.

The CCA describes three different combinations of drilling events considered in PA, referred to as E1, E2, and E1E2:

·       The E1 Scenario (the CCA, Chapter 6.0, Figure 6-11):  one or more boreholes penetrate a Castile brine reservoir and also intersect a repository panel

·       The E2 Scenario (the CCA, Chapter 6.0, Figure 6-10):  one or more boreholes intersect a repository panel and do not penetrate a Castile brine reservoir

·       The E1E2 Scenario (the CCA, Chapter 6.0, Figure 6-12):  multiple penetrations of the same waste panel where at least one penetration must be of the E1 type

The following potential release mechanisms result from the intrusion scenarios listed above.  Intrusions to the disposal system could affect radionuclide migration and transport via the following:

·       Cuttings—material intersected by a rotary drilling bit

·       Cavings—material eroded from a borehole wall during drilling

·       Spallings—solid material carried into the borehole during rapid depressurization of the waste disposal region

·       Direct Brine Releases (DBRs)—contaminated brine that may flow to the surface during drilling

·       Long-Term Releases Following Drilling

Future drilling events are modeled through a random sampling procedure described in the CCA, Appendix CCDFGF, Sections 2 and 3.  Uncertainty relative to the time and location of drilling is stochastic (i.e., derived from random processes, without knowledge about the future).  Drilling is incorporated into the PA by repeatedly generating independent sequences of drilling-related events that could occur at the WIPP over the next 10,000 years.  The defining parameters for the occurrence of future drilling events include not only the interval of time between drilling events and the location of drilling intrusions, but also the following four parameters:

·       Activity of waste penetrated by each drilling intrusion (not related to deep or shallow drilling, but included for completeness)

·       Plug configuration in the borehole

·       Penetration of the Castile brine reservoir

·       Occurrence of mining (not related to deep or shallow drilling, but included for completeness)

Random sampling from these distributions was used to calculate 10,000 different futures for the WIPP (the CCA, Chapter 6.0, Section 6.4.13.9).

33.3.2  40 CFR § 194.33(a) EPA Compliance Review

The EPA reviewed the information presented by the DOE in the CCA, Appendix DEL, Chapter DEL.6, Section 6.2, and NMBMMR (New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources 1995) to determine how extensively deep and shallow drilling was considered and whether the information provided was sufficiently comprehensive, accurate, and correctly calculated.  The EPA examined the list of references presented in the CCA relative to drilling and conducted a literature search to evaluate the fluid injection study (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1998a).  The EPA determined that the DOE’s scrutiny of resources to assess deep and shallow drilling practices and frequencies was comprehensive.  The EPA also determined that the DOE’s conclusions regarding representative drilling methods in the Delaware Basin are consistent with available data.

During the public comment period on the EPA’s proposed certification, commenters raised the issue that both air and mud drilling might occur in the Delaware Basin and that releases from air drilling could be greater than from mud drilling, potentially causing the WIPP to fail the release limits of 40 CFR § 191.13 (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1993).  The DOE did not include air drilling in the CCA because it was not a technique commonly used in the area near the WIPP.  In response to issues raised by stakeholders, the DOE provided several reports (Dials 1998) that examined both the likelihood and consequence of drilling with air at and near the WIPP.  Likewise, the EPA examined the air drilling issue from several perspectives and documented its findings in the Technical Support Document EPA’s Analysis of Air Drilling at WIPP (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1998b) and in Response to Comments, Section 8 (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1998c).  The results of the EPA’s analysis showed that air drilling is not common practice in the Delaware Basin.  In addition, even if air drilling were to occur, the volume of spalled material released is within the range presented in the CCA.

The EPA evaluated the drilling-related information in the CCA to determine how both deep and shallow drilling affect the WIPP disposal system, including but not limited to, pressurization of the WIPP, brine/fluid removal, and circulation of brine within the panels.  The EPA concluded that the DOE appropriately excluded shallow drilling from PA based upon low consequence.  The EPA also concluded that the DOE appropriately simplified the intrusion scenarios to include the three types of drilling occurrences that, alone or in combination, are representative of potential future intrusion events in the WIPP.

33.3.3  40 CFR § 194.33(b) DOE Methodology and Conclusions

The CCA presents an analysis of all known wells, including hydrocarbon borehole exploratory and development wells in the Delaware Basin, and determines that inadvertent and intermittent drilling is the most severe human intrusion scenario.  The CCA, Appendix DEL (Section DEL.7.3) and Appendix PA, Attachment SCR, Section SCR.3 include the DOE’s analyses of drilling events in the WIPP area.  The CCA, Chapter 6.0 identifies scenarios for human intrusion and calculated cumulative radionuclide releases assuming different intrusion events and combinations of events.

The CCA, Appendix DEL, Table DEL-3 presents a listing of the types and number of boreholes encountered within the Delaware Basin.  The hydrocarbon borehole category is broken down into seven individual types, including oil, gas, oil/gas, dry, abandoned, injection, and service.  Both exploratory wells (boreholes drilled to locate hydrocarbons) and developmental wells (boreholes drilled to exploit known reserves) are included within each category listed in the table.  For example, if a well was drilled to explore for natural gas or with the intent to extract more gas by secondary recovery method, both will be classified as gas wells.

By evaluating borehole types and standard well installation practices, the DOE determined that significant release of radionuclides from the disposal system can occur through only five drilling-related mechanisms (see CCA Chapter 6.0, Section 6.0.2.3, p. 6-5) for both exploratory and development wells.

33.3.4  40 CFR § 194.33(b)(1) EPA Compliance Review

The EPA evaluated resources considered by the DOE when developing human intrusion scenarios.  The EPA examined resources identified by the DOE (the CCA, Chapter 2.0, Section 2.3.1, pp. 2-146 through 2-156, the CCA; Appendix GCR, and the CCA Appendix DEL, Section DEL.4) and compared them with potential resources available in the area.  The EPA reviewed the DOE’s data pertaining to wells associated with the exploration and development related to these resources (the CCA, Appendix DEL, Section DEL.7) and concluded that the DOE considered the full spectrum of inadvertent and intermittent human intrusion scenarios possible in the Delaware Basin and incorporated them into the PA.

The EPA found that the DOE adequately demonstrated that it had considered inadvertent and intermittent drilling into or through the repository as the most severe human intrusion scenario (Compliance Application Review Document [CARD] 33, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1998d).  The EPA concluded that the DOE appropriately evaluated drilling in the Delaware Basin for inclusion in PA and adequately considered the drilling locations, depths, completion intervals, practices, history, and occurrence of resources.  Finally, the EPA concluded that exploratory and development wells were appropriately included in the DOE’s analysis.

33.3.5  40 CFR § 194.33(b)(2) DOE Methodology and Conclusions

Based on the regulatory guidance and the historic rate of drilling in the Delaware Basin, the DOE calculated the rate of future drilling as 46.8 boreholes per square kilometer (km2) per 10,000 years (the CCA, Chapter 6.0, Section 6.0.2.3, p. 6-5).  In accordance with 40 CFR § 194.33(c)(1), the DOE assumes that current drilling practices will continue unchanged into the future.

The DOE discusses the drilling rate assumptions in the CCA, Chapter 6.0, Section 6.0.2.3, p. 6-5 and Appendix DEL, Section DEL.7, pp. 80–84.  The DOE assumed random drilling events, with respect to both location and time, allocated among three time periods:

·       A period when institutional controls are active (0 to 100 years), during which no intrusions will occur

·       A period when passive institutional controls (PICs) are effective (100 to 700 years), for which the drilling rate is two orders of magnitude lower than the rate experienced during the uncontrolled period

·       An uncontrolled period (700 to 10,000 years)

In the CCA, Chapter 6.0, Section 6.4.12.2, pp. 182–83, the DOE outlines the process by which the random drilling rate assumptions were implemented.  The number and time of intrusions were represented using a Poisson process to calculate the time period that elapsed between intrusions based on historical drilling activity and assuming a rate of 46.8 boreholes/km2 (for the 700 to 10,000 year period), and 0.486 boreholes/km2 for the period when PICs are effective (100 to 700 years).  Specifically, the DOE states in the CCA, Chapter 6.0, Section 6.4.12.2, p. 182, that both the number and time of intrusions are determined sequentially by sampling from a cumulative distribution function that describes the time elapsed between a given intrusion and the next intrusion.  The potential time between intrusions varied from 0 to 9,900 years.  Using this process, the DOE concluded that the most likely number of intrusions into a waste panel is 5, occurring with a probability of 0.1715.  Zero intrusions occurred with a probability of 0.0041.  The DOE found the largest number of intrusions that occurred is 14, with a probability of 0.0011 (the CCA, Chapter 6.0, Section 6.4.12.2, p. 183).

The DOE assigned drilling rates based on basin-wide borehole information.  The drilling rate calculated for the basin was then applied to the area of the repository by the DOE randomly assigning intrusion borehole locations among 144 discrete regions in the repository.  Each hypothetical intrusion was assumed to penetrate only 1 of the 144 blocks, and the probability of intersecting any given block was 1 in 144.  Based on the ratio of excavated to undisturbed Salado in each grid block, the DOE concludes that a borehole has a 20% probability of encountering excavated Salado (i.e., waste-filled repository or experimental regions) and an 80% chance of encountering unexcavated Salado (the CCA, Chapter 6.0, Section 6.4.12.3, p. 184).

The DOE did not consider boreholes relevant to the potential for release outside the boundaries of the repository, and therefore only calculated locations that could potentially intrude the repository.  Specific well locations in the remainder of the Delaware Basin were not calculated.  The CCA, Appendix CCDFGF presents details regarding how the probability of borehole intrusion scenarios was implemented in the construction of future realizations.

33.3.6  40 CFR § 194.33(b)(2) EPA Compliance Review

The EPA reviewed the DOE’s implementation of drilling rate and location assumptions, and concluded that the DOE used appropriate methods to derive drilling rates and locations.  The EPA determined (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1998e) that the DOE adequately demonstrated that drilling events were assigned as occurring over random intervals of time and at random locations.  The EPA also reviewed the DOE’s implementation of drilling assumptions and determined that the method employed by the DOE in the calculations yields random drilling rate and location results.  Use of Poisson distribution to project the time period that will elapse between intrusions was determined to be an acceptable approach.  Division of the projected future into three distinct time periods was determined to be appropriately justified.  The EPA disallowed PA credit for PICs.  Nonetheless, the CCA Performance Assessment Verification Test (PAVT) calculations demonstrated that the effects of the proposed credits for active institutional controls (AICs) and PICs are insignificant, so that the PA results remain unaffected whether or not the credits are allowed (U.S. Department of Energy 1997a).

33.3.7  40 CFR § 194.33(b)(3) DOE Methodology and Conclusions

In the CCA, Appendix DEL, Sections DEL.7.3 and DEL.7.4, the DOE identifies deep drilling that has occurred during the past 100 years for each resource known to occur in the Delaware Basin (hydrocarbons, potash, and sulfur) and calculates the total rate of deep drilling as the sum of the rates for each resource (the CCA, Appendix DEL, Section DEL.4.2).  The DOE obtained information on deep drilling from two industry sources, Petroleum Information and the Midland Map Company, based on original records compiled by the New Mexico Oil Conservation Division (NMOCD) and the Railroad Commission of Texas Oil and Gas Division.  Approximately 99% of the deep boreholes in the Delaware Basin were related to hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation.  Industry database information regarding the number of deep drilling events/resource and information sources is presented in the CCA, Appendix DEL, Tables DEL-3, DEL-4, DEL-6, and DEL-7.

The DOE stated that drilling for deep resources near the boundary of the WIPP site since 1974 has demonstrated that profitable quantities of oil and gas resources are present near, and likely beneath, the WIPP site.  The CCA, Appendix DEL, Figure DEL-6 shows oil and gas wells in the area surrounding the WIPP site (the CCA, Appendix DEL, Section DEL.4.2.2.4).

The DOE stated that three hydrocarbon exploration/exploitation deep wells have been drilled in the WIPP land withdrawal area (the CCA, Appendix DEL, Section DEL.4.2.3, p. DEL-20).  Of these, two were drilled prior to 1982 and were later plugged and abandoned.  The third well, drilled in 1982, is currently producing natural gas from a sandstone reservoir of Pennsylvanian Atokan age.  Condemnation actions 77-071-B and 77-776-B by the United States currently withdraws all of Section 31, which is approximately 3.2 km (2 miles) to the southwest of the repository, from the surface to a depth of 1,829 m (6,000 ft) (the CCA, Appendix DEL, Section DEL.4.2.3).  Leaseholders have mineral rights below 6,000 ft (1,829 m), which would be accessed by directional drilling from a surface location outside of Section 31.

The CCA, Appendix DEL, Section DEL.7.4, p. DEL-81, presents the DOE’s calculated drilling rate in the Delaware Basin.  The DOE calculated a rate of 46.8 deep holes per km2 over 10,000 years and is shown below:

(Total # of deep boreholes ) ´ Regulatory Period                           1

Deep Drilling Rate  =  ________________________________________________ ´ ____________

Area of the Delaware Basin                                      100 yrs

(10,804) 10,000 yrs.                                                  1

=  ________________________________________________ ´ ____________

23102.1 km2                                                100 yrs

=  46.765 deep boreholes per km2 per 10,000 years

The CCA contains tables that show the specific drilling rates for each type of well and for each type of resource (the CCA, Appendix DEL, pp. DEL-83 through DEL-84).  The CCA, Chapter 6.0, Table 6-5 includes deep drilling events.  The DOE used the drilling rates calculated from all available historical data as a basis for assigning future rates.  These values and related calculation methods are shown in the CCA, Appendix DEL, Table DEL.6 and Table DEL.7.  Reductions were made to these rates for AICs and PICs credit in the DOE analysis.  As discussed in the CCA, Chapter 6.0, p. 6-181, AICs were credited for completely preventing inadvertent human intrusion for the first 100 years following repository closure.  PICs were credited with reducing inadvertent intrusion to 1% of the calculated level for the period from 100 to 700 years after closure.

33.3.8  40 CFR § 194.33(b)(3) EPA Compliance Review

The EPA examined the CCA to determine the adequacy and accuracy of drilling rate calculations presented by the DOE, as well as supporting assumptions and determinations.  The EPA examined the comprehensiveness and adequacy of deep drilling information and compared the DOE data to information on standard industry practice that had been collected for the Delaware Basin.  The EPA checked the DOE’s calculations regarding deep drilling frequency for accuracy and compared them with the EPA’s calculations based upon an independently derived database (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1998a).

The EPA’s review determined that the DOE appropriately identified deep drilling that occurred in the Delaware Basin.  The CCA identified resources for which deep drilling is used and estimated the number of drilling events that occurred over the past 100 years as 46.8 boreholes/km2.  The EPA found that the DOE’s method was sufficiently explained and that DOE adequately documented sources of supporting information.  The EPA concluded that the DOE’s results for the total rate of deep drilling are consistent with available data.  The EPA disallowed credit for PICs.  Therefore, the DOE did not take credit for PICs in the CCA PAVT calculations (U.S. Department of Energy 1997a and b).  The results of the PAVT were comparable to the original CCA results, in which PICs credit was employed; therefore, the EPA concluded that the PICs credit was not significant to the WIPP’s compliance with the disposal standards.

The EPA found that the DOE’s sources of information on deep drilling were reliable and that the DOE’s confidence in the industry database was appropriate, based on the EPA’s independent review of industry activity in the area (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1998a).  The DOE identified all resources relevant to deep drilling.  Well databases are understood to contain all well types possible in the area, including both exploratory and development wells.  Public comments on the proposed decision to certify the WIPP raised questions about the DOE’s calculated deep drilling rate because commenters believed that the drilling rate used by the DOE was too low with respect to current drilling rates.  The EPA concluded that the deep drilling rate used by the DOE was consistent with the requirements of 40 CFR Part 194.

33.3.9  40 CFR § 194.33(b)(4) DOE Methodology and Conclusions

The DOE examined the resources present within the Delaware Basin and determined that the shallow resources identified in the Delaware Basin are water, potash, sulfur, oil/gas, and brine wells (salt water “wells”) (the CCA, Appendix DEL, Section DEL.4, Table DEL-5).  Note:  This table also presents stratigraphic and core test holes, but these apply to investigations associated with the five resources.  The DOE examined these resources and determined that no shallow oil or gas is present in the controlled area or near the WIPP, and no minable sulfur reserves are present in the controlled area or near the WIPP (the CCA, Appendix DEL, p. DEL-81).  The DOE also examined the possibility of brine extraction (solution mining) but excluded it from consideration in PA based upon low consequence.  The DOE concluded that water and potash are potential resources within the controlled area, but nevertheless included drilling for oil/gas, brine extraction (solution mining), and stratigraphic test holes (exclusive of those installed as part of the WIPP site characterization program) in its shallow drilling rate calculations.

The DOE identifies a total of 5,536 shallow boreholes that have been installed in the Delaware Basin, including those for sulfur coreholes (495 coreholes) but excluding those boreholes installed as part of the WIPP site characterization program (the CCA, Appendix DEL, Table DEL-5, p. DEL-83).

The DOE’s method for calculating the shallow drilling rate was first to collect comprehensive information on shallow drilling in the Delaware Basin, including drilling for hydrocarbons, sulfur, potash, stratigraphic tests, water, and brine extraction (solution mining) wells (the CCA, Appendix DEL, Table DEL-5).  The DOE stated that information regarding shallow drilling in the Delaware Basin was obtained from commercial and government sources.  The DOE collected water well data from a commercial database developed by Whitestar Corporation of Englewood, Colorado; potash well data from Bureau of Land Management (BLM) records; and sulfur corehole data from a database developed jointly by Whitestar Corporation and Petroleum Information Corporation of Denver, Colorado (the CCA, Appendix DEL, Tables DEL-3, DEL-4, and DEL-7).  Sources used to determine the type and quality of resources include those used to determine the drilling rate.

The DOE calculated the total rate of shallow drilling as the sum of the rates for shallow drilling of resources in the Delaware Basin of the type and quality similar to those in the WIPP-controlled area.  DOE excluded consideration of the 495 sulfur drill holes when calculating the drilling rate, since no economically extractible sulfur is located within the WIPP land withdrawal area (the CCA, Appendix DEL, pp. DEL-25 and DEL-81; New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources 1995).  Also, following EPA guidance, the DOE excluded consideration of shallow drill holes created as part of the WIPP site characterization efforts (the CCA, Appendix DEL, p. DEL-81).  However, the DOE included drilling for oil/gas and brine solution mining in its rate calculations, even though the DOE indicated that it was not necessary to do so.  The DOE calculated a shallow drilling rate over the past 100 years of 21.8 shallow holes per km2 per 10,000 years (the CCA, Appendix DEL, Section DEL.7.4, p. DEL-81).

The DOE presents the shallow drilling rate for each resource in the CCA, Appendix DEL, Table DEL-5, p. DEL-83.  The DOE indicated in a footnote to the CCA, Appendix DEL, Table DEL-5, p. DEL-83 that the number of shallow holes per km2 is calculated as follows:

(Total # of boreholes - Sulfur coreholes) ´ Regulatory Period                  1

Drilling Rate   = _____________________________________________________  ´ ____________

Area of the Delaware Basin                                      100 yrs

(5536-495) 10,000 yrs.                                                1

= _____________________________________________________  ´ ____________

23102.1 km2                                                100 yrs

=   21.821 shallow holes per km2 per 10,000 years

The DOE concludes in the CCA, Appendix SCR that shallow drilling (Section SCR.3.2, Table SCR-3) could be screened from PA based on low consequence.  As a result, the DOE did not include shallow drilling in its PA drilling rate calculations and did not include any reduction in shallow drilling rates during the AIC and PIC periods.

33.3.10  40 CFR § 194.33(b)(4) EPA Compliance Review

The EPA reviewed the CCA, Appendices DEL, SCR, GCR, FAC, HYDRO, and other references (e.g., New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources 1995) and determined that the DOE appropriately identified shallow drilling resources and the number of drilling events for each resource over the past 100 years (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1998e).  The EPA concluded that the DOE’s exclusion of sulfur coreholes from drilling was consistent with geologic data indicating that sulfur resources are not present in the area.  In addition, the DOE’s exclusion of site-investigation coreholes is consistent with EPA guidance.  The DOE adequately discussed the basis for and calculation of the frequency of shallow drilling.  The EPA concluded that the DOE properly calculated both the frequency of shallow drilling (using the historical rate of shallow drilling) and the sum of shallow drilling for all resources (whichever are used in the area, such as potash and water only).

The EPA reviewed information in the CCA, Chapter 6.0 and Appendix DEL, but did not collect an independent database for comparison with the DOE’s data because the EPA concurred with the DOE’s screening of shallow drilling from PA calculations (as presented in the CCA, Appendix SCR, Section SCR.3, and summarized in Table SCR-3).  The DOE states that since shallow boreholes would not penetrate the repository, the effects of boreholes on repository performance, including hydraulic effects of drilling-induced flow (e.g., the CCA, Appendix SCR, Section SCR.3.3.1.1.3, pp. SCR-113-14), could be excluded due to low consequence.  This exclusion precluded the need for a detailed evaluation of data used by the DOE to determine shallow drilling rates including whether the DOE’s rates included exploratory and development wells (although assessments included both).  The DOE states, “The effects of future shallow drilling within the controlled area have been eliminated from PA calculations on the basis of low consequence” (the CCA, Chapter 6.0, Section 6.2.5.2, p. 6-61).  As such, the shallow drilling rate was not added to the deep drilling rate to obtain the total drilling rate used in the PA.

The EPA noted that the DOE took a combined approach relative to resources in the controlled area.  That is, the DOE considered all the resources present in the area in shallow drilling rate calculations.  Only drilling for potash and water wells fall in the shallow category (less than 655 m [2,150 ft] from the surface); thus, only these two resources were used in the calculation of shallow drilling rate for the controlled area.  The EPA concluded that the DOE adequately discussed resources within the controlled area for those resources included, and justified the exclusion of other resources from consideration.

33.3.11  40 CFR § 194.33(c)(1) DOE Methodology and Conclusions

In the CCA, Appendix DEL, Section DEL.5.1, p. 26, the DOE states that modern rotary drilling techniques, with a variety of mud systems, have been used for well completions in the vicinity of the WIPP.  The DOE indicated that drilling depths range from 1,219 m (4,000 ft) to more than 4,267 m (14,000 ft), depending on the hydrocarbon producing formation targeted.  As stated in the CCA, Appendix DEL, Section DEL.4.2, the DOE took information regarding the depths of wells and probable resources primarily from New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources (1995).  The DOE stated that wells designed to penetrate the deeper Atokan natural gas plays (over 4,267 m [14,000 ft] below ground surface) tend to start at the surface with larger bits and conductor casings, and are completed with a long production string of 4 ½- to 5½-in casing.  In such wells, the larger casing string present through the lower salt sections tends to be 8 in., 9 in., or larger in diameter.

The DOE indicated that wells intended for completion in the relatively shallower (approximately 1,524 m to 2,438 m [5,000 to 8,000 ft] deep) Delaware Group are drilled with similar technology and mud systems through the salt sections.  Long string casing present across the Bell Canyon varies from 4 ½ to 13 in.  Completions may use 2- or 3-in. tubing strings.  Standard completion technology for both the Delaware Group and Atokan wells includes perforation of the long string casing with a hydraulic fracture treatment using a variety of gelled fluids to emplace sand proppant into the fractures.  The DOE indicates that acid treatments and acid fracture treatments are frequently used, especially for Brushy Canyon completions (the CCA, Appendix DEL, Section DEL.5.1.9, p. DEL-40).

The DOE assumed that all oil and gas related boreholes in the area will be plugged according to current applicable regulations.  The DOE based this assumption on records for wells drilled on federal lands, for which the NMOCD data showed that all wells were either plugged or scheduled to be plugged in accordance with regulatory requirements.  A DOE study, provided in the CCA, Appendix MASS, Attachment 16-1, indicated that 100% of wells drilled and abandoned since 1988 were, or are in the process of being, plugged per applicable BLM or NMOCD regulatory standards pertaining to technical requirements.

33.3.12  40 CFR § 194.33(c)(1) EPA Compliance Review

Based on review of data presented in the CCA, Chapter 6.0, Section 6.4.7.2 and Appendices DEL and MASS, the EPA found that the DOE has assumed that future drilling practices and technology will remain consistent with current practices in the Delaware Basin.  In addition, the EPA determined that the DOE performed appropriate assessments of future drilling practices and technologies—including the types/amounts of drilling fluids and borehole dimensions—and that the assessments were consistent with data presented in the above-referenced CCA appendices.  The EPA’s evaluation of state files, private database records, and independent industry practice information confirmed the DOE’s assumptions regarding future drilling practices and technologies, including the types/amounts of drilling fluids, and borehole dimensions (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1998a).

During the public comment period for the proposed certification decision, the EPA received comments that stated air drilling is current practice in the Delaware Basin.  As a result of these questions, the EPA performed additional analyses of air drilling to determine whether it is common practice in the Delaware Basin.  See the EPA’s Analysis of Air Drilling at the WIPP (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1998b) and Response to Comments, Section 8 (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1998c).  Based on this analysis, the EPA again determined that the use of mud as the drilling fluid is the current practice for drilling through the salt section (the Salado and Castile Formations) and that air drilling through the salt section is not consistent with current drilling practices in the Delaware Basin.  Thus, the DOE properly excluded air drilling through the salt section from consideration in the WIPP PA.

The EPA informed the DOE in a letter dated December 19, 1996, that the DOE was required to provide detailed information about the large number (7,428) of unaccounted boreholes (the CCA, Appendix DEL, Table DEL-2) and about the inclusion of the effects of unplugged boreholes in the PA (Nichols 1996).  The EPA required this information because the unplugged/abandoned borehole issue was not clearly presented in the CCA.  The DOE’s response to this comment is presented in three subparts (Dials 1997, Enclosure 2):

·       The total number of  boreholes listed in the CCA, Appendix DEL, Table DEL-2 is not consistent with the record keeping system of NMOCD (data source) because the categorization of data does not take into consideration the temporarily abandoned boreholes, service wells, injection wells, and dry wells.  In addition, data came from different sources and different assumptions were made.

·       The current regulatory process was designed, in part, to address the issue of unplugged boreholes.  The EPA believes that the DOE appropriately identified that there are no unaccounted wells within the land withdrawal area.  Wells in the land withdrawal area are either shallow or deep research boreholes drilled by the DOE, or several abandoned but plugged wells (see the CCA, Appendix DEL, Figure DEL-6).  The DOE plans to follow State of New Mexico requirements in plugging boreholes drilled into the disposal system.

·       The DOE stated that considering the degradation in plug properties to those of silty sand over time accounted for the issue of unplugged holes.  The changes in properties were included in PA.  The EPA agrees that boreholes will degrade, but the EPA believes that the permeability range should be different than that selected by the DOE (see below).

The EPA found the DOE’s discussion to be technically adequate, because the boreholes in question are outside of the land withdrawal area and are not expected to affect the disposal system’s capability to contain radionuclides.  The EPA concluded that the DOE appropriately screened out abandoned boreholes drilled just meters away from the waste because of the limited communication through the low-permeability halite between the waste and the boreholes (U. S. Environmental Protection Agency 1998f).

The DOE included in the PA boreholes drilled into the waste areas.  The DOE assumed that abandoned boreholes would have the permeability of silty sand.  The EPA agreed that the upper limit of permeability assumed by the DOE was appropriate.  However, the EPA believes that it is possible for abandoned boreholes to have low permeability, similar to a recently plugged borehole (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1998g).  The EPA therefore required the DOE to include a larger range of long-term concrete plug permeability values in the CCA PAVT (Trovato 1997).  This range in borehole permeability values is from 5 ´ 10-17 to 1 ´ 10-11 m2, which the EPA believes covers the behavior of plugs in the Delaware Basin.  The PAVT findings indicated that even with these changes in the borehole permeability, the releases did not violate the containment requirements.

33.3.13  40 CFR § 194.33(c)(2) DOE Methodology and Conclusions

The CCA, Appendix DEL, Attachment 7 (Inadvertent Intrusion Borehole Permeability) addressed borehole permeability variation.  The CCA, Appendix DEL used published literature, plugging field tests, and oil and gas companies’ experience to assess borehole permeability.  The CCA, Appendix DEL also addressed wells that were plugged since 1988, when the State of New Mexico adopted new drilling and plugging regulations.  Boreholes existing prior to 1988 are extremely limited in number within the WIPP land withdrawal area.  The DOE accounted for the risk and uncertainties associated with boreholes drilled prior to 1988 in the PA by using various behaviors of plugs in the Delaware Basin.  Borehole plug life for a two-plug configuration was considered in PA calculations to be 200 years; beyond that period, permeability was equivalent to marine silty sand and was held constant for the remainder of the regulatory period.  The DOE assumed that processes that affect boreholes include steel casing corrosion and concrete plug alteration.

The DOE described different portions of the borehole over which degradation would act by first assigning plugging configurations for deep drilling in the Delaware Basin to one of three categories:  a two-plug configuration, a three-plug configuration, and a continuous cement plug.  The DOE evaluated the frequency of plug configurations based on those of 188 Delaware Basin wells installed since 1988.  This provides an adequate database for analysis.  Based on this study, the DOE assigns the following frequencies for each configuration (the CCA, Chapter 6.0, Section 6.4.12.7, p. 6-198):

·       One continuous plug through the evaporite sequence:  probability of 0.02.

·       Two plugs—one in the Bell Canyon (below the potential brine reservoirs) and one in the Rustler Formation (between the Culebra of the Rustler Formation (hereafter referred to as Culebra) aquifer and the repository):  probability of 0.68.

·       Three plugs—two as described for the two-plug form and a third plug in the Salado:  probability of 0.30.

The DOE estimated that this plug system was expected to have an initial permeability of 5 ´ 10-17 m 2.  The DOE assumed that casings would corrode due to the saline groundwater environment (the CCA, Appendix DEL, Attachment 7, Appendix B) and that concrete plugs would degrade when sufficient water entered a plug to cause matrix degradation (the CCA, Appendix DEL, Attachment 7, Appendix C).  The DOE also assumed that shallower casing and cement plugs will degrade in 200 years, allowing for more potential fluid flow earlier in the regulatory period in shallower horizons compared to deeper casing, which was assumed to fail approximately 5000 years after installation.  The DOE assumes that the “corroded casing and degraded plug will fill the hole with material with a permeability approximating that of silty sand (10-11 to 10-14 m2), and over time any of this material below the repository will compress through creep closure of the borehole to a permeability about one order of magnitude lower” (the CCA, Appendix DEL, Attachment 7, p. 19).  Plug configurations do not apply explicitly to shallow drilling, except that abandoned shallow boreholes typically are continuously cemented and “are expected to have no effect on the performance of the WIPP” (the CCA, Appendix DEL, Section DEL.5.2, p. DEL-41).

The DOE concludes in the CCA, Appendix DEL, Section DEL.7.4, that permeability for each of the three types of plug systems never exceeded that of silty sand (10–11 to 10–14 m2) over the 10,000-year regulatory period.  The DOE offers the following borehole permeability changes over time, with the higher permeabilities the result of natural borehole degradation that would also potentially allow for increased fluid flow:

·       One plug:  5 ´ 10-17 m2 for 10,000 years

·       Two plugs:

Between the repository and the surface

Ø     5 ´ 10-17 m2 for 200 years

Ø     10-14 to 10-11 m2 after 200 years

Between the Castile and the repository

Ø     “very high” permeability to 200 years (10-9 m2)

Ø     10-14 to 10-11 m2 up to 1,200 years

Ø     10-15 to 10-12 m2 after 1,200 years

·       Three plugs:

Between the intermediate plug and the surface

Ø     5 ´ 10-17 m2 for 200 years

Ø     10-14 to 10-11 m2 after 200 years

Intermediate plug

Ø     5 ´ 10-17 m2 for a median time of 5,000 years

Borehole between the Castile and the repository

Ø     10-14 to 10-11 m2 for 1,000 years (after 5,000 years)

Ø     10-15 to 10-12 m2 after 6,000 years.

Dimensions of cement plugs for the scenarios above were assumed by the DOE to be

·       One plug: 3,000 ft (900 m), 50 tons of concrete (20 cubic meters [m3]), and

·       Other plugs: 150 ft (45.73 m), 2.5 tons of concrete (1 m3).

The DOE assumed that plug system permeability will change over time in 98% of the configurations and will not change in 2% of the configurations.  The DOE assumed that permeability change with time behaved according to the following relationship:

where

Dk   =  change in permeability

ki     =  initial hydraulic conductivity

Dh   =  change in porosity from mineral alterations.

33.3.14  40 CFR § 194.33(c)(2) EPA Compliance Review

The EPA reviewed the CCA, Appendices DEL and MASS and determined that the DOE sufficiently identified natural borehole degradation mechanisms that will affect boreholes over time.  The EPA also examined the plug configurations presented by the DOE and compared these generalized configurations with those for oil/gas and potash resource boreholes in the WIPP vicinity, as evidenced by the resources targeted and necessary plugging techniques.  The EPA determined that the DOE’s plug configurations (which directly impact the portions of the borehole over which degradation processes are expected to act) and plug probabilities are adequate representations of the plugs in the WIPP area (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1998g).

The EPA evaluated the effects that natural degradation of long-term borehole plugs would have on the plug system and the potential for increased transmissivity of abandoned well plugs due to such degradation.  The EPA disagreed with the DOE’s lower limit for borehole plug permeability.  Although the DOE’s permeabilities assigned for the various plug configurations were based on plausible data, the EPA believed the DOE assumed a low-end permeability that was too high.  For further discussion of EPA’s analysis of borehole permeabilities, see the Parameter Justification Report (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1998g).

If degraded boreholes are assumed to be filled with materials analogous to unconsolidated silt or silty sand, the permeabilities of 1 ´ 10-14 to 1 ´ 10-11 m2 used by the DOE are not unreasonable estimates of values per industry standards (Freeze and Cherry 1979).  (For purposes of comparison, the permeability range reported for shale and unweathered marine clay varies from 10-21 to 10-17 m2.  See the CCA, Appendix MASS, Attachment 16-3) (Thompson et al. 1996).  However, as discussed below, the EPA investigated this assumption and found that permeability values could be lower than the DOE assumed.  Lower values allow for greater gas pressurization of the WIPP and a subsequent increase in releases due to mechanisms such as spallings (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1998g, Section 5.17).

The EPA began by investigating the permeability of borehole materials and drilling fluids in the petroleum industry.  Literature values for permeability of cement used in borehole applications can range from 9 ´ 10-21 to 1 ´ 10-16 m2; these values are also cited in some of the publications referenced in the CCA.  The EPA also investigated drilling muds.  Filter cake and compacted clay-based drilling muds can yield permeabilities of less than 9.9 ´ 10-22 m2 from field data for 11 pounds per gallon mud (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1998g, Section 5.17).

The EPA concludes that drilling mud circulated in Delaware Basin boreholes may not have the degree of clay-based solids loading typically experienced elsewhere (as discussed in the CCA, Appendix MASS, Attachment 16-3; Annex C); however, natural cuttings could contribute to lower borehole permeability than that postulated by the DOE.  Lower initial permeabilities, more effective plug segments, mixed layers between plug components that would take time to degrade, and lower fluid velocities than the DOE assumed in its calculations could significantly retard plug degradation and could maintain the effective seal of the plug sequences for hundreds or thousands of years beyond that assumed by the DOE in the CCA, Appendix MASS, Attachment 16-3.

The DOE provided a variety of plausible mechanisms to increase plug permeability, and the EPA believes that this high range of permeability may be attained.  However, the EPA also believes there is a limited probability that the lower borehole permeability (over several hundred vertical feet of borehole) would reach the relatively large permeabilities estimated by the DOE.  Since permeability through any given borehole will actually be controlled by the permeabilities of all zones through which fluids must pass, the effective average permeability could be dominated by small sections of remaining competent plug or other low permeability material.  If complete degradation does not occur throughout a well, or if natural materials and mud provide additional layers with sealing properties, it is possible that the effective average permeability over several hundred feet of abandoned borehole could remain in the range of  9 ´ 10-21 to 1 ´ 10-16 m2 over a period of hundreds, if not thousands, of years.

The EPA concludes that the borehole permeabilities assigned in the CCA (Appendix MASS, Attachment 16-3) were consistent with the broad range of available permeability data, but the DOE did not adequately consider the total range of permeability conditions that could exist in boreholes.  Permeabilities assigned by the DOE may therefore overestimate the degree to which plugs would lose effectiveness.  The EPA concluded that an alternative case could be made in which many of the plugs would retain a larger degree of effectiveness.  As such, a lower maximum permeability value of approximately 1 ´ 10-17 m2 (1 ´ 10-2 millidarcy) is quite possible (particularly for long-term conditions) and may have an impact on PA results.  As a result, the EPA included both long- and short-term plug permeability changes in the CCA PAVT.  The EPA required that PA simulations be conducted with lower permeabilities (concrete element of the borehole plug has a maximum of 10-19 m2; silty sand element of the borehole plug has a maximum of 5 ´ 10-17 m2) to account for possible cases in which complete degradation does not occur throughout a well, or natural materials and mud provide additional layers with sealing properties.  Results of the CCA PAVT indicate that lower borehole permeability allows greater pressure buildup in the repository and, hence, greater release potential from mechanisms such as spallings.  However, releases predicted by the CCA PAVT were still well below the EPA’s release limits (U.S. Department of Energy 1997a and b).

In summary, the EPA agreed that the high permeabilities assumed by the DOE were generally appropriate; however, the EPA believed it is also possible for abandoned boreholes to have a lower permeability, similar to that of a recently plugged borehole (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1998g).  Therefore, the EPA required the DOE to include larger ranges of undegraded concrete plug and long-term borehole filling permeability values in the CCA PAVT (Trovato 1997).  The range of 1 ´10-17 to 1 ´ 10-19 m2 was used in the CCA PAVT for an undegraded concrete plug, and the range of 1 ´10-11 to 5 ´10-17 m2 was used in the CCA PAVT for a degraded borehole filling.  The EPA found that these ranges adequately cover the behavior of plugs in the Delaware Basin.  The results of the CCA PAVT indicated that even with these changes in the range of permeabilities for degraded borehole plugs, releases did not violate the EPA’s containment requirements.

The EPA believes that its detailed review of the DOE’s borehole plugging assumptions provided an adequate basis for the EPA’s conclusion that the DOE’s assumptions were acceptable. Although the EPA originally questioned many of those assumptions, further investigations substantiated many of the DOE’s assumptions, and the use of modified permeability ranges in the CCA PAVT did not cause releases to exceed regulatory limits.

33.3.15  40 CFR § 194.33(d) DOE Methodology and Conclusions

The DOE assumed that future drilling practices will be the same as current practice in terms of the type and rate of drilling, emplacement of casing in boreholes, and procedures for plugging and abandonment.  The DOE did not include the impact of resource recovery subsequent to future drilling of boreholes on the basis of low consequence.  The DOE did not include the effects of resource recovery techniques in the PA analysis of future human intrusion.  In addition, in the deep drilling disturbed performance scenario, the DOE examined three drilling-only scenarios, but these did not incorporate resource recovery techniques.  The DOE states in the CCA, Chapter 6.0, p. 6-60 that the PA did not analyze the effects of techniques used for resource recovery subsequent to the drilling of the borehole.

33.3.16  40 CFR § 194.33(d) EPA Compliance Review

The EPA determined that the DOE was in accordance with the provisions of 40 CFR § 194.33(d) as the PA did not analyze the effects of resource recovery techniques in future drilling events (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1998e).

33.4  Changes in the CRA-2004

Table 33-1 presents changes in the CRA-2004 PA that relate to drilling for resources.  This represents the migration of the PA baseline from the CCA to the CRA-2004.  As noted below, most changes result from adopting the CCA PAVT parameters as directed by the EPA.  Also, unless noted below, all other aspects of compliance with section 194.33 are consistent with that presented in the CCA, and do not represent changed or updated information.

Table 33-1.  WIPP Project Changes and Cross References

 WIPP Project Change CRA-2004 Cross Reference Incorporation of 1997 CCA PAVT Parameters Probability of Encountering a Brine Reservoir Brine Reservoir Rock Compressibility 6.4.8 Brine Reservoir Porosity 6.4.8 Drill String Angular Velocity Long-term Borehole Permeability 6.4.7.2 Borehole Plug Permeability 6.4.7.2 Waste Shear Strength and Erodability Appendix PA, Attachment MASS (Section 16) Operational Changes Spallings Model 6.0.2.3.2; Appendix PA (Section 4.6) and Attachment MASS-16 Drilling Rate Borehole Plugs Configuration Probability 6.4.7.2

33.5  EPA’s Evaluation of Compliance for the 2004 Recertification

The EPA reviewed the DOE’s CRA-2004 documentation of continuing compliance with section 194.33 and concurred that little had changed since the CCA for the consideration of drilling events.  The DOE adopted the EPA’s PAVT parameter values and updated a few parameters based on the data collected from the Delaware Basin Monitoring Program.  The EPA also concurred that the features, events, and processes (FEPs) had changed little for the CRA-2004.  The EPA found the DOE adequately demonstrated that it had considered inadvertent and intermittent drilling into the repository as the most severe human intrusion scenario for the CRA-2004 PA.  The EPA concludes that exploratory and development wells were appropriately included in the DOE’s CRA-2004 analysis (CARD 23, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2006).

Since the original CCA, the EPA has annually inspected the DOE’s site monitoring program, in particular, the Delaware Basin drilling surveillance program. Each year, the EPA found the DOE’s monitoring program to be adequate. The EPA found the DOE’s compliance with the requirements of 40 CFR § 194.33(b)(4) related to shallow drilling to be adequate. The EPA found the DOE’s documentation adequate to support their conclusion that drilling practices have not changed since the original CCA, that the DOE’s basin surveillance program is sufficient to evaluate and capture any changes in activities in the basin.

The EPA agreed that borehole plugging techniques used in the CCA and CRA-2004 PA calculations have not changed, and therefore the way these are incorporated into the PA calculations is appropriate. The EPA also agreed that the minor change in the occurrence probability of plug configurations is appropriate and of no consequence to PA results.

Public comments expressed concern that the drilling rate was underestimated in the CRA-2004 PA given the amount of drilling currently taking place throughout the Delaware Basin. Comments suggested that the drilling rate be doubled to demonstrate compliance. Although the EPA determined that the DOE appropriately calculated and implemented a drilling rate of 52.2 boreholes/km2/year in compliance with 40 CFR § 194.33(b) for recertification, the EPA requested that the DOE calculate the impacts of doubling the current drilling rate to respond to stakeholder concerns.

The DOE performed the calculations for this analysis with the drilling rate increased to 105 boreholes/km2/year for 10,000 years. The results of computer modeling showed that doubling the drilling rate would increase releases from the repository. However, this increase is relatively small and still well below the EPA’s regulatory release limits (CARD 23, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2006).

33.6  Changes or New Information Since the 2004 Recertification

There are two changes in the CRA-2009 that relate to the consideration of drilling in PA.  First, the drilling rate has been updated based on drilling activities in the Delaware Basin since the CRA-2004 in accordance with 40 CFR § 194.33(b)(3) (see Appendix PA-2009, Section PA-3.3).  Second, the duration of DBR has been modified to reflect current industry practice, in accordance with section 194.33(c)(1) (see Appendix PA-2009, Section PA-4.7.8).  Furthermore, because recertification applications are expected to include any relevant updated activities and information since the most recent application, these changes are considered necessary to comply with the provisions of 40 CFR § 194.15(a)(4).

The following sections describe how these two changes relate to a demonstration of compliance with the provisions of section 194.33.  Unless noted below, all other aspects of compliance with section 194.33 are consistent with that presented in the CRA-2004, and do not represent changed or updated information.

33.6.1  New Information Related to 40 CFR § 194.33(a)

Potentially disruptive events and processes (EPs) that could affect the disposal system are identified, classified, and screened in the CRA-2004, Appendix PA, Attachment SCR.  EPs that are screened into PA calculations are then incorporated into the appropriate scenarios and conceptual models.  For the CRA-2009, there are no changes in the EPs screened into PA, or the scenarios and conceptual models that represent them.  Therefore, the DOE continues to comply with 40 CFR § 194.33(a).

33.6.2  New Information Related to 40 CFR § 194.33(b)

There is no change in the implementation of the inadvertent human intrusion scenarios for this CRA-2009.  PA continues to represent inadvertent and intermittent intrusion by drilling for resources as the most severe human intrusion scenario.  Therefore, the DOE continues to comply with 40 CFR § 194.33(b)(1).

There is no change in the implementation of the location and timing of the intrusion borehole in the WIPP PA.  Such events are assumed to occur randomly in space and time, as directed by the above criterion.  These specific PA assumptions are implemented in the code CCDFGF, and described in the CCA, Chapter 6.0, Section 6.4.12.  Additional details on the implementation of these assumptions are found in Appendix PA-2009, Section PA.3.2.  Therefore, the DOE continues to comply with 40 CFR § 194.33(b)(2).

The method for determining the deep drilling rate for the WIPP PA has not changed.  However, the drilling rate for this CRA-2009 is different from that used in the CRA-2004.  This is due to the addition of recently drilled wells since the last recertification application.  Derivation of the drilling rate used in PA is found in the Delaware Basin Monitoring Report for 2007 (U.S. Department of Energy 2007).  For this CRA, the drilling rate is 58.5 boreholes/km2.  Therefore, the DOE continues to comply with section 194.33(b)(3).

The method for determining the shallow drilling rate for the WIPP has not changed since CRA-2004.  The current rate of shallow drilling is 22.87 boreholes/km2 and is based on information provided by Hughes (2008).  The current shallow drilling rate is determined as follows:

Total shallow boreholes ´ Regulatory Period                                1

Drilling Rate   = _____________________________________________________ ´ __________

Area of the Delaware Basin                                   100 yrs

5,284[1] ´ 10,000 yrs.                                                 1

Drilling Rate   = _____________________________________________________ ´ __________

23102.1 km2                                             100 yrs

=   22.87 shallow holes per km2 per 10,000 years

However, shallow drilling continues to be screened out of PA calculations for the CRA-2009 because of low consequence.  Therefore, there are no changes with regard to compliance with this part of the compliance criteria and the DOE continues to comply with section 194.33(b)(4).

33.6.3  New Information Related to 40 CFR § 194.33(c)

The Delaware Basin Monitoring Annual Report for 2007 states that drilling practices have not changed since previous reports (see U.S. Department of Energy 2007, Section 4).  However, one change has been made to the WIPP PA system since the CRA-2004 that relates to analyzing drilling-related events:  The maximum time a DBR can occur has been changed from 11 days to 4.5 days.  The maximum DBR duration is represented in PA by the parameter MAXFLOW and used in the code BRAGFLO.  Kirkes (2007) documents that this change is in keeping with current drilling practices within the Delaware Basin and the previous assumption of 11 days was incorrect.  Kirkes and Clayton (2008) document the impacts of reducing the maximum duration of DBR and show that this change has a very minor impact upon performance predictions.  Appendix PA-2009, Section PA.9.3 discusses the contribution of DBR to total releases for the CRA-2009 performance calculations.  Therefore, the DOE continues to comply with 40 CFR § 194.33(c).

33.6.4  New Information Related to 40 CFR § 194.33(d)

No changes have occurred with respect to the WIPP’s approach to compliance with this requirement.  As in previous applications, certain EPs that relate to the extraction and production of resources can be screened out of PA calculations.  Appendix SCR-2009 states that the human-related FEPs H19, “Explosions for Resource Recovery,” H25, “Oil and Gas Extraction,” and H26, “Groundwater Extraction,” are screened out according to the exclusion afforded by the provision of section 194.33(d), as these processes directly relate to the recovery of resources subsequent to drilling.  Three new FEPs for the CRA-2009 are also screened out according to the criteria of section 194.33(d):  H60, “Liquid Waste Disposal–inside the WIPP boundary (IB),” H61, “Enhanced Oil and Gas Production–IB,” and a “Hydrocarbon Storage–IB,” are screened out for the future time frame using this regulatory provision.  Therefore, the DOE continues to comply with section 194.33(d).

33.7  References

Dials, G.E.  1997.  Letter to R. Trovato (Subject:  Second Response Package Transmitting Supplemental Information for the Compliance Certificatio Application in Response to the Decmeber 19, 1996 EPA Request).  24 January 1997.  U.S. Department of Energy, Carlsbad Field Office, Carlsbad, NM...\..\references\Others\Dials_to_Trovato_1997_January_24.pdf

Dials, G.E.  1998.  Letter to M. Kruger.  26 January 1998.  U.S. Department of Energy, Carlsbad Area Office, Carlsbad, NM...\..\references\Others\Dials_to_Mary_Kruger_1998_January_26_Regarding_Certain_Human_Intrusion.pdf

Freeze, R.A., and J.A. Cherry.  1979.  Groundwater.  Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall...\..\references\Others\Freeze_Cherry_1979_Groundwater.pdf

Hughes, D.  2008.  Shallow Drilling Rate for the Delaware Basin (June).  Carlsbad, NM:  Washington Regulatory and Environmental Services...\..\references\Others\Hughes_2008_Shallow_Drilling_Rate_ERMS549300.pdf

Kirkes, G.R.  2007.  Evaluation of the Duration of Direct Brine Release in WIPP Performance Assessment(Revision 0).  ERMS 545988.  Carlsbad, NM:  Sandia National Laboratories...\..\references\Others\Kirkes_2007_Evaluation_of_the_Duration_of_Direct_Brine_ERMS545988.pdf

Kirkes, R., and D. Clayton.  2008.  Impact Analysis of Decreased Duration of Direct Brine Release in WIPP Performance Assessment, Revision 0.  (March 10).  2008.  ERMS 548313.  Carlsbad, NM:  Sandia National Laboratories, Carlsbad Programs Group...\..\references\Others\Kirkes_Clayton_2008_Impact_Analysis_of_Decreased_Duration_ERMS548313.pdf

New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources (NMBMMR).  1995.  Final Report:  Evaluation of Mineral Resources at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Site (March 31).  4 vols.  ERMS 239149.  Socorro, NM:  New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources...\..\references\Others\NM_Bureau_of_Mines_and_Mineral_Resources_1995_Final_Report_Evaluation_of_Mineral_Resources_ERMS239149.pdf

Nichols, M.D.  1996.  Letter to A.L. Alm (1 Enclosure).  19 December 1996.  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air and Radiation, Washington, DC...\..\references\Others\Nichols_to_Alm_1996_December_19_Comments.pdf

Thompson, T.W., W.E. Coons, J.L. Krumhansl, and F.D. Hansen, F.D.  1996.  Inadvertent Intrusion Borehole Permeability (July).  ERMS 241131.  Albuquerque:  Sandia National Laboratories...\..\references\Others\Thompson_et_al_1996_Inadvertent_Intrusion_Borehole_Permeability.pdf

Trovato, E.R.  1997.  Letter to G. Dials (2 Enclosures).  25 April 1997.  ERMS 247206.  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air and Radiation, Washington, DC...\..\references\Others\Trovato_to_Dials_1997_April_25.pdf

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).  1996.  Title 40 CFR Part 191 Compliance Certification Application for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (October).  21 vols.  DOE/CAO 1996-2184.  Carlsbad, NM:  Carlsbad Area Office...\..\references\CCA\CCA.htm

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).  1997a.  Summary of EPA-Mandated Performance Assessment Verification Test (Replicate 1) and Comparison with the Compliance Certification Application Calculations.  WPO 46674.  Carlsbad, NM:  Carlsbad Area Office...\..\references\Others\Mackinnon_Freeze_Jow_Summary_of_EPA_Mandated_PAVT_Replicate_1_WPO46674.pdf

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).  1997b.  Supplemental Summary of EPA-Mandated Performance Assessment Verification Test (All Replicates) and Comparison with the Compliance Certification Application Calculations (August 8).  WPO 46702.  ERMS 414879.   Carlsbad, NM: Carlsbad Area Office...\..\references\Others\DOE_1997_Supplemental_Summary_of_EPA_Mandated_PAVT_All_Replicates_ERMS414879.pdf

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).  2004.  Title 40 CFR Part 191 Compliance Recertification Application for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (March).  10 vols.  DOE/WIPP 2004-3231.  Carlsbad, NM:  Carlsbad Field Office...\..\references\CRA-2004\CRA-2004.htm

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).  2007.  Delaware Basin Monitoring Annual Report (September).  DOE/WIPP 07-2308.  Carlsbad, NM:  Carlsbad Field Office...\..\references\Others\DOE_Delaware_Basin_Annual_Report_07_2308.pdf

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  1993.  “40 CFR Part 191:  Environmental Radiation Protection Standards for the Management and Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel, High-Level and Transuranic Radioactive Wastes; Final Rule.”  Federal Register, vol. 58 (December 20, 1993):  66398–416...\..\references\Others\EPA_58_FR_66398_416_December_20_1993.pdf

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  1996.  “40 CFR Part 194:  Criteria for the Certification and Recertification of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant’s Compliance with the 40 CFR Part 191 Disposal Regulations; Final Rule.”  Federal Register, vol. 61 (February 9, 1996):  5223–45...\..\references\Others\EPA_61_FR_5224_5245_February_9_1996.pdf

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  1998a.  Technical Support Document for Section 194.32:  Fluid Injection Analysis  (May).  3 vols.  Washington, DC:  Office of Radiation and Indoor Air...\..\references\Others\EPA_1998_TSD_194_32_Fluid_Injection_Analysis.pdf

U.S.Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  1998b.  Technical Support Document:  EPA’s Analysis of Air Drilling at WIPP (Rev. 1) Washington, DC:  Office of Radiation and Indoor Air...\..\references\Others\EPA_1998_TSD_EPA_Analysis_of_Air_Drilling_at_WIPP.pdf

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  1998c.  Response to Comments:  Criteria for the Certification and Recertification of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant’s Compliance with the 40 CFR Part 191 Disposal Regulations (May).  Washington, DC:  Office of Radiation and Indoor Air...\..\references\Others\EPA_1998_May_Response_to_Comments_Docket_A_93_02.pdf

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  1998d.  “CARD No. 33:  Consideration of Drilling Events in Performance Assessments.”  Compliance Application Review Documents for the Criteria for the Certification and Recertification of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant’s Compliance with the 40 CFR Part 191 Disposal Regulations:  Final Certification Decision (May) (pp. 33-1 through 33-31).  Washington, DC:  Office of Radiation and Indoor Air...\..\references\Others\EPA_CCA_CARD_33.pdf

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  1998e. Compliance Application Review Documents for the Criteria for the Certification and Recertification of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant’s Compliance with the 40 CFR 191 Disposal Regulations:  Final Certification Decision (May).  Washington, DC:  Office of Radiation and Indoor Air...\..\references\Others\EPA_CCA_CARD_Proposed_Certification_Decision.pdf

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  1998f.  Technical Support Document for Section 194.32:  Scope of Performance Assessments  (May).  Washington, DC:  Office of Radiation and Indoor Air...\..\references\Others\EPA_1998_TSD_194_32_Scope_of_Performance_Assessments.pdf

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  1998g.  Technical Support Document for Section 194.23:  Parameter Justification Report  (May).  Washington, DC:  Office of Radiation and Indoor Air...\..\references\Others\EPA_1998_TSD_194_23_Parameter_Justification_Report.pdf

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  2006.  “Recertification CARD No. 23:  Models and Computer Codes.”  Compliance Application Review Documents for the Criteria for the Certification and Recertification of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant’s Compliance with the 40 CFR 191 Disposal Regulations:  Final Recertification Decision (March) (pp. 23-1 through 23-37).  Washington, DC:  Office of Radiation and Indoor Air...\..\references\Others\EPA_CRA_CARD_23.pdf

[1] The total shallow borehole count is derived by taking the total shallow count (6,179) as reported in U.S. Department of Energy, Table 4 (1997), and removing Sulfer holes (502), WIPP wells (199), and those holes currently being drilled or pending paperwork (194).