Testimonials from our participants

This is a highly practical course in fractured bedrock. I attended this course prior to beginning a large investigation at a site situated in a complex fractured rock setting. The course was an invaluable aid in planning the design of the components of the intrusive investigation and analysis of the field data. ……this is the most up-to-date and functional course that I have attended in years.
- S.C. Blauvelt, P.G., Vice President & Director of Regional Operations, Penn E&R, Inc.

This was an excellent course with highly qualified instructors, up-to-date course material on fractured rock hydrogeology, and an outstanding field trip inside Yucca Mountain at the Nevada Test Site. I highly recommend (this course) to any geologists, environmental scientists, and engineers.
- Scott Shelton, City of Boston

The course instructors had the right mix of theoretical expertise, practical experience, and enthusiasm. Also, the course instructors facilitated great interaction among the attendees which was an unexpected benefit of this course. It was well balanced and in-depth educational experience that was well worth my time and expense. It validated some of my own applications of fractured rock theory to LNAPLs, and gave me a better understanding with new tools to move forward in this area of hydrogeology.
- Don Lundy, ESNT, Inc.

This course is an excellent overview of fracture flow coupled with new concepts of contaminant and fluid flow in fractured media. Not only does the course explain porosity & permeability of fractured settings, but it presents useful modeling approaches for fractured scenarios too. The instructors are terrific and highly knowledgeable in their field of study. The field trip to Yucca Mountain was the highlight of the course. I would recommend this course to anyone working with groundwater, ranging from contaminant assessments to water supply.
- Christine Bucklin, California Department of Toxic Substances Control

A fantastic mix of knowledgeable and enthusiastic instructors, up-to-date and expansive course materials, and one spectacular field trip made this by far the best course I have attended.
- Kathleen T. Soukup, Weston Solutions, Inc.

The course was excellent because of the combined classroom material and core logging - I can apply the course material immediately.
- Jami Poor, Kerr-McGee Corporation

The combination and cohesiveness of the classroom, core logging practice, and Yucca Mountain field trip makes this a first rate and unique course.
- John Dougherty, CDM, Inc.

This course begins with a brief overview of hydrogeologic principles for fractured bedrock and continues at an advanced level throughout the course to match the range of conditions typically encountered during field investigations.

DAY ONE: Morning Classroom Sessions and Afternoon Hands-On Exercises (Tuesday)

The first day consists of real-world applications for evaluating the role of bedrock fractures in ground-water movement and contaminant transport. Special attention will be given to the inherent difficulties of ground water modeling in fractured bedrock systems. Listed below are some of the classroom sessions that will be included during Day One:

Hydrogeologic Settings for Fractured Rock:

	Differences between porous and fracture flow
	Rock types where fractures are important
	Formation of fractures
	Scale issues
	Fractures in regional ground water flow
	Problems with monitoring in fractured rock environments

Physical Characteristics of Fractures and Fracture Sets:

	Identification of fracture sets
	Statistical measures (frequency, orientation, length)
	Polar plots
	Connectivity
	Outcrop analysis

Conceptual Models of Fluid Flow in Fractured Media:

	Fundamental equations of flow
	Hydraulic aspects of fractures
	Theory of flow through discrete fractures
	Dual porosity models
	Single fracture models

Aquifer Tests in Fractured Bedrock

	Well bore and fracture storage effects
	Pumping test analysis methods
	Diagnostic pumping test responses

In the last hour of the course, participants will conduct various hands-on exercises that follow course concepts that are presented during the earlier classroom session. We will be using various types of rock core for several exercises including:

AFTERNOON EXERCISE: Description of Rock Material / Core Characteristics

The first day will conclude with hands-on exercises that follow course concepts that are presented during the earlier classroom sessions. We will be using various types of NX rock core for several exercises including:

	This session will include a field inspection of various NX and HQ rock cores and a series of observational exercises for understanding stratigraphy, weathering sequences, and the distribution of fractures.
	We will practice rock core descriptions on various rock types, measure rock core recovery, estimate RQD, and characterize fractures.

DAY TWO: Field Trip Inside the Tunnel and around Yucca Mountain Repository (Wednesday)

Participants have exclusive access inside the repository tunnel, observe the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), and visit the crest overlook of Yucca Mountain. Participants will board a charter bus on Wednesday morning (TBD) and ride together to the Nevada Test Site which is approximately 100 miles north of Las Vegas. Tunnel safety training will be given to attendees at the Yucca Mountain Project Visitor's Center. During the ride to the Nevada Test Site, attendees will get an excellent opportunity to view the scenic alluvial landscape abutting the mountain ranges and learn about the local volcanic, orogenic, erosional, and depositional processes that occurred to shape the beautiful landscape.

Once arriving at the Nevada Test Site, workshop participants have exclusive access inside the proposed repository tunnel. Participants can observe the tunnel walls where a superb vertical sequence of volcanic tufts is apparent.

This is an unequaled opportunity to visit a site where the fracture system has been mapped to precise detail and the hydrogeologic testing has been put to the most sensitive analysis. Yucca Mountain is one of the most studied areas anywhere in the world and participants will learn first hand about the project's fracture mapping program and various fracture modeling approaches from within Yucca Mountain.

Following the tunnel tour, participants will be taken to the Tunnel Boring Machine which is located outside the North Portal and then be driven in vans to top of Yucca Mountain where the vista includes numerous mountain ranges, volcanic cones, and alluvial deposits.

This tour includes presentations on:

	The repository siting process
	Facility exploratory studies
	Drift tunnel studies
	Geologic formations
	Core sample management facility
	Subsurface repository design
	Waste-package design and various siting experiments

Attendees will board a charter bus in Las Vegas and be taken to the Nevada Test Site for security access and badging.

Diagram of Yucca Mountain Repository Conceptual Model

Tunnel Boring Machine at the South Portal

Fracture Mapping Within Surface Trenches at the Nevada Test Site

DAY THREE: Classroom Sessions (Thursday)
>
The third day includes a comprehensive comparison of different hydrogeologic field tests and analytical methods for characterizing various fractured bedrock systems. In addition, the latest techniques for designing ground water monitoring systems and remediation systems in fractured systems will be presented. Classroom sessions during the second day will include:

Aquifer Characterization in the Field:

	Surface geophysics
	Borehole geophysics
	Borehole flow meter
	Temperature/conductivity logging
	Geochemcial and isotopic applications

Single Well Tests and Analyses:

	Slug tests
	Packer tests
	Field techniques
	Methods of analysis
	Examples

Remediation Considerations and Strategies:

	Project goals and cost benefit analysis
	Time analysis and scale issues

Comparative Analysis of Remediation Systems:

	LNAPL transport and capture strategies
	DNAPL behavior and remediation history
	Chemical and thermal remediation methods
	Pump and treat remedial consideration in fractured bedrock
	Various pump and treat systems
	Recent considerations of remedial design in granite bedrock
	Do's and Don'ts when monitoring natural attenuation
	Effectiveness of natural attenuation

Remediation Exercises:

	LNAPL transport exercise
	LNAPL remediation exercise
	DNAPL characterization and remediation strategy exercise

Day Three adjourns at 4:30pm.

DAY FOUR: (Friday)

Solute Transport Through Fractured Bedrock:

	Transport characteristics
	Analytical solutions
	Dispersion, dilution, sorption
	Non-aqueous phase contaminants

Numerical Models of Fracture Flow:    Porous medial equivalent models    Fracture network models    Dual porosity models    Stochastic models    Applicability of models    Available modeling codes    Examples Demonstration of Ground Water Flow Models    MODFLOW applications    FRACMAN / MAFIC

Fractures depicted using Fracman

Ground Water Monitoring in Fractured Rock:

	Overview of challenges
	Temporal variations
	Single-hole techniques
	Multi-level systems
	Examples

Tracer Studies:

	Types of tracers and tracer experiments
	Logistics of tracer studies
	Data collection
	Analysis of tracer studies
	Examples

Attendee Presentations:

Course participants are invited to bring hydrogeologic problem sets, hydrogeologic conceptual models, or rock core logs that you would like to present and discuss during the group review session at the end of the course (pre-session notice and review is necessary for scheduling purposes). Marketing presentations and corporate service promotions are not allowed).

Course adjourns at 4:00pm.

Registration:
Advanced registration is necessary for participation in this limited-enrollment short course. Pre-registration is required to reserve space and receive course materials. A minimum of 25 people must be registered at the early registration deadline to conduct any short course. Visitors will not be permitted to participate during the field workshops or enter the workshop areas. If you require special arrangements for diet, equipment, or handicap facilities, please indicate when registering for the course.

What you will receive:
You will receive 24.0 contact hours of instruction. The course includes a comprehensive 300-page workshop notebook containing written lessons and copies of the slides of each course segment, and a Field Guide for Rock Core Logging and Fracture Analysis. The course also includes continental breakfast , morning coffee break, lunch and afternoon break on the first and last day. A course completion certificate and 2.4 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be awarded by UNLV. Participants are welcome and encouraged to take photos during the field exercises.

Cancellations:
Cancellations may be made up to two weeks before the course, however, 25 percent of the course fee will be charged. No refunds. One substitute is permitted for each registration who is unable to attend but this substitute must fulfill the previous Federal Access to the Test Site requirements.  Cancellations made after two weeks before the course will be charged $500.

Who should attend:
This intermediate to advanced course is designed for ground water scientists and engineers, project managers, compliance managers in the private, public and regulatory sectors. An fundamental understanding of ground water movement and bedrock stratigraphy are considered as a prerequisite for this course. It will focus on recently developed concepts and technology.

Please note:
U.S. Department of Energy and Yucca Mountain Project staff reserve the right to change any part of the field trip itinerary at any time.

Cost:
Register before March 05, 2009   $1,395    Student: Please inquire. 763.607.0092

Accommodations:
NEAR (WITHIN 6 BLOCKS) THE UNLV CAMPUS:

	Terribles Casino and Resort
	The Westin Hotel
	Embassy Suites
	Candlewood Suites (recommended; motor coach pick up location)
	Hard Rock Casino and Hotel

We partner with the Candlewood Suites for accommodations for the instructors and attendees because of their spacious studio and one-bedroom suites coupled with it’s proximity to UNLV. We appreciate the non-gaming hotel environment, but we also take advantage of the short taxi ride to the Las Vegas Strip.

The Candlewood Suites offers executive desks, high speed internet, an in-room DVD player and free movies.

The motor coach departs for Yucca Mountain at 6am on Day Two from the parking lot of the Candlewood Suites. There is a Starbucks Coffee directly across the street for those who want coffee before we board the luxury motor coach.

A block of rooms is reserved at the Candlewood Suites at guaranteed rate of $129.00 /night for studio rooms and $169.00/night for one-bedroom studio suites.


Candlewood Suites
4034 Paradise Road
Las Vegas, Nevada 89169 USA
Phone: 1-702.836.3660
Ask for Martin and mention the Midwest GeoSciences Group course at UNLV
for the great room rates.

A shuttle will be provided between the Candlewood Suites and the UNLV classroom.

Download Class Brochure

© 1997 - 2008 Midwest Geosciences Group   Waverly, Minnesota