THE DETECTION OF WATER-WETTING IN SALT-ROCK BY IMPEDANCE MEASUREMENT

Abstract

Electrical impedance measurement is shown to detect water-wetting in salt at elevated temperature and pressure. The critical wetting temperature (and pressure) is detected by a characteristic fall of in-phase resistivity. Wetting temperatures and pressures obtained by this method are (i) in close agreement with static capsule wetting studies and (ii) sufficiently low to be of concern if nuclear waste is to be stored long-term in salt-rock.