Estimates for the local permeability of the Cobourg limestone

Argillaceous limestone formations are being proposed as sites suitable for constructing a deep geologic repository for storing low-to intermediate-level nuclear waste in southern Ontario, Canada. The Cobourg limestone is characterized by a visual appearance of heterogeneity resulting from light gray calcite nodular regions interspersed with dark gray calcite-dolomite-quartz partings containing a clay component. This paper presents the results of experiments conducted to determine the permeability of both the light gray and the dark gray species of the Cobourg limestone. The permeabilities were successfully estimated from both steady state and hydraulic pulse tests conducted using specially designed miniature water entry ports, which were epoxied to the surface of the rock sample containing cavities drilled into the rock species of interest. The results show that the dark gray species of the Cobourg limestone has a permeability that is roughly one order of magnitude greater than the light gray calcite species.