CHARACTERIZATION OF HIGH CONTENT ESMECTITIC CLAYS AND FIELD FOR THE DEMONSTRATION OF THE EMPLACEMENT FEASIBILITY OF THESE BUFFER CLAY MATERIAL AS ENGINEERED BARRIERS IN CRYSTALLINE FORMATION

Objective

- CHARACTERIZATION OF NATURAL CONTENT ESMECTITIC SPANISH CLAYS AS POTENTIAL ARTIFICIAL BARRIERS FOR THE DISPOSAL OF LONG LIFE RADIOACTIVE WASTE.

- DEMONSTRATION OF THE BACKFILLING CONCEPT OF VERTICAL DISPOSAL PITS IN GRANITE.

IN A FIRST PHASE, THE ROLE THAT CERTAIN PARAMETERS (ELECTRIC CHARGE DISTRIBUTION, MINERALOGICAL COMPOSITION, TYPE AND IONIC CONCENTRATION OF THE ACTIVE SOLUTIONS, TEMPERATURE, PRESSURE, ETC.) PLAY WITHIN THE WHOLE PROCESS OF BACKFILLING OF DISPOSAL BOREHOLES IN GRANITIC FORMATION WILL BE ANALYZED.
THE CHEMICAL, MINERALOGICAL, PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS, AS WELL AS THE EXCHANGE CAPACITY OF TWO CANDIDATE RICH ESMECTITIC CLAYS, WILL BE INVESTIGATED. THE MODELLING OF THE INDUCED ALTERATION PROCESSES WILL BE INITIATED; THE COMPARISON BETWEEN THOSE AND THE DIAGENETIC PROCESS OF THE CLAYED SEDIMENTS WHICH GIVE RISE TO THE FORMATION OF THE CLAY DEPOSITS WILL BE DONE.

IN A SECOND PHASE, THE DEMONSTRATION OF THE FEASIBILITY OF CONSTRUCTING LARGE DIAMETER HOLES, FROM A 5 METER HEIGH GALLERY AT THE FANAY-AUGERES MINE AND THE BACKFILLING OF THE DISPOSAL HOLE AROUND THE WASTE PACKAGE WITH THE ARTIFICIAL BARRIER SELECTED IN THE PREVIOUS PHASE. THIS WORK WILL BE DONE IN CLOSE COOPERATION WITH CEA.

Programme(s)

• FP1-RADWASTOM 3C - Research and development programme (Euratom) on the management and storage of radioactive waste, 1985-1989

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

EMPRESA NACIONAL DE RESIDUOS RADIOACTIVOS S.A.

Address

7,Emilio Vargas 7
28043 Madrid
Spain

Participants (1)

COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE (CEA)

France