Report on THMC Modeling of the Near Field Evolution of a Generic Clay Repository: Model Validation and Demonstration

Technical Report · Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1165202· OSTI ID:1165202

Liu, H. H. ^[1]; Houseworth, Jim ^[1]; Rutqvist, Jonny ^[1]; Zheng, Liange ^[1]; Asahina, Daisuke ^[1]; Li, Lianchong ^[1]; Vilarras, Victor ^[1]; Chen, Fei ^[1]; Nakagawa, Seiji ^[1]; Finsterle, Stefan ^[1]; Doughty, Christine ^[1]; Kneafsey, Timothy ^[1]; Birkholzer, Jens ^[1]

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1. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

Shale and clay-rich rock formations have been considered as potential host rocks for geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste throughout the world. Coupled thermal, hydrological, mechanical, and chemical (THMC) processes have a significant impact on the long-term safety of a repository in this type of rocks. For example, the excavation damaged zone (EDZ) near repository tunnels can modify local permeability (resulting from induced fractures), potentially leading to less confinement capability. Maximum allowable temperature is one of the most important design variables for a geological repository, because it determines waste package spacing, distance between disposal galleries, and therefore the overall size (and cost) of the repository for a given amount of waste. This report documents results from four R&D activities to address the above concerns: (1) development and validation of constitutive relationships (Chapter 2); (2) development of a discrete fracture network (DFN) model for investigating coupled processes in the EDZ (Chapter 3); (3) development and validation of a THM model for the Full-Scale Emplacement Experiment (FE) tests at Mont Terri, Switzerland (Chapter 4); and (4) investigation of high-temperature impacts, including both laboratory and modeling studies (Chapter 5). The overall objectives of these activities are to provide an improved understanding of and advanced modeling capabilities for EDZ evolution in clay repositories and the associated coupled processes, and to develop a technical basis for the maximum allowable temperature for a clay repository.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-05CH11231
• OSTI ID: 1165202
• Report Number(s): LBNL--6377E
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
58 GEOSCIENCES