Used Fuel Disposition Campaign International Collaboration in Disposal Research: Mont Terri Project Jens Birkholzer Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory FCT UFD Working Group Meeting “International Session” UNLV, Las Vegas, NV 06/9/2016

Used Fuel Disposition

Mont Terri Project

International research project for hydrogeological, geochemical, and geotechnical studies in a clay/shale formation

Access to experimental data from one URL in clay/shale host rock, with many past, ongoing and future experiments addressing various FEPs

Opportunity to participate directly in international research groups that conduct, analyze, and model experiments

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HE-E Heater Test: Focus on THM effects, bentonite rock

interaction, seal and clay barrier performance Micro-tunnel Monitoring starts in Spring 2011 Same location as previous ventilation

experiment

MB (Mine-by) Test: Focus on HM effects, EDZ evolution Full-scale tunnel Monitoring phase completed

FE Heater Test: Focus on THM effects, validation of

various bentonite/clay performance processes

Full-scale tunnel Monitoring starts in Spring 2012

Opportunity for conducting own experiments

Very good experimental support by swisstopo and contractors

DOE joined the DECOVALEX project in July 2012

Major current or soon-to-be started experiments

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Used Fuel Disposition

Mont Terri Project: Phase 21 Activities (July 2015 – June 2016)

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Used Fuel Disposition

CI: Cement Clay Interaction

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Investigation of interaction between cement, bentonite and opalinus clay

Used Fuel Disposition

HG-A: Gas Leak-Off Test (Supports EU Project FORGE)

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Measurements and predictions of fluid / gas flow in the tunnel nearfield after backfilling (re-consolidation, mechanical and chemico-osmotic self-sealing)

Site instrumentation:HG-A2, HG-A3 Multipacker systemsHG-A4, HG-A6 Deflectometer chainsHG-A5, HG-A7 Inclinometer chainsHG-A8 to A13 MinipiezometersSG1 to SG22 Strain gagesHG-EH, HG-EV Horizontal/vertical

extensometer

HG-A3

HG-A7

HG-A13

HG-A8HG-A4

HG-A5HG-A2

HG-SGHG-EH

HG-EVMicrotunnel:- length: 13 m- diameter: 1 mEquipped with more than 20 observation boreholes

Used Fuel Disposition

DR-B: Long-Term Diffusion Experiment

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Develop monitoring methodology for and conduct measurements allow of the diffusion of radionuclides over longer periods (> 10a)

Used Fuel Disposition

20-Year Anniversary of the Mont Terri Project: May 19, 2016

Used Fuel Disposition

Planned Extension of Rock Laboratory in 2018 to 2019 Timeframe

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• Significant addition for new experiments

• Most of the construction cost covered by Swiss partners