Technical Know-How of Selection Process for the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory Area and Site

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takanori Kunimaru ◽  
Ryuji Takeuchi ◽  
Tatsuji Matsuzaki
Keyword(s):  
Selection Process ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Gas Content ◽  
Geological Environment ◽  
Know How ◽  
Investigation Area ◽  
Geophysical Surveys ◽  
Rock Mechanical Properties ◽  
Underground Research Laboratory ◽  
A Site

This study demonstrates the selection process for the Horonobe URL based on surveys of existing information and geophysical surveys on a regional scale. In addition, preliminary requirements on the geological environment, safety (during construction of the underground facility) and social and environmental constraints were taken into consideration. The technical know-how utilised through the experiences for the site selection is described here. The proposed Horonobe URL site required the existence of argillaceous sedimentary formations and associated groundwater. Further fundamental requirements were appropriate rock mechanical properties and low gas content in the host rock to meet safe underground construction and operation regulations. This led to a stepwise narrowing down from several potential URL areas located completely within the Horonobe District to one candidate URL area and, finally, to a specific URL site. In the URL investigation area (ca. 3 km × 3 km) the main surface-based investigations were conducted as the first step to choosing the actual URL site. This was selected based on establishing fundamental factors related to the geological environment, safety and societal issues. This paper provides an outline of the process utilised in selecting the URL site by taking into consideration technical and social requirements. Thus stepwise approach and experience in selecting the URL site will be applicable when NUMO needs to select a site through literature surveys, and preliminary and detailed investigations in the future.

Technical Know-How for Modeling of a Geological Environment: Part 2—Geological Modeling

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshiyuki Matsuoka ◽  
Kenji Amano ◽  
Hideaki Osawa ◽  
Takeshi Semba
Keyword(s):  
Research And Development ◽  
Research Laboratory ◽  
Site Characterization ◽  
Initial Surface ◽  
Geological Environment ◽  
Know How ◽  
Environment Model ◽  
High Level ◽  
Underground Research Laboratory ◽  
The Impact

It is important for site characterization projects to manage the decision-making process with transparency and traceability and to transfer the technical know-how developed and accumulated during the research and development to the implementing phase as well as to future generations. The modeling of a geological environment supports efforts to clarify the degree of understanding regarding that geological environment, including uncertainty. Evaluation of the impact of uncertainties in a geological environment model is important to identify and prioritize key issues for further investigations. Therefore, a plan for site characterization should be made based on the results of the modeling. The aim of this study is to support the planning of initial surface-based site characterization based on the technical know-how accumulated from the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory Project and the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory Project. These projects are broad scientific studies of the deep geological environment that are a basis for research and development for the geological disposal of high-level radioactive wastes. In this study, the work-flow followed in developing the geological model, one of the geological environment models, and the related technical know-how acquired from literature data have been summarized.

Technical Know-How for Modeling of Geological Environment: Part 1—Overview and Groundwater Flow Modeling

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiromitsu Saegusa ◽  
Shinji Takeuchi ◽  
Keisuke Maekawa ◽  
Hideaki Osawa ◽  
Takeshi Semba
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Research And Development ◽  
Groundwater Flow ◽  
Research Laboratory ◽  
Site Characterization ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Geological Environment ◽  
Flow Modeling ◽  
Know How ◽  
Underground Research Laboratory

It is important for site characterization projects to manage the decision-making process with transparency and traceability and to transfer the technical know-how accumulated during the research and development to the implementing phase and to future generations. The modeling for a geological environment is to be used to synthesize investigation results. Evaluation of the impact of uncertainties in the model is important to identify and prioritize key issues for further investigations. Therefore, a plan for site characterization should be made based on the results of the modeling. The aim of this study is to support for the planning of initial surface-based site characterization based on the technical know-how accumulated from the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory Project and the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory Project. These projects are broad scientific studies of the deep geological environment that are a basis for research and development for the geological disposal of high-level radioactive wastes. In this study, the work-flow of the groundwater flow modeling, which is one of the geological environment models, and is to be used for setting the area for the geological environment modeling and for groundwater flow characterization, and the related decision-making process using literature data have been summarized.

Geo-descriptive Modeling of Water Conducting Features Characterized in Sedimentary Formations in Horonobe Area of Japan

2010 ◽  
Vol 1265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koichiro Hatanaka ◽  
Lim Doo-hyun ◽  
Eiichi Ishii
Keyword(s):  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Structural Data ◽  
Fracture Network ◽  
Descriptive Model ◽  
Investigation Area ◽  
High Level ◽  
Underground Research Laboratory ◽  
Dfn Model

AbstractA three-dimensional (3-D) discrete fracture network (DFN) geo-descriptive model is developed for water conducting features (WCFs) in the sedimentary formations of Horonobe underground research laboratory (URL) in Japan. Fracturing and faulting system in/around the URL area, which is the main investigation area of the Horonobe URL project, is characterized by taking into account borehole geophysical logging data, regional geologic/structural data, and fracture/fault data (orientation, intensity, size) obtained from the surface-based investigations. Volumetric fracture intensity potential is estimated by the correlation and the multi-linear regression analysis of observed data, and is used as one of controls for 3-D DFN model. A regional scale 3-D geo-descriptive DFN model is constructed based on the analyzed fracturing system identified for the WCFs. The current 3-D geo-descriptive model could be utilized explicitly to derive performance assessment (PA) parameters for the hypothetical repository of the high-level radioactive wastes in Japan, and to assist optimization of the safe repository design.

Technical Know-How of Site Descriptive Modeling for Site Characterization

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiromitsu Saegusa ◽  
Tadafumi Niizato ◽  
Ken-ichi Yasue ◽  
Hironori Onoe ◽  
Ryosuke Doke
Keyword(s):  
Site Characterization ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Initial Surface ◽  
Geological Environment ◽  
Implementation Phase ◽  
Know How ◽  
Long Duration ◽  
High Level ◽  
Underground Research Laboratory ◽  
Technical Basis

The site descriptive model covering the current status of characteristics of geological environment and the site evolution model for estimation of the long-term evolution of site conditions are used to integrate multi-disciplinary investigation results. It is important to evaluate uncertainties in the models, to specify issues regarding the uncertainties and to prioritize the resolution of specified issues, for the planning of site characterization. There is a large quantity of technical know-how in the modeling process. It is important to record the technical know-how with transparency and traceability, since site characterization projects generally need long duration. The transfer of the technical know-how accumulated in the research and development (R&D) phase to the implementation phase is equally important. The aim of this study is to support the planning of initial surface-based site characterizations based on the technical know-how accumulated from the underground research laboratory projects. These projects are broad scientific studies of the deep geological environment and provide a technical basis for the geological disposal of high-level radioactive wastes. In this study, a comprehensive task flow from acquisition of existing data to planning of field investigations through the modeling has been specified. Specific task flow and decision-making process to perform the tasks have been specified.

scholarly journals Methodological proposal for the inventory and assessment of geoarchaeosites: Application to the middle Eure valley (Paris Basin, France).

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Théophile Piau ◽  
François Bétard ◽  
Fabienne Dugast
Keyword(s):  
Selection Process ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Vulnerability Index ◽  
Paris Basin ◽  
Or Education ◽  
Human Environment ◽  
Chartres Cathedral ◽  
A Site ◽  
Methodological Guidelines ◽  
Selection Of

<p>The concept of “geoarchaeosite” has been introduced by Fouache & Rasse (2009) to identify archaeological sites located on a geomorphosite. In this work, we propose to use the expression in a larger sense as a contraction of geoarchaeological sites, i.e. sites of particular relevance for the understanding of past human-environment interactions. In our approach, the geomorphological and archaeological components of a site have the same level of importance, contrary to the classical approaches on geomorphosites which consider the archaeological interest of a site as an “additional” value. Although scientific literature replete with scattered case studies on geoarchaeosites, methodological guidelines are globally lacking to inventory and assess a collection of such geoarchaeosites for heritage conservation and/or tourism purposes.</p><p>The aim of this presentation is to propose an innovative and integrated methodology for the inventory and assessment of geoarchaeosites at a regional scale, with an example of application in the middle Eure Valley (Paris Basin, France). The first stage is the inventory which implies the identification and selection of potential geoarchaeosites considered as important sites worth being protected or managed within tourism or education projects. Two main criteria are involved in the selection process: the selected sites should be both representative of the regional geomorphological setting (spatial axis) and of the archaeological periods (temporal axis). The second stage is the assessment, itself divided into three main steps: (i) the assessment of the scientific value, calculated as the sum of the geomorphological and archaeological values; (ii) the assessment of the conservation need, including the calculation of a “vulnerability index” taking into account the intrinsic fragility of the site, the natural and human-induced threats, and the protection status; (iii) the assessment of the promotion potential, which combines the scientific and additional (cultural, aesthetic, ecological) values together with the visit conditions and potential uses for education and tourism.</p><p>In the middle Eure Valley which serves as a case study, the preliminary results derived from the proposed methodology provide a selection of geoarchaeosites with contrasted scientific values, from sites of international (e.g., Saint-Prest, Chaudon) and national rank (e.g., Chartres Cathedral and its historical quarry, the Aqueduc of Maintenon) to more confidential geoarchaeological sites of regional (e.g., megalithic site of Changé, Fort-Harrouard) and local interest (e.g., Shrine of Bû, Mormollins mill), with various degrees of vulnerability. Among the prospects that are emerging in the scope of promotional activities, is the interest of building a digital geoarchaeoheritage platform with a collaborative/participatory aim, associating Websemantics and geomatic technologies, in order to reinforce heritage ownership by local residents and stakeholders.</p><p> </p>

The JNC Generic URL Research Program - Providing a Knowledge Base to Support both Implementer and Regulator in Japan

2006 ◽  
Vol 932 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroyuki Umeki ◽  
Kazuhiko Shimizu ◽  
Toshihiro Seo ◽  
Akira Kitamura ◽  
Hirohisa Ishikawa
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Base ◽  
Safety Assessment ◽  
Atomic Energy Commission ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Site Characterization ◽  
Crystalline Rock ◽  
Know How ◽  
Safety Regulations ◽  
Site Characteristics ◽  
Underground Research Laboratory

ABSTRACTIn accordance with the R&D framework specified by the Atomic Energy Commission of Japan in 2000 for the implementing phase of HLW disposal, the Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute (JNC) continues to be responsible for R&D activities aimed at enhancing the reliability of disposal technologies and safety assessment methodologies and associated databases. JNC has thus been actively promoting technical R&D with a view to contributing to both the implementation of disposal and the formulation of safety regulations.One of JNC's key roles is to establish and demonstrate site characterization methodologies based on investigations in two purpose-built generic URL (underground research laboratory) projects: one at Mizunami in crystalline rock and the other at Horonobe in sedimentary rock.Through the surface-based investigations in the Mizunami and Horonobe projects (phase 1), integration of work from different disciplines into a “geosynthesis” has been illustrated and is planned to be developed further in the underground facilities at these sites (phases 2 and 3). These projects also serve for developing and testing the tools and methodologies required for site characterization. Further know-how will be gained through participation in foreign underground laboratory projects, transfer of experience from these projects to Japan and tailoring it to Japanese conditions and requirements.This experience represents an important knowledge base, which is obviously important for the implementer but is also needed by the regulator, in order to assess how key site characteristics are derived and what uncertainties are associated with this process.

scholarly journals Selection of the most adequate trip-modelling tool for integrated transport planning system

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piotr Sawicki ◽  
Marcin Kiciński ◽  
Szymon Fierek
Keyword(s):  
Selection Criteria ◽  
Selection Process ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Selection Procedure ◽  
Planning System ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Transport Planning ◽  
Phase Selection ◽  
Technical Requirements ◽  
Selection Of

This paper deals with the problem of selection the most suitable trip-modelling tool (TMT), which is a part of the more complex integrated transport planning system (ITPS) at the regional scale. Since an application of TMT is not autonomous and several different users exist the selection problem is not a trivial. In this paper, an original five-phase selection procedure is presented. The first phase consists in specifica¬tion of both, detailed expectations of all identified users and technical requirements of ITPS. Second phase deals with research on available TMT while a third one is concentrated on defining a comprehensive set of criteria. In this phase critical criteria as well as selection criteria are defined. First one is utilised to eliminate unacceptable TMTs in phase four and second one to evaluate and select most adequate TMT in phase five. In the paper an exemplary application of this procedure is presented. The authors have defined 2 critical criteria and a set of 19 selection criteria. The last one is divided into 3 main subsets, i.e. functional, technical and financial contexts of selection process. All the selection criteria are characterised by 43 sub-criteria and some of them are more detailed extended. Using this procedure 3 out of 6 alternative TMTs including Emme, Aimsun and Visum have been initially accepted and next evaluated. Finally, Visum has been selected and recommended for application into ITPS.

Dry-Run of Site Investigation Planning Using the Manual for Preliminary Investigation in Japan

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shigeki Akamura ◽  
Tadashi Miwa ◽  
Tatsuya Tanaka ◽  
Hiroshi Shiratsuchi ◽  
Atsushi Horio
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Selection Process ◽  
Preliminary Investigation ◽  
Site Investigation ◽  
Geological Environment ◽  
Geophysical Prospecting ◽  
Geological Disposal ◽  
Budget Planning ◽  
Planning And Management ◽  
First Editions

A stepwise site selection process has been adopted for geological disposal of HLW in Japan. Literature surveys, followed by preliminary investigations (PI) and, finally, detailed investigations in underground facilities will be carried out in the successive selection stages. In the PI stage, surface-based investigations such as borehole surveys and geophysical prospecting will be implemented. In order to conduct the PI appropriately and efficiently within a restricted timeframe and budget, planning and management of PI are very important. NUMO therefore compiled existing knowledge and experience in the planning and managing of investigations in the form of manuals to be used to improve and maintain internal expertise. The first editions of the two manuals were prepared on the basis of experience overseas, and then they were revised by taking geological environment, laws and regulation in Japan into consideration. This paper introduces the procedure of PI planning using the manual as well as the results of the dry-run, with the Yokosuka area as a hypothetical PI area, where the demonstration study is under way. Based on the dry-run, applicability of the manual is checked and, at the same time, further revisions are made to improve the content.

Which Processes could define Temperature Limits on the Outer Surface of a Container in a Disposal Facility ?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guido Bracke ◽  
Eva Hartwig-Thurat ◽  
Jürgen Larue ◽  
Artur Meleshyn ◽  
Torben Weyand ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Outer Surface ◽  
Site Selection ◽  
Selection Process ◽  
Temperature Limit ◽  
Crystalline Rock ◽  
Safety Concept ◽  
Disposal Facility ◽  
High Level ◽  
A Site ◽  
Host Rocks

<p>When the recommencement of the search for and selection of a site for a disposal facility for HLRW in Germany was stipulated by the Site Selection Act (StandAG 2017) in 2017, a <strong>precautionary </strong>temperature limit of 100 °C on the outer surface of the containers with high-level radioactive waste in the disposal facility section was set. This <strong>precautionary </strong>temperature limit shall be applied in preliminary safety analyses provided that the “maximum physically possible temperatures” in the respective host rocks have not yet been determined due to pending research. Therefore, this issue is addressed and discussed in this paper, contributing to “pending research” by a review of the literature.</p><p>This presentation briefly discusses a few examples of thermohydraulical, mechanical, chemical and biological processes in a disposal facility, because temperature limits are derived based on safety impacts regarding THMCB-processes. The temperature-dependent processes have been extracted from databases for features, events and processes (FEP-databases). Furthermore, it is dicussed if the feasibility to retrieve and recover HLRW is hampered at high temperatures.</p><p>It is concluded that a design temperature concerning single components of a disposal facility for the preservation of their features can be derived when a safety concept is established. However, the interactions of all relevant processes in a disposal concept must be considered to determine a specific temperature limit for the outer surface of the containers. Therefore, applicable temperature limits may vary for particular safety and disposal concepts in the following host rocks: rock salt, clay stone and crystalline rock.</p><p>Technical solutions for retrieval and design options for recovery seem to be viable up to temperatures of 200 °C with different, sometimes severe, downsides according to expert judgement.</p><p>It is summarized that emperature limits regarding the outer surface of the containers can be derived specifically for each safety concept and design of the disposal facility in a host rock. General temperature limits without reference to specific safety concepts or the particular design of the disposal facility may narrow down the possibilities for optimisation of the disposal facility and could adversely affect the site selection process in finding the best suitable site.</p>

The Phytoremediation of Radioactively Contaminated Land: A Feasible Approach or Just Bananas?

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria A. Nesbitt
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Selection Process ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Nuclear Facilities ◽  
Screening Process ◽  
Preliminary Screening ◽  
A Site ◽  
Ground Contamination

Soil is an essential component of all terrestrial ecosystems and is under increasing threat from human activity. Techniques available for removing radioactive contamination from soil and aquatic substrates are limited and often costly to implement; particularly over large areas. Frequently, bulk soil removal, with its attendant consequences, is a significant component of the majority of contamination incidents. Alternative techniques capable of removing contamination or exposure pathways without damaging or removing the soil are therefore of significant interest. An increasing number of old nuclear facilities are entering ‘care and maintenance’, with significant ground contamination issues. Phytoremediation — the use of plants’ natural metabolic processes to remediate contaminated sites is one possible solution. Its key mechanisms include phytoextraction and phytostabilisation. These are analogues of existing remedial techniques. Further, phytoremediation can improve soil quality and stability and restore functionality. Information on the application of phytoremediation in the nuclear industry is widely distributed over an extended period of time and sources. It is therefore difficult to quickly and effectively identify which plants would be most suitable for phytoremediation on a site by site basis. In response, a phytoremediation tool has been developed to address this issue. Existing research and case studies were reviewed to understand the mechanisms of phytoremediation, its effectiveness and the benefits and limitations of implementation. The potential for cost recovery from a phytoremediation system is also briefly considered. An overview of this information is provided here. From this data, a set of matrices was developed to guide potential users through the plant selection process. The matrices take the user through a preliminary screening process to determine whether the contamination present at their site is amenable to phytoremediation, and to give a rough indication as to what plants might be suitable. The second two allow the user to target specific plant species that would be most likely to successfully establish based on prevailing site conditions. The outcome of this study is a phytoremediation tool that can facilitate the development of phytoremediation projects, avoiding the need for in-depth research to identify optimal plant species on a case-by-case basis.

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