Hydro-Mechanical response of a shale subjected to gas transport in the context of radioactive waste disposal
Hydro-Mechanical response of a shale subjected to gas transport in the context of radioactive waste disposal
In the context of deep geological radioactive waste disposal, significant amount of generated gas is expected to migrate from the repositories into the surrounding host rock, affecting its hydro-mechanical state. In Switzerland, Opalinus Clay is the selected host geological formation and requires a comprehensive understanding of the relevant phenomena that characterize its behaviour associated with gas transport regarding the long-term safety assessment of the repository. In this context, water and gas injection tests were performed using a high pressure oedometer cell. The results suggest that gas- induced porewater displacement is a key feature during gas invasion processes in clay-rich host rock. Furthermore, water permeability was not impacted by gas transport and consistently found in the order of 10-21 (m2) before and after the gas invasion tests. The experimental outcome of the study provided unique observations of the hydro-mechanical behaviour of Opalinus Clay when subjected to gas transport in the short-term and long-term.
Q. Llabjani; Alessio A. P. Ferrari; Lyesse Laloui; P. Marschall
18th European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ECSMGE2024)
C - Risk analysis and safety evaluation
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