Operational phase in site experiments of Aespoe Hard Rock Laboratory international project and CRIEPI's contribution

An operational phase of Aespoe Hard Rock Laboratory international project was started in 1995. Two different types of in situ experiments, i.e., experiments for description of the barrier function of host rock and for demonstration of the function of important parts of a repository system, are being carried out and/or planned. The former consists of groundwater flow and tracer migration experiments in a single fracture called TRUE, redox experiment in the detailed scale called REX, and in situ column experiment by CHEMLAB called RNR. The latter consists of backfill and plug test, long term performance tests of bentonite as buffer material, and construction of prototype repository. This paper describes the status and the research plans of the Aespoe HRL project during the operational phase and CRIEPI's contribution to the project as well. (author)