Effect of excavation induced fractures on radionuclide migration through the boom clay (Belgium)

In Belgium, the Boom Clay at a depth of 200 m below surface is being evaluated as a potential host formation for the disposal of high-level nuclear waste. In order to investigate this option, an underground research facility composed of two access shafts and a 200 m long gallery was excavated in the Boom Clay for research purposes (HADES-URF). Around the gallery, excavation induced fractures are observed. The majority of these fractures are approximately parallel planes with an average spacing of around 70 cm, a strike approximately perpendicular to the tunnel axis and a dip between 30 and 70 degrees. fracturing and self-sealing processes in Boom (and Opalinus) Clay were studied in the EC SELFRAC project (EC contract FIKW-CT2001-00182). The research performed in the framework of this project shows that the excavation induced fractures around the connecting gallery are limited to a zone of 1 m. This gallery was excavated using an industrial technique and with minimal radial convergence. Moreover self-sealing processes, which will further limit the influence of these fractures, have clearly been demonstrated in laboratory and in-situ experiments. The potential effect of these excavation induced fractures on the radionuclide migration through the clay is investigated in this study under the conservative assumption that no self-sealing occurs. A hydrogeological model of the clay is built with a radionuclide source in the middle of the clay surrounded by different fracture configurations. The radionuclide flux through the upper and lower boundaries of the clay into the surrounding aquifers is calculated and compared for different fracture configurations. (authors)