Hydro-mechanical Response to Gas Transfer of Deep Argillaceous Host Rocks for Radioactive Waste Disposal

Abstract During recent decades, argillaceous sedimentary formations have been studied as potential host for the geological disposal of long-living and heat-emitting radioactive waste—Boom Clay in Belgium Opalinus Brown Dogger Switzerland. A significant issue long-term performance these rocks concerns generation transport gases. The pressure resulting from gas an almost impermeable medium near field a repository will increase. Under high pressures, mechanical hydraulic properties rock are expected to change significantly. Preferential pathways may develop which exploit material heterogeneity, anisotropy (bedding planes), discontinuities, or interfaces between different components repository, eventually lead release produced Gas flow through clayey is investigated on basis laboratory work. Priority has given studying volume response initially water-saturated materials relatively fast controlled volume-rate injections. effect injection rate, confining bedding orientation with particular attention paid coupling strain behaviour. results shown features common three concerning transfer process preferential pathways, despite their differential properties.