Underground Research Laboratory in the Nizhnekanskiy Massif: Evolutionary Design Study

Abstract

The role of underground research laboratories (hereinafter URL) is recognized globally and involves the following points: URL enables research and demonstration aimed at evaluating the feasibility of technological processes under actual spatial scales and geological setup. In recent years, quite a lot of articles and reviews was published [1][2][3][4][5], concerning the issues associated with URLs established to demonstrate the safety of radioactive waste deep geological disposal. It should be noted that 25 URLs were developed globally for various purposes. Most similar to the Russian one by their purpose are those being site-specific (located at potential disposal sites) and excavated in crystalline bedrock (granite and gneiss), namely: operating URL ONKALO (Finland) and the one planned for construction in 2020 in China (Beishan Province). Among all the publications there are several articles [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] focused on particular studies planned to be carried out in the Russian URL being under construction at the site of Nizhnekanskiy massif in the vicinity of Zheleznogorsk city (Krasnoyarsk region). This paper presents the designs of the Russian URL being for the first time ever discussed in a holistic and dynamic manner starting with the construction stage and up to the closure of the disposal facility.

Dynamic Activity Index for Feature Engineering of Geodynamic Data for Safe Underground Isolation of High-Level Radioactive Waste

“…The main goal of this project is to confirm the possibility of final isolation of high-level radioactive waste (HLRW) in geological formations. Considering international experience, the concept of deep geological repository (DGR) was chosen, the main parameters of which are given in [17]. DGR is planned to be created in granite gneiss rocks of the Nizhnekansky massif 4-5 km from the Yenisei River at a depth of 500-600 m.…”

Swelling Pressure and Permeability of Compacted Bentonite from 10th Khutor Deposit (Russia)

“…In the Russian Federation, a concept is being developed to isolate class 1 and 2 high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel in crystalline rocks (Yeniseyskiy Site, Krasnoyarskiy region) at depths of about 500-700 m [1][2][3][4]. In this case, the safety function of radioactive waste disposal is provided by a passive multi-barrier system that ensures the isolation of radioactive waste from the biosphere [5][6][7].…”

“…The current Russian sealing concept of a deep geological radioactive waste disposal facility (DGR) in crystalline rocks foresees the use of compacted bentonite as a buffer material enclosing containers with radioactive waste [1][2][3][4] due to the stability of its properties and ability to prevent the mass transfer of radionuclides from advection and diffusion mechanisms [2][3][4][5][6][7]. The 10th Khutor bentonite deposit is located relatively close to the area of the deep geological disposal site and considered as a source for the potential buffer material in study [4] based on its favourable sealing properties and deposit resources.…”