Proposition of confirmation items on the borehole sealing for the disposal of radioactive waste

Murakami, Hiroaki; Nishiyama, Nariaki; Takeuchi, Ryuji; Iwatsuki, Teruki

Oyo Chishitsu, 64(2), p.60 - 69, 2023/06

https://doi.org/10.5110/jjseg.64.60

In order to confirm the quality control items for borehole closure in radioactive waste disposal projects, in-situ borehole sealing tests using bentonite material were conducted. As a result, the closure performance was successfully demonstrated by comparing the data of water injection tests conducted before and after the installation of the closure material. However, the breakthrough was observed after closing, probably due to high differential pressure applied to the seal section. Thus, it is important to ascertain throughout the entire operation that the borehole is adequately closed. The placement and specifications of the closure material should be determined according to the hydrogeological structure in the borehole. The confirmation items to use bentonite for sealing material are identified to be: to consider swelling and density loss in the borehole; to place the planned depth using appropriate emplacement technique; to be placed without damage to seals when use some backfilling materials, considering effect of permeability on adjacent seals.

Demonstration of the groundwater observation network system in backfilled underground facility

Murakami, Hiroaki; Takeuchi, Ryuji; Iwatsuki, Teruki

JAEA-Technology 2022-022, 34 Pages, 2022/10

JAEA-Technology-2022-022.pdf:3.47MB

Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has been conducting the hydro-pressure and hydrochemical monitoring for more than two decades to understand the hydrochemical disturbance due to the excavation of tunnels at Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory (MIU). To understand the environmental influence due to the backfilling of research tunnels that started in 2019, environmental monitoring of groundwater has been performed and recovery status of groundwater is being confirmed. In order to observe the deep-groundwater environment from the ground, the groundwater pressure monitoring and sampling, which have been performed in the research tunnel, are to be performed from the ground. However, backfilling of a large-scale underground facilities such as MIU is globally unprecedented, thus it was necessary to develop a new observation system. Accordingly, we developed a new observation network to observe the environment around the research tunnels of the MIU. This system enables monitoring of groundwater pressure and water sampling of the backfilled tunnel from the ground while utilizing the existing-monitoring system installed in the tunnels. Accordingly, we demonstrated its technology through the environmental monitoring of groundwater. The results of the environmental monitoring and the existing groundwater data of MIU indicate that this system is able to monitor the groundwater environment in the backfilled tunnels.

Hydrochemical investigation at the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory; Compilation of groundwater chemistry data in the Mizunami Group and the Toki Granite (fiscal year 2019)

Fukuda, Kenji; Watanabe, Yusuke; Murakami, Hiroaki; Amano, Yuki; Aosai, Daisuke*; Hara, Naohiro*

JAEA-Data/Code 2020-012, 80 Pages, 2020/10

JAEA-Data-Code-2020-012.pdf:3.55MB

Japan Atomic Energy Agency has been investigating groundwater chemistry to understand the influence of excavation and maintenance of underground facilities as part of the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory (MIU) Project in Mizunami, Gifu, Japan. In this report, we compiled data of groundwater chemistry and microbiology obtained at the MIU in the fiscal year 2019. In terms of ensuring traceability of data, basic information (e.g. sampling location, sampling time, sampling method and analytical method) and methodology for quality control are described.

Study of groundwater sampling casing for monitoring device

Okihara, Mitsunobu*; Yahagi, Ryoji*; Iwatsuki, Teruki; Takeuchi, Ryuji; Murakami, Hiroaki

JAEA-Technology 2019-021, 77 Pages, 2020/03

JAEA-Technology-2019-021.pdf:5.33MB

One of the major subjects of the ongoing geoscientific research program, the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory (MIU) Project in the Tono area, central Japan, is accumulation of knowledge on monitoring techniques of the geological environment. In this report, the conceptual design of the monitoring system for groundwater pressure and water chemistry was carried out. The currently installed and used system in research galleries at various depths was re-designed to make it possible to collect groundwater and observe the water pressure on the ground.

Proceedings of Information and Opinion Exchange Conference on Geoscientific Study, 2018

Nishio, Kazuhisa*; Murakami, Hiroaki; Iyatomi, Yosuke; Hama, Katsuhiro

JAEA-Review 2018-037, 53 Pages, 2019/03

JAEA-Review-2018-037.pdf:79.22MB

The Tono Geoscience Center (TGC) of Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has been conducting geoscientific study in order to establish a scientific and technological basis for the geological disposal of HLW. Technical information of the result on the geoscientific study conducted at TGC is provided at the annual Information and Opinion Exchange Conference on Geoscientific Study of TGC for exchanging opinions among researchers and engineers from universities, research organizations and private companies. This document compiles the research presentations and posters of the conference in Mizunami on November 29, 2018.

Hydrochemical influence of shotcrete used in underground facilities on groundwater chemistry; Proposal of the evaluation method by geochemical simulation code

Iwatsuki, Teruki; Shibata, Masahito*; Murakami, Hiroaki; Watanabe, Yusuke; Fukuda, Kenji

Doboku Gakkai Rombunshu, G (Kankyo) (Internet), 75(1), p.42 - 54, 2019/03

https://doi.org/10.2208/jscejer.75.42

In order to clarify the influence of shotcrete in the underground facility on the groundwater chemistry, an in-situ closed test was conducted in the mock-up tunnel at the depth of 500 m. Brucite, Ettringite, Ca(OH) , Gibbsite, KCO, NaCO 10HO, SiO (a) and Calcite were identified as the dominant minerals affecting the water chemistry. Furthermore, the shotcrete constructed in the tunnel has a reaction capacity which can produce about 570 m of alkaline groundwater (pH12.4) saturated with Ca(OH). The estimation would improve the accuracy of prediction analysis of the long-term chemical influence of cement materials after the closure of the tunnel.

Characteristics and formation process of fractures in crystalline rocks in northern Kyushu

Murakami, Hiroaki; Ashizawa, Masaomi*; Tanaka, Kazuhiro*

Oyo Chishitsu, 59(1), p.2 - 12, 2018/04

This study describes the features of fractures and their fillings along with the long-term behavior of their hydrogeological structures in an underground environment based on the results of a geological investigation conducted at an underground facility in northern Kyushu. Fractures were classified into five groups on the basis of fracture orientation: A, B, C, D, and low-angle groups. The genesis of all fractures is the cooling process of granodiorite pluton. Almost all of the water-conducting fractures are included in the B group. Because a number of fracture fillings in the B group are filled by prehnite and crushed fragments of epidote and quartz, the fractures in this group alternated sealing and re-opening. The fracture characteristics in the B group are follow as: accompanying many alteration halos, long trace length, and cutting off other fractures. These results indicate that fractures in the B group have possibly functioned as pathways for groundwater flow in the long term.

Onsite chelate resin solid-phase extraction of rare earth elements in natural water samples; Its implication for studying past redox changes by inorganic geochemistry

Watanabe, Takahiro; Kokubu, Yoko; Murakami, Hiroaki; Iwatsuki, Teruki

Limnology, 19(1), p.21 - 30, 2018/01

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10201-017-0513-3

Rare earth element (REE) patterns in natural water and geological samples provides information on changes in past environmental conditions, such as redox changes and material cycles; however, quantitative analysis of REEs in these samples is complicated because of relative low content and mass interference from barium oxide in the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analyses. In this study, we adopted onsite solid-phase extraction and preconcentration methods for REEs using an iminobisacetic acid-ethylenediaminetriacetic acid chelate resin for the analyses. Standard reference materials, natural ground water, and spring water samples were used for the evaluation of these methods. The REE patterns in the natural water samples were in good agreement with those obtained using previous methods. Therefore, it was deduced that onsite solid-phase extraction using chelate resin is a rapid and simple preparation technique for REE analyses.

Studies on the reconstruction of the concept of rock mass around the tunnel; Japanese fiscal year, 2014 (Contract research)

Kojima, Keiji*; Onishi, Yuzo*; Aoki, Kenji*; Tochiyama, Osamu*; Nishigaki, Makoto*; Tosaka, Hiroyuki*; Yoshida, Hidekazu*; Murakami, Hiroaki; Sasao, Eiji

JAEA-Research 2015-017, 54 Pages, 2015/12

JAEA-Research-2015-017.pdf:17.3MB

This report is concerned with research to reconstruct more realistic near-field (NF) concept for the geological disposal of radioactive waste. This year is the final year of this committee activities. So we have carried out the summary on Re-thinking of NF concept and its technical basis. Cooperation between the study fields and combination of various science and technology and evaluation methods are one of the important technical bases of NF concept. In addition, since the "Great East Japan Earthquake 2011", the safety paradigm has shifted dramatically. In the reconstruction of realistic NF concept, it is necessary to analyze what security matters whether society has become unacceptable for geological disposal. Committee, we also exchange views on such matters and presented the direction of future research and development for geological disposal.

Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory Project, Annual report for fiscal year 2013

Hama, Katsuhiro; Mikake, Shinichiro; Nishio, Kazuhisa; Kawamoto, Koji; Yamada, Nobuto; Ishibashi, Masayuki; Murakami, Hiroaki; Matsuoka, Toshiyuki; Sasao, Eiji; Sanada, Hiroyuki; et al.

JAEA-Review 2014-038, 137 Pages, 2014/12

JAEA-Review-2014-038.pdf:162.61MB

Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) at Tono Geoscience Center (TGC) is pursuing a geoscientific research and development project namely the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory (MIU) Project in crystalline rock environment in order to construct scientific and technological basis for geological disposal of High-level Radioactive Waste (HLW). The MIU Project has three overlapping phases: Surface-based Investigation phase (Phase I), Construction phase (Phase II), and Operation phase (Phase III). The MIU Project has been ongoing the Phase II and the Phase III in fiscal year 2013. This report presents the results of the investigations, construction and collaboration studies in fiscal year 2013, as a part of the Phase II and Phase III based on the MIU Master Plan updated in 2010.