Grimsel Test Site

Full-scale Engineered Barriers Expmnt. (FEBEXE)

Full-scale Engineered Barriers Experiment FEBEXe - References

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Parent Category: GTS Phase VI
Category: Full-scale Engineered Barriers Expmnt. (FEBEXE)

Empresa Nacional de Residuos Radiactivos (1998): FEBEX : Full-scale engineered barriers experiment in crytalline host rock : Pre-operational stage : Summary report. Publicación tecnica num. 01/98. ENRESA, Madrid.

Empresa Nacional de Residuos Radiactivos (1997): FEBEX : Full-scale engineered barriers experiment in crytalline host rock : 3rd international workshop FEBEX, Meiringen, 16/18 June 1997. Report 70-ST-C-0-35. ENRESA, Madrid.

Empresa nacional de residuos radiactivos (1998): FEBEX : Full-scale engineered barriers experiment in crytalline host rock : Bentonite : Origin, properties and fabrication of blocks. Publicación tecnica num. 05/98. ENRESA, Madrid.

Empresa Nacional de Residuos Radiactivos (1998): FEBEX : Full-scale engineered barriers experiment in crytalline host rock : Preoperational thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) modelling of the 'in-situ' test. Publicación tecnica num. 09/98. ENRESA, Madrid.

Empresa Nacional de Residuos Radiactivos (1998): FEBEX : Full-scale engineered barriers experiment in crytalline host rock : Preoperational thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) modelling of the 'mock-up' test. Publicación tecnica num. 10/98. ENRESA, Madrid.

Fuentes-Cantillana J.L.; García-Siñeriz J.L. (1998): FEBEX : Full-scale engineered barriers experiment in crytalline host rock : Final design and installation of the 'in situ' test at Grimsel. Publicación tecnica num. 12/98. ENRESA, Madrid.

Fuentes-Cantillana J.L.; García-Siñeriz J.L. [et al.] (2000): FEBEX : Full-scale engineered barriers experiment for a deep geological repository for high-level radioactive waste in crytalline host rock : Final report. Publicación tecnica 1/2000. ENRESA, Madrid.

Huertas F.; Fuentes-Cantillana J.L.; Jullien F.; Rivas P.; Linares J.; Fariña P.; Ghoreychi M.; Jockwer N.; Kickmaier W.; Martínez M.A.; Samper J.; Alonso E.; Elorza F.J. (2000): Full-scale engineered barriers experiment for a deep geological repository for high-level radioactive waste in crystalline host rock (FEBEX project): Final report. EUR 19147 EN. European Commission, Brussels.

Zuidema P.; Smith P.; Schneider J. (1997): Why are we interested in FEBEX? The role of the near field and the importance of the early transient phase.- FEBEX : Full-scale engineered barriers experiment in crytalline host rock : 3rd international workshop FEBEX, Meiringen, 16/18 June 1997. Report 70-ST-C-0-35. ENRESA, Madrid (Session 1.1), n.n..

Ulibarri A.M.; del Olmo C.; Huertas F.; McKinley I.G.; Kickmaier W. (1996): FEBEX : An example of a major international collaborative project.- American Nuclear Society; U.S. Department of Energy; International Atomic Energy Agency (et al.): Proceedings of the international topical meeting on Nuclear and Hazardous Waste Management : Spectrum '96 : August 18-23, 1996, Seattle. Vol. 3, 2161-2166.

Gens A.; Guimaraes L. do N.; Garcia-Molina A.; Alonso E.E. (2002): Factors controlling rock-clay buffer interaction in a radioactive waste repository. Engineering Geology 64 / 2-3, 297-308.

Asociación para la investigación y desarrollo industrial de los recursos naturales (2002): Memoria de actividades 2001. AITEMIN, Madrid.

Villar Galicia M.V. (2002): Thermo-hydro-mechanical characterisation of a bentonite from Cabo de Gata: a study applied to the use of bentonite as sealing material in high level radioactive waste repositories. Publicación técnica 04/2002. ENRESA, Madrid.

Fuentes-Cantillana J.L.; Huertas F.; Del-Olmo C. (1996): The «FEBEX» project: An in-situ full scale engineered barrier test.- American Nuclear Society; U.S. Department of Energy; International Atomic Energy Agency (et al.): Proceedings of the international topical meeting on Nuclear and Hazardous Waste Management : Spectrum '96 : August 18-23, 1996, Seattle. Vol. 3, 2167-2173.

McKinley I.G.; Alexander W.R.; Kickmaier W.; Biggin C. (2002): Integrated programme of research into the behaviour of the clay engineered barrier: An example from Nagra's Grimsel Test Site [Abstract].- Clays in natural and engineered barriers for radioactive waste confinement: International meeting, Reims, December 9-12, 2002: Abstracts. Andra, Châtenay-Malabry, 287-288.

Jockwer N.; Wieczorek K. (2002): Gas generation measurements in the FEBEX project [Abstract].- Clays in natural and engineered barriers for radioactive waste confinement: International meeting, Reims, December 9-12, 2002: Abstracts. Andra, Châtenay-Malabry, 109-110.

Robinet J.C.; Gatabin C.; Lassabatere T.; Plas F.; Vignal B. (2002): The effects of macro porosity (joints or void) on the unsaturated THM behaviour of swelling clay blocs and pellets assemblies: The examples of TSX, FEBEX and RESEAL projects [Abstract].- Clays in natural and engineered barriers for radioactive waste confinement: International meeting, Reims, December 9-12, 2002: Abstracts. Andra, Châtenay-Malabry, 79-80.

Missana T.; Alonso U.; Jesús Turrero M. (2003): Generation and stability of bentonite colloids at the bentonite/granite interface of a deep geological radioactive waste repository.- Migration '01: Eighth international conference on chemistry and migration behaviour of actinides and fission products in the geosphere: Bregenz, September 16-21, 2001: Special Issue of the Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 61(2003), Friend E.O. (ed.), Amsterdam: Elsevier, 17-31.

Bazargan Sabet B.; Shao H.; Autio J. [et al.] (2005): EDZ assessment in FEBEX II Project.- Impact of the excavation disturbed or damaged zone (EDZ) on the performance of radioactive waste geological repositories: Proceedings of a European Commission cluster conference and workshop, Luxembourg, 3 to 5 November 2003. EUR 21028 EN, 137-142.

Bárcena I.; Fuentes-Cantillana J.L.; García-Siñeriz J.L. (2003): Dismantling of the heater 1 at the FEBEX "in situ" test: Description of operations. Publicación técnica 09/2003. ENRESA, Madrid.

Madina V.; Azkarate I. (2004): FEBEX project post-mortem analysis: Corrosion study. Publicación técnica 08/2004. Empresa Nacional de Residuos Radiactivos, Madrid.

Missana T. (ed.) (2004): FEBEX II project THG laboratory experiments. Publicación técnica 09/2004. Empresa Nacional de Residuos Radiactivos, Madrid.

Lloret A.; Romero E.; Villar M.V. (2005): FEBEX II project. Final report on thermo-hydro-mechanical laboratory tests. Publicación técnica 10/2004. Empresa Nacional de Residuos Radiactivos, Madrid.

Bazargan Sabet B.; Shao H.; Autio J.; Elorza F.J. (2005): FEBEX II project post-mortem analysis: EDZ assessment. Publicación técnica 11/2004. Empresa Nacional de Residuos Radiactivos, Madrid.

Bárcena I.; García-Siñeriz J.L.; Huertas F. (2005): NF PRO RTD C3 WP 3.3: Integrated THM (C) experimental at real scale. Deliverable D3.3.2.1 Sensors data report of the FEBEX "In Situ" test. Contract No FI6W-CT-2003-02389. European Commission.

Empresa nacional de residuos radiactivos (1998): FEBEX: Full-scale engineered barriers experiment in crytalline host rock: Diseño final y montaje del ensayo "in situ" en Grimsel. Publicación tecnica num. 03/98. ENRESA, Madrid.

Huertas F.; Fariña P.; Farias J. [et al.] (2006): FEBEX Full-scale Engineered Barriers Experiment. Updated Final Report 1994-2004. Publicación técnica 05-0/2006. Empresa Nacional de Residuos Radiactivos, Madrid.

Villar M.V. (ed.) (2006): FEBEX Project final report: Post-mortem bentonite analysis. Publicación técnica 05-1/2006. Empresa Nacional de Residuos Radiactivos, Madrid.

Sánchez M.; Gens A. (2006): FEBEX Project final report: Final report on thermo-hydro-mechanical modelling. Publicación técnica 05-2/2006. Empresa Nacional de Residuos Radiactivos, Madrid.

ENRESA (2006): FEBEX Project final report: Final THG modelling report. Publicación técnica 05-3/2006. Empresa Nacional de Residuos Radiactivos, Madrid.

García-Siñeriz J.-L.; Ignacio B.; Fernández P.-A.; Sanz F.-J. (2006): FEBEX Project final report: FEBEX II Project post-mortem analysis: Instruments. Publicación técnica 05-4/2006. Empresa Nacional de Residuos Radiactivos, Madrid.

Bárcena I.; García Siñeriz J.L., Huertas F. (2006): FEBEX Project final report: Addendum sensors data report. In situ experiment. Publicación técnica 05-5/2006. Empresa Nacional de Residuos Radiactivos, Madrid.

Martín P.L.; Barcala J.M. (2006): FEBEX Project final report: Addendum sensors data report. Mock-up test. Publicación técnica 05-6/2006. Empresa Nacional de Residuos Radiactivos, Madrid.

Alonso E.E.; Alcoverro J. (2005): DECOVALEX III Project: Modelling of FEBEX in-situ test. Task 1 final report. SKI Report 2005:20. Swedish Nuclear Power Inspectorate SKI, Stockholm.

Samper J.; Zheng L.; Montenegro L. (2008): Coupled thermo-hydro-chemical models of compacted bentonite after FEBEX in situ test.- Applied Geochemistry 23 / 5, 1186-1201.

Kunze P.; Seher H.; Hauser W.; Panak P.J.; Geckeis Schäfer H. (2008): Radionuclide speciation in the grimsel granite groundwater after FEBEX bentonite pore water mixing zone.- 3rd annual workshop proceedings 6th EC FP-FUNMIG IP Edinburgh 26th-29th November 2007, 167-175.FUNMIG.

Jockwer N.; Wieczorek (2008): FEBEX. Investigations on gas generation, release and migration. GRS-243. Gesellschaft für Anlagen- und Reaktorsicherheit (GRS) mbH, Braunschweig.

Gaus I.; Thurner E.; Vahanen M.; Martín Martín P.-L.; Mayor J.C.; Garcia-Sineriz J.-L.; Gens A. (2009): FEBEX in situ test - Showing the value of very long term (>10 years) experiments - 16422 [Abstract + Poster].- ICEM'09 / DECOM'09. The 12th International Conference on Environmental Remediation and Radioactive Waste Management, 11-15 October 2009, Liverpool. Final Program, 12.

Full-scale Engineered Barriers Experiment FEBEXe - Outlook

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Parent Category: GTS Phase VI
Category: Full-scale Engineered Barriers Expmnt. (FEBEXE)

Due to the long period covered by both the FEBEX in situ dataset and the mockup, the validation of the current models using the dataset provides a highly relevant input to performance assessment.

 

Period covered by the FEBEX experiment (left) showing its relevance for model validation (right)
Period covered by the FEBEX experiment (left) showing its relevance for model validation (right)

 
The FEBEXe consortium will continue to observe the saturation behaviour of the in situ experiment and the mock-up under the same conditions and the dataset will further be maintained at least until 2012. Further prolongation of the experiment remains a possibility.
 
A modelling team is brought together with an eye on benchmarking multiple codes and testing new hypothesis recently included in coupled THM models such as the:
  • Inclusion of a hydraulic threshold gradient in Darcy's law
  • Thermo-osmosis effects
  • Application of a double structure constitutive model incorporating microfabric/ microstructural changes
  • Application of saturation and temperature dependent elasto-plastic material laws
These models will be applied with the objective to further elucidate the observed behaviour and the processes involved and to assess how the results can be extrapolated to the near field behaviour on the long term.
 
The results of the FEBEX in situ experiment will further be tied in with the outcomes of the PEBS project (Long-term performance of Engineered Barrier Systems) that started in March 2010 as part of the EU 7th Framework Programme.

Full-scale Engineered Barriers Experiment FEBEXe - Observations & Results

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Parent Category: GTS Phase VI
Category: Full-scale Engineered Barriers Expmnt. (FEBEXE)

As the experiment is running now over more than 12 years, a unique dataset including crucial long-term observations in terms of sealing, saturation and corrosion is generated.

The current status is that the outer buffer is practically saturated and hydration is in progress at the inner buffer. This was predicted by THM models, but occurs at a slower rate than expected.
 
Especially, one can observe that: 
  • Temperatures in the bottom part continue being higher than those in the sides and upper part for each section. Temperature trends are increasing very slowly in the buffer and in the rock close to the heater.
  • The total pressure in general continues increasing in the buffer and also in the contact bentonite/rock and bentonite/plug.
  • The water content in the buffer continues increasing at all points. The biggest differences can be observed in the inner part but it is clearly rising elsewhere.

 

Relative humidity measurements in section F2 of the FEBEX experiment
Relative humidity measurements in section F2 of the FEBEX experiment

Full-scale Engineered Barriers Experiment FEBEXe - Aims

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Parent Category: GTS Phase VI
Category: Full-scale Engineered Barriers Expmnt. (FEBEXE)

The initial aim of the FEBEX experiment, back in 1997, was to study the behaviour of the nearfield components (EBS, host rock) for a high-level radioactive waste repository in crystalline rock.

Now, over a decade later, it is identified that:
  • Previous prediction/evaluation exercises indicated that the resaturation phase is poorly understood
  • There is a significant underestimation of resaturation times
  • Uncertainties in some key parameters (the evolution of thermal conductivity of partially saturated buffer, the scale dependence of measured thermal conductivities) are remaining
However, detailed understanding of early time coupled processes is needed to predict the nearfield evolution in terms of evolution of thermal conductivity of partially saturated buffer, the role of thermal convection, the on-set of corrosion/gas production, gas transport capacity of the nearfield (saturation history) and the geochemical evolution of the nearfield (e.g. iron/bentonite interactions).
 
It is in this context that the FEBEX experiment and similar experiments, covering long experimental timescales, are of large interest.

Impression of the FEBEX experiment during construction
Impression of the FEBEX experiment during construction

Full-scale Engineered Barriers Experiment FEBEXe - Experimental Programme

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Parent Category: GTS Phase VI
Category: Full-scale Engineered Barriers Expmnt. (FEBEXE)

The experiment is planned to continue running until the end of 2012 and is split into the following tasks.

  •  Continuation of the current operational phase including the monitoring
  •  Thermo-hydraulic modelling
  •  Dismantling of the test, removing the heater and the buffer and sampling
  •  Detailed analysis of the materials and components recovered during the dismantling operation

    • FEBEXe Experimental Timetable
    FEBEXe Experimental Timetable

More Articles …

  1. Full-scale Engineered Barriers Experiment FEBEXe - Scientific & Specific Objectives
  2. Full-scale Engineered Barriers Experiment FEBEXe - Introduction

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