Abstract
The Svensk Kärnbränslehantering AB (SKB) has proposed the Forsmark site as a future repository for spent high-level nuclear fuel, involving disposal at about 470 m depth in sparsely fractured crystalline bedrock. An essential part of the completed inter-disciplinary site investigation was to develop an integrated account of the site and its regional setting, including the current state of the geosphere and the biosphere as well as natural processes affecting long-term evolution. First, this report recollects the integrated understanding and some key hydraulic characteristics of the crystalline bedrock at Forsmark along with a description of the flow model set-up and the methodology used for paleoclimatic flow modeling. Second, the protocol used for site-scale groundwater flow and solute transport modeling is demonstrated. In order to conduct a quantitative assessment of groundwater flow paths at Forsmark, the standard guide for groundwater flow modeling was elaborated on, to support both discrete and porous media flow approaches. In total, four independent types of data were used to confirm that the final groundwater flow model for the crystalline bedrock was representative of site conditions.
Résumé
La Compagnie Suédoise de Gestion de Combustible et de Déchets Nucléaires (SKB) a proposé le site de Forsmark en vue de l’entreposage futur de combustible nucléaire haute activité usagé, consistant en un stockage situé à environ 470 m de profondeur, dans un massif cristallin faiblement fracturé. Une partie essentielle de l’investigation interdisciplinaire complète menée a été de développer une présentation intégrée du site et de son contexte régional, incluant l’état actuel de la géosphère et de la biosphère, ainsi que les phénomènes naturels affectant leur évolution à long terme. En premier lieu, l’article rappelle l’approche globale et les caractéristiques hydrauliques principales du massif cristallin de Forsmark, en même temps que la description de la structure du modèle d’écoulement et la méthodologie utilisée pour simuler celui-ci sous conditions paléoclimatiques. En second lieu est exposé le protocole utilisé pour la modélisation de l’écoulement souterrain à l’échelle du site et du transfert de solutés. En vue de conduire l’évaluation quantitative des cheminements souterrains à Forsmark, un guide méthodologique de la modélisation souterraine a été élaboré, pour servir de base à ces approches aussi bien en milieu discontinu qu’en milieu poreux. Au total, quatre types indépendants de données ont été utilisés pour confirmer que le dernier modèle souterrain en date du massif cristallin est représentatif des conditions du site.
Resumen
El Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co. (SKB) ha propuesto el sitio de Forsmark como un futuro repositorio del combustible nuclear usado de alta radiactividad, involucrando su disposición a una profundidad de alrededor de 470 m en el basamento de roca cristalina dispersamente fracturado. Una parte esencial de la investigación interdisciplinaria completada en el sitio fue desarrollar un informe integrado del sitio y su configuración regional, incluyendo el estado actual de la geósfera y de la biósfera así como los procesos naturales que afectan la evolución a largo plazo. En primer lugar, este trabajo recoge el conocimiento integrado y algunas características hidráulicas claves del basamento cristalino en Forsmark conjuntamente con una descripción de la configuración de un modelo flujo y la metodología usada para modelado de flujo paleoclimático. Segundo, se demuestra el protocolo usado para el modelado de flujo subterráneo y de transporte de soluto en la escala del sitio. Con el objeto de llevar a cabo una evaluación cuantitativa de las trayectorias de flujo en Forsmark, se elaboró la guía standard para modelado de flujo subterráneo, para apoyar tanto los flujos discretos como los del medio poroso. En total, se utilizan cuatro tipos independientes de datos para confirmar que el modelo final de flujo de agua subterránea para el basamento cristalino era representativo para las condiciones del sitio.
Resumo
A Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co. (SKB) propôs o sítio de Forsmark como um futuro repositório de combustível nuclear usado de alto nível, estando o armazenamento a cerca de 470 m de profundidade em rocha cristalina escassamente fraturada. Uma parte essencial do concluído estudo interdisciplinar do sítio era o desenvolvimento de uma avaliação integrada do local e do seu enquadramento regional, incluindo o estado atual da geosfera e da biosfera, assim como dos processos naturais que afetam a sua evolução a largo prazo. Este artigo recorda, primeiro, o entendimento integrado e algumas características hidráulicas chave da formação rochosa de base em Forsmark, acompanhada de uma descrição da montagem de um modelo de fluxo e da metodologia utilizada para a modelação de fluxo paleoclimática. Seguidamente, explicita o protocolo utilizado na modelação de fluxo de água subterrânea e de transporte de solutos à escala do sítio. No sentido de se conduzir uma avaliação quantitativa dos percursos de fluxo em Forsmark, foi elaborado a esse propósito um guia normalizado para a modelação de fluxo de água subterrânea para apoiar ambas as abordagens de fluxo, em meios porosos e em meios discretos. No total, foram usados quatro tipos independentes de dados para confirmar que o modelo de fluxo de água subterrânea para a rocha cristalina era representativo das condições do local.
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Acknowledgements
This report was made possible due to the significant field work conducted on behalf of the Svensk Kärnbränslehantering AB (SKB) during the site investigation for a geological repository for high-level nuclear waste at the Forsmark site. We would like to thank those who contributed to the extensive data collection and/or analysis including: J Levén, P-O Johansson, A-C Nilsson, M Odén, and N Carlsson. Finally, we would like to thank the reviewers for their helpful comments and suggestions, which improved the quality of the manuscript.
All SKB reports referred to in this report, as well as the underlying data reports, can be downloaded from the SKB website—http://www.skb.se/; click on “Publications”, and then enter the report number, e.g. “R-07-45”.
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This article belongs to a series describing site-descriptive modeling of bedrock hydrogeology for the proposed high-level nuclear waste repository site at Forsmark, Sweden
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Follin, S., Hartley, L. Approaches to confirmatory testing of a groundwater flow model for sparsely fractured crystalline rock, exemplified by data from the proposed high-level nuclear waste repository site at Forsmark, Sweden. Hydrogeol J 22, 333–349 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-013-1079-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-013-1079-8