Abstract
To ensure the long-term safety and performance efficiency of a deep geological repository for disposal of high-level radioactive waste, understanding and assessment of gas migration behaviour in its engineered barrier system are of significant importance. In this study, a coupled gas transport model is utilised to simulate and to analyse a series of gas injection/breakthrough experiments on saturated bentonite under rigid boundary or constant volume conditions. To explain the laboratory gas migration and breakthrough results, a diffusion and solubility-controlled gas transport mechanism, instead of controversial visco-capillary flow or dilatancy-controlled flow mechanisms, is implemented in the model. The aim is to examine the extent to which this mechanism can describe helium migration and breakthrough behaviours in rigidly confined, saturated bentonite specimens. The predicted results are found to be in good agreement, both qualitatively and quantitatively, with the observed experimental results indicating the adequacy of this mechanism to describe the transport processes. The model represents the gas breakthrough phenomenon as a function of gas solubility. When the dissolved concentration of the injected gas reaches the maximum soluble concentration in the entire porewater domain, gas breakthrough occurs. Since, the system reaches a steady state and no further gas can be dissolved in the rigidly confined specimens, any injected/dissolved gas must be equated by the amount dissipated to comply with the principle of mass conservation. The maximum solution concentrations of helium are predicted to be 2.01 × 10–5, 7.75 × 10–5, 1.07 × 10–4 mol/L for GMZ bentonite specimens with dry densities of 1.3, 1.5 and 1.7 g/cm3, respectively. The analysis of the injection pressure effects on gas migration behaviour revealed that, if sufficient time is permitted, gas breakthrough may occur at pressures lower than the laboratory observed injection pressures.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Amann-Hildenbrand A, Ghanizadeh A, Krooss BM (2012) Transport properties of unconventional gas systems. Mar Pet Geol 31(1):90–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2011.11.009
Chen M, Hosking LJ, Sandford RJ, Thomas HR (2019) Dual porosity modelling of the coupled mechanical response of coal to gas flow and adsorption. Int J Coal Geol 205:115–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2019.01.009
Chen M, Masum SA, Thomas HR (2021) Modelling non-isothermal transport behaviour of real gas in deformable coal matrix. Energy Fuels 35(2):1605–1619. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.0c03728
Corey AT (1957) Measurement of water and air permeability in unsaturated soil. Soil Sci Soc Am J 21(1):7–10. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1957.03615995002100010003x
Cui LY, Ye WM, Wang Q, Chen YG, Chen B, Cui YJ (2019) Investigation on gas migration in saturated bentonite using the residual capillary pressure technique with consideration of temperature. Process Saf Environ Prot 125:269–278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2019.03.036
Cui LY, Ye WM, Wang Q, Chen YG, Chen B, Cui YJ (2020) Insights into determination of gas breakthrough in saturated compacted Gaomiaozi bentonite. J Mater Civ Eng 32(7):04020190. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0003206
Cui LY, Ye WM, Wang Q, Chen YG, Chen B, Cui YJ (2021) Insights into gas migration behavior in saturated GMZ bentonite under flexible constraint conditions. Constr Build Mater 287:123070. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.123070
Cui LY, Ye WM, Wang Q, Chen YG, Chen B, Cui YJ (2021) Influence of cyclic thermal processes on gas migration in saturated GMZ01 bentonite. J Nat Gas Sci Eng 88:103872. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2021.103872
Donohew AT, Horseman ST, Harrington JF (2000) Gas entry into unconfined clay pastes at water contents between the liquid and plastic limits. In: Environmental mineralogy: microbial interactions, anthropogenic influences, contaminated land and waste management, pp 369–394
Eriksen TE, Jacobsson A (1982) Diffusion of hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide and large molecular weight anions in bentonite (No. SKBF-KBS-TR-82-17). Svensk Kaernbraenslefoersoerjning AB
Fredlund DG, Rahardjo H (1993) Soil mechanics for unsaturated soils. Wiley, New York
Gallé C (2000) Gas breakthrough pressure in compacted Fo-Ca clay and interfacial gas overpressure in waste disposal context. Appl Clay Sci 17(1–2):85–97. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-1317(00)00007-7
Graham J, Halayko KG, Hume H, Kirkham T, Gray M, Oscarson D (2002) A capillarity-advective model for gas break-through in clays. Eng Geol 64(2–3):273–286. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-7952(01)00106-5
Gutiérrez-Rodrigo V, Martín PL, Villar MV (2020) Effect of interfaces on gas breakthrough pressure in compacted bentonite used as engineered barrier for radioactive waste disposal. Process Saf Environ Prot 149:244–257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2020.10.053
Harrington JF, Horseman ST (2003) Gas migration in KBS-3 buffer bentonite. British Geological Survey. Technical Report TR-03-02
Harrington JF, de La Vaissière R, Noy DJ, Cuss RJ, Talandier J (2012) Gas flow in Callovo-Oxfordian claystone (COx): results from laboratory and field-scale measurements. Mineral Mag 76(8):3303–3318. https://doi.org/10.1180/minmag.2012.076.8.43
Harrington JF, Cuss RJ, Talandier J (2017) Gas transport properties through intact and fractured Callovo-Oxfordian mudstones. Geol Soc Lond Spec Publ 454(1):131–154. https://doi.org/10.1144/SP454.7
Harrington JF, Graham CC, Cuss RJ, Norris S (2017) Gas network development in a precompacted bentonite experiment: Evidence of generation and evolution. Appl Clay Sci 147:80–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2017.07.005
Hildenbrand A, Schlömer S, Krooss BM (2002) Gas breakthrough experiments on fine-grained sedimentary rocks. Geofluids 2(1):3–23. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1468-8123.2002.00031.x
Higashihara T, Shibuya H, Sato S, Kozaki T (2005) Activation energy for diffusion of helium in water-saturated, compacted Na-montmorillonite. Eng Geol 81(3):365–370. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2005.06.017
Hogari T, Okihara M, Ishii T, Minase N, Saita Y, Ikuse H (1997) Experimental study on scale effect of bentonite/sand mixture on gas migration properties. Hoshasei Haikibutsu Kenkyu 3(2):91–98
Horseman ST, Harrington JF, Sellin P (1999) Gas migration in clay barriers. Eng Geol 54(1–2):139–149. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-7952(99)00069-1
Hume HB (1999) Gas breakthrough in compacted Avonlea bentonite. Dissertation, University of Manitoba
Liu JF, Song Y, Skoczylas F, Liu J (2015) Gas migration through water-saturated bentonite-sand mixtures, COx argillite, and their interfaces. Can Geotech J 53(1):60–71. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2014-0412
Liu ZR, Cui YJ, Ye WM, Chen B, Wang Q, Chen YG (2020) Investigation of the hydro-mechanical behaviour of GMZ bentonite pellet mixtures. Acta Geotech 15:2865–2875. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-020-00976-y
Masum SA (2012) Modelling of reactive gas transport in unsaturated soil. A coupled thermo-hydro-chemical-mechanical approach. Dissertation, Cardiff University
Masum SA, Thomas HR (2018) Modelling coupled microbial processes in the subsurface: model development, verification, evaluation and application. Adv Water Res 116:1–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2018.03.015
Masum SA, Vardon PJ, Thomas HR, Chen Q, Nicholson D (2012) Multicomponent gas flow through compacted clay buffer in a higher activity radioactive waste geological disposal facility. Mineral Mag 76(8):3337–3344. https://doi.org/10.1180/minmag.2012.076.8.46
Niu WJ, Ye WM, Song X (2020) Unsaturated permeability of Gaomiaozi bentonite under partially free-swelling conditions. Acta Geotech 15(5):1095–1124. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-019-00788-9
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) (2014) Geological Disposal: A review of the development of bentonite barriers in the KBS-3V disposal concept. NDA Technical Note, No. 21665941, Harwell, Oxford, UK
Oscarson DW, Hume HB (1994) Diffusion of 14C in dense saturated bentonite under steady-state conditions. Transp Porous Media 14(1):73–84. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00617028
Parker JC, Lenhard RJ, Kuppusamy T (1987) A parametric model for constitutive properties governing multiphase flow in porous media. Water Resour Res 23(4):618–624. https://doi.org/10.1029/WR023i004p00618
Pray HA, Schweickert CE, Minnich BH (1952) Solubility of hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and helium in water at elevated temperatures. Ind Eng Chem 44(5):1146–1151. https://doi.org/10.1021/ie50509a058
Pusch R, Ranhagen L, Nilsson K, Geological S (1985) Gas migration through Mx-80 bentonite. NAGRA NTB, Technical Report, pp 85–36
Pusch R, Ramqvist G, Knutsson S, Yang T (2015) The role of crystalline rock for disposal of high-level radioactive waste (HLW). Proc Earth Planetary Sci 15:526–535. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeps.2015.08.070
Sato S, Otsuka T, Kuroda Y, Higashihara T, Ohashi H (2001) Diffusion of helium in water-saturated, compacted sodium montmorillonite. J Nucl Sci Technol 38(7):577–580. https://doi.org/10.1080/18811248.2001.9715069
Sedighi M, Thomas HR, Al Masum S, Vardon PJ, Nicholson D, Chen Q (2015) Geochemical modelling of hydrogen gas migration in an unsaturated bentonite buffer. Geol Soc Lond Spec Publ 415(1):189–201. https://doi.org/10.1144/SP415.12
Tang AM, Cui YJ (2005) Controlling suction by vapour equilibrium technique at different temperatures, application to the determination of the water retention properties of MX80 clay. Can Geotech J 42(1):287–296. https://doi.org/10.1139/T04-082
Tanai K, Kanno T, Gallé C (1996) Experimental study of gas permeabilities and breakthrough pressures in clays. MRS Proc 465:995. https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-465-995
Thomas HR, He Y (1995) Analysis of coupled heat, moisture and air transfer in a deformable unsaturated soil. Geotechnique 45(4):677–689. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1995.45.4.677
Thomas HR, Ferguson WJ (1999) A fully coupled heat and mass transfer model incorporating contaminant gas transfer in an unsaturated porous medium. Comput Geotech 24:65–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0266-352X(98)00030-5
Thomas HR, Cleall PJ, Chandler N, Dixon D, Mitchell HP (2003) Water infiltration into a large-scale in-situ experiment in an underground research laboratory. Geotechnique 53(2):207–224. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.2003.53.2.207
Torikai Y, Sato S, Ohashi H (1996) Thermodynamic properties of water in compacted sodium montmorillonite. Nucl Technol 115(1):73–80. https://doi.org/10.13182/NT96-A35276
Van Genuchten MT (1980) A closed-form equation for predicting the hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated soils. Soil Sci Soc Am J 44(5):892–898. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1980.03615995004400050002x
Vardon PJ, Thomas HR, Masum SA, Chen Q, Nicholson D (2014) Simulation of repository gas migration in a bentonite buffer. Proc Inst Civ Engineers-Eng Comput Mech 167(1):13–22. https://doi.org/10.1680/eacm.12.00018
Villar MV, Lloret A (2008) Influence of dry density and water content on the swelling of a compacted bentonite. Appl Clay Sci 39(1–2):38–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2007.04.007
Wen Z (2006) Physical property of China’s buffer material for high-level radioactive waste repositories. Chin J Rock Mech Eng 25(4):794–800 ((in Chinese))
Wiebe R, Gaddy VL (1935) The solubility of Helium in water at 0, 25, 50 and 75° and at pressures to 1000 atmospheres. J Am Chem Soc 57(5):847–851. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja01308a017
Wise DL, Houghton G (1966) The diffusion coefficients of ten slightly soluble gases in water at 10–60 °C. Chem Eng Sci 21(11):999–1010. https://doi.org/10.1016/0009-2509(66)85096-0
Wollenweber J, Alles S, Busch A, Krooss BM, Stanjek H, Littke R (2010) Experimental investigation of the CO2 sealing efficiency of caprocks. Int J Greenh Gas Control 4(2):231–241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2010.01.003
Ye WM, Cui YJ, Qian LX, Chen B (2009) An experimental study of the water transfer through confined compacted GMZ bentonite. Eng Geol 108(3–4):169–176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2009.08.003
Acknowledgements
Lin-Yong Cui is supported by the China Scholarship Council and Shakil Masum is supported by the Flexible Integrated System (FLEXIS) project. The financial contributions are gratefully acknowledged.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cui, LY., Masum, S.A., Ye, WM. et al. Investigation on gas migration behaviours in saturated compacted bentonite under rigid boundary conditions. Acta Geotech. 17, 2517–2531 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-021-01424-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-021-01424-1