Winter 2022 Newsletter Published
Event Reminder: Mud volcanoes as a surface expression of subterranean forces
Wednesday 9th November 2022
19.30hrs
Zoom Details
Prof. Richard Swarbrick, Durham University
Mud volcanoes occur at the earth’s surface in many parts of the world, but especially in
areas of overpressure where sediments are deposited rapidly, such as modern deltas. The
talk will explain the common features of mud volcanoes (found both in the rock record and
erupting at the present day) and how they can inform us about deep, high-pressure
reservoirs and associated supplies of mud capable of fracturing rocks. These underground
forces are capable of fracture propagation rates of more than 1.0 km a day! What
geological or other circumstances trigger such events? The “LUSI” mud volcano, East Java,
Indonesia which erupted in a paddy field in 2006 and still active today will indicate how
human intervention can also create suitable conditions for such explosive action”
Rescheduled 13th October: Role of the geosphere in deep nuclear waste disposal – an England and Wales perspective
Event Reminder: Role of the geosphere in deep nuclear waste disposal – an England and Wales perspective
Date Wednesday, October 12, 2022
Time 19:30
Zoom Details:
Jonathon P Turner, Nuclear Waste Services
This talk discusses how understanding of geological features, events and processes relevant to the UK will be used to select a suitable site for a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) for the UK’s longer-lived and higher activity radioactive wastes. What are the properties and processes that need to be understood and taken into account in determining ‘suitability’, and how will a GDF be engineered to match and evolve with the properties of the surrounding geological environment.
The UK GDF Programme benefits considerably from lessons learned from deep geological disposal programmes in other countries, many of which are further ahead than in the UK. However the focus of this talk is on the geological environment that we have to work with in England and Wales. I will cover the primary containment and isolation functions of a GDF and a description of how long-term containment and isolation will be provided by means of the multibarrier system of highly integrated engineered barriers working together with the natural rock barrier.
Whatever the characteristics of the geological environment in which a GDF is constructed, it will need to provide a stable cocoon protecting radioactive waste from natural processes such as glaciations and earthquakes, a low-flux groundwater environment, geochemical conditions that minimise degradation of the engineered components of the GDF, and to promote retention of mobilized radionuclides.
