Spatial and temporal variations in diffusive and reactive transport properties of sedimentary rocks: Application to radioactive waste isolation

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Waste containment and isolation in geologic systems is an issue faced by most major municipalities and many large corporations across the country.  This issue is of particular importance in the field of radioactive waste management where an understanding of the migration of potential contaminants in the sub-surface is necessary at timeframes to 10,000 years and beyond.  A case in point is the recently announced (February 2005) Deep Geologic Repository (DGR) initiative for a Low and Intermediate Level Radioactive Waste (LILW) Repository within the Paleozoic sediments beneath the Bruce Nuclear site, situated near Kincardine, Ontario.  As a result of this announcement site-specific Site Characterization studies to further explore and characterize the geologic system with respect to DGR performance and safety are to be undertaken in 2006.  A key requirement in this regard is the dominance of a diffusion transport regime that has persisted through the geologic past and likely far into the future.  The Strategic Research Project proposed by Dr. Tom Al and his collaborators addresses the need to develop new and innovative methodologies for the purpose of characterizing diffusive properties of rocks and their distribution within sedimentary rock masses, as well as their evolution as influenced by rock-water interaction. By combining several advanced analytical techniques for measuring diffusion in bedrock materials, the team will integrate theory and experiment through numerical analysis. In collaboration with Ontario Power Generation, the researchers will develop the scientific foundation for the environmental and safety assessments the corporation requires for developing a long-term waste disposal facility. The research holds significant potential to advance technology in the areas of environmental assessment. Further, it will advance Canada's nuclear waste repository program and help minimize the risks associated with deep geologic repositories.