Aespoe Hard Rock Laboratory - feasibility and usefulness of site investigation methods. Experiences from the pre-investigation phase

摘要

One of the main goals set up by SKB for the Aespoe HRL project is to 'test the quality and appropriateness of different methods for characterizing the bedrock with respect to conditions of importance for a final repository'. An extensive investigation program was carried out during the projects pre-investigation phase that, in part, was based on experience from SKBs previous site investigations and, in part, that entailed the testing of new or other unestablished methods. Previous technical reports have described the methods that have been used and the results, models, and predictions that have been produced. All the methods used are discussed in this report in terms of how they have contributed in different analysis stages to the total geoscientific characterization of the rock at Aespoe. The usefulness of each method for modeling and prediction in different scales is evaluated, and aspects of the practical execution of the methods under different conditions are discussed. The report sheds light on the importance of dividing large investigation programs, such as this one, into suitable stages to get an opportunity to evaluate the results obtained and plan in detail the investigations in the next stage. Furthermore, the way in which the characterization/modeling work in different geometric scales has been done for the different investigation stages is discussed, along with whether this has been found to be a suitable approach. The importance of pursuing an interdisciplinary strategy throughout the pre-investigation process cannot be overemphasized. For the planning, execution, analysis, and reporting of the results of the pre-investigations, this has been produced by an organization in which an interdisciplinary group has been in charge of the investigations, together with the project manager. 52 refs, numerous tabs and figs. (Atomindex citation 26:046741)