Status Report Juni 2009

Status Report Juni 2009 General SKB have a general policy to broaden the use within the society of research results, knowledge and data gathered wit...
Author: Elmer Quinn
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Status Report

Juni 2009

General SKB have a general policy to broaden the use within the society of research results, knowledge and data gathered within the SKB research program. Nova R&D (Nova FoU) is the organisation which implements this policy and facilitates external access for research and development projects to SKB facilities in Oskarshamn. Nova FoU is a joint research and development platform at Nova Centre for University Studies, Research and Development supported by SKB and the municipality of Oskarshamn. Nova FoU provides access to the following SKB facilities: • • • •

Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory Bentonite Laboratory at Äspö Canister laboratory in Oskarshamn Site Investigation Oskarshamn (Laxemar)

Nova FoU can co-finance the projects by valuing the access to the SKB facilities, knowledge and data. The aim with the research and development projects through Nova FoU is to create long term spin-offs and business effects beneficial to the region. Nova FoU supports new and innovative research, for example environmental studies, where the extensive SKB data set from geological, hydrogeological, hydrogeochemical and ecological investigations and modeling can be used (Figure 6-1). Available data and models

Laxemar Interaction of surface/ shallow groundwater and the sea , ongoing reaction and transport processes

Interaction of shallow and deep groundwater including reaction and transport processes

Äspö island

•Hundreds of surface, shallow and deep boreholes •Thousands of samples • Integrated characterisation of geology, hydrogeology and hydrogeochemistry •All data in databases •Models of geology, hydrogeology and hydrogeochemstry •Thousand reports and hundreds of scientific publications

Deep Borehole

Äspö HRL

Advance and detailed studies and monitoring of in-situ groundwater properties, maintaining the original temperature, pressure and composition

Origin of groundwater and palaeo chlimate indications of e.g. Old Sea and glacial water, effects of long term water rock interactions

Origin of very old saline groundwater >1.5 Ma, deep gases, extremely long water rock interactions

- 500 m depth

Figure 6-1: The Äspö and Laxemar areas have been studied in terms of geology, hydrogeology, hydrogeochemistry and ecology. This information can be used for a number of purposes, for example to describe the water cycle and hydrogeochemical processes in 3D.

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The data can be used e.g. for assessing the consequences of natural resource management and pollution risks. The data and models can be used to estimate exposure both at individual and population levels. Development of monitoring and analytical systems can be performed relating to the management of various renewable natural resources in, for instance, agriculture, fisheries, forests and groundwater. Studies which give a better knowledge concerning pollution problems coupled to toxicological and epidemiological issues are possible. Technology, innovations and spin-off effects at pre-market stages are of special interest. Other possible studies are: • • • •

Groundwater origin, mixitures and evolution Interaction between large depths, surface and sea Model and technology development Tunnel and borehole experiements

Projects Research and development projects at Nova FoU: 1) Microbial research: Exploration of the intra-terrestrial geogas-driven biosphere. 2) Costal systems: Advanced studies of interactions between land and Sea 3) Development of software and hardware: 3D radio frequency identification (RFID) of people and objects in underground environment. 4) Research and education: Geochemistry group performs academic research. The research and education project is the most matured activity within Nova FoU and is therefore described in more detail in the section below.

Geochemistry Research Group The Geochemistry research group at Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory is a project within the research platform Nova FoU. The group consists of a professor, a post doc and three Ph.D. students. Focus is on research of chemical elements in soil, water, bedrock fractures and biota, and includes detailed studies of how elements are distributed in streams and groundwaters at various depths. The research includes field monitoring, laboratory work and modelling. The research projects are funded by Kalmar University, SKB and KK-Stiftelsen. A total of four subprojects were completed in 2008. These are: 1. Uranium in surface and ground waters in Boreal Europe. This project has explored the distribution patterns and controls of uranium in boreal surface waters, ground waters, and brackish (Baltic Sea) waters. Data from Äspö, Laxemar and Forsmark were used in combination with a number of other existing data sets in order to highlight the aqueous behaviour of this metal in northerly regions. The study has been published in Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis. 2. Niobium in boreal stream waters and brackish-water sediments. This project has explored the distribution patterns and controls of niobium in boreal stream waters and brackish-water sediments. Data from Laxemar and Forsmark were used in combination with a number of other existing data sets in order to assess the major features of this metal, which also has radioactive isotopes existing in nuclear waste, see, Figure 6-2 and 6-3. The study has been published in Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis. 3. High K/Rb ratios in stream waters – exploring plant litter decay, ground water and bedrock as potential controlling mechanisms. This project has explored the potential controls of K/Rb ratios in surface and ground waters, which normally are considerably higher than the corresponding ratios

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in solid materials (mineral, soil, bedrock). Data from Laxemar and Forsmark were used in combination with a number of other existing data sets. A major conclusion was that in contrast to what has been previously suggested, the K/Rb ratio is more strongly controlled by geochemical and hydrochemcial mechanisms than biogeochemical (litter decay) processes. The study has been published in Chemical Geology. 4. Trace metals in recharge and discharge ground water at two geochemically contrasting sites. The project has explored the distribution patterns and controls of trace metals in overburden ground waters in Laxemar and Forsmark. Data from the Site Investigations, including temporal hydrochemical data from a large number of ground-water tubes in both areas, were interpreted and analysed by means of statistical methods. Large variations existed, among the trace metals, both between recharge and discharge areas and between the two sites. The study has been published in Applied Geochemistry. A new project was started. The topic is hydrochemistry of deep ground waters in Äspö, Laxemar and Forsmark. The focus is on repository depth, and includes modelling (M3, PHREEQC) of existing data of major anions and cations and some isotopic variables. The time schedule is 2008-2012.

Figure 6-2: A stream in Laxemar, which has been monitored for several years, including determination of hydrological, hydrochemical and hydrophysical variables.

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Sea S Stream F Ground S

10

Sea F Lake S Ground F

Stream S Lake F

a.

Nb, g/l

1

0.1

0.01

0.001 1

10 DOC, mg/l

100

10

d.

Nb, g/l

1

0.1

0.01

0.001 0.01

0.1

1 Fe, mg/l

10

100

Figure 6-3: Relationship between niobioum and the DOC and Fe concentrations in waters in Simpevarp (S) and Forsmark (F).

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Activities th

th

On the 7 and 8 of May a meeting was held informing scientists of Nova FoU and visiting Äspö HRL, the Bentonite laboratory and the Canister laboratory. At the meeting Dr. Olle Selinus, Geological Survey of Sweden, presented research in Geology and Health. Dr. Gunnar Buckau, Institute for Nuclear Waste Disposal Germany, presented project financing through the EURATOM-program. th

st

On the 20 and 21 of August scientists from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) are invited to Oskarshamn and Nova to see SKB:s facilities and discuss future projects at Nova FoU.

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