A model approach to radioactive waste disposal at Sellafield |
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| Authors: | R S Haszeldine C McKeown |
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| Institution: | Department of Geology and Applied Geology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, UK |
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| Abstract: | One of the great environmental problems of our age is the safe disposal of radioactive waste for geological time periods. Britain is currently investigating a potential site for underground burial of waste, near the Sellafield nuclear plant. Future leakage of radionuclides depends greatly on subsurface water flows; these must be understood from the past, to predict hydrogeology 104–105 years into the future. We have taken information from the present-day, published by the government company Nirex, and used a finite-element steady-state fluid flow computer code to examine water flows in the subsurface. We find that flow directions at the planned Repository are persistently upwards, and that geologically significant flow rates could occur. How rates are particularly sensitive to uncertainties of rock permeability (conductivity) measurements made from site investigation boreholes. The hydrogeology at this site needs longer term investigation before a confident and credible prediction can be made. |
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