The document discusses international collaboration in disposal research that is beneficial to the US Department of Energy's (DOE) disposal research program. It describes several multinational cooperative initiatives and bilateral collaborations that the DOE is a partner in. This includes participating in experiments at underground research laboratories in other countries to study processes in different host rock environments. International collaboration provides access to global expertise and allows the testing of models developed by the DOE against real-world experimental data from other countries.

1. Spent Fuel and Waste Science and Technology
International Collaboration in
Disposal Research:
Introduction
Jens Birkholzer
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
SFWST Working Group Meeting
“International Session”
UNLV, Las Vegas, NV
05/24/2017

2. Spent Fuel and
Waste Science and
Technology
Overview
International Collaborations
 Active collaboration with international programs has proven a very beneficial and cost-
effective approach to advance DOE’s disposal research program
 Activities are balanced in terms of host rock, repository design and R&D issues
q Mont Terri Project
– Participate in experiments at Mont Terri clay URL
in Switzerland
q DECOVALEX Project
– Participate in model comparison initiative for
several URL related tasks in different host rocks
q FEBEX DP
– Participate in FEBEX dismantling project, which
evaluates bentonite-rock behavior after 18 years of
heating
q SKB Task Forces
– Participate in crystalline rock research centered
around Äspö HRL in Sweden
q Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA)
– Thermochemical Database Project
– Salt Club
– Clay Club
q Colloid Formation and Migration Project
– Participate in colloid research at Grimsel granite
URL in Switzerland (ended in 2015)
q US-Republic of Korea (ROK)
– Participate in KAERI Underground Research
Tunnel (KURT) experiments in crystalline rock
– Joint Fuel Cycle Study (JFCS), information
exchange in used fuel disposal
q US-Germany Salt Collaboration
– Participate in testing and modeling studies for
thermal-mechanical and hydrological behavior of
domal and bedded salt
q US-Sweden COSC Collaboration
– Participate in testing hydrogeological
characterization methods for deep boreholes
q US-China
– Bilateral Civil Nuclear Energy Cooperative Action
Plan (BCNECAP) with working group in Spent Fuel
Storage and Repository Science
q Other Potential Opportunities
– Explore use of existing Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) between DOE and Spain
(ENRESA), France (ANDRA), Japan (JNEAP) and
Belgium
Current Portfolio of International Partnerships
Leveraging global knowledge for domestic goals
Building a foundation for collaboration, trust, and joint action
Planned collaboration in HotBENT project

3. Spent Fuel and
Waste Science and
Technology
Principles of International Collaboration
Activities in Disposal R&D
Focus on activities that complement ongoing disposal R&D within
SFWST (e.g., testing the modeling tools developed in SFWST in
comparison with international experiments)
Emphasize collaboration that provides access to and/or allows
participation in operating underground research laboratories (URLs) not
currently available in the U.S.
Focus on collaboration opportunities for active R&D participation
Select collaborative R&D activities based on technical merit, relevance
to safety case, and cost/benefit, and strive for balance in terms:
– Host rock focus (clay, crystalline, salt)
– Repository design (mined repository, deep borehole, high-temperature)
– Key R&D issues (natural barrier perturbation, engineered barrier integrity, flow
and transport, integrated system behavior)
Use improved process understanding and tested simulation models
for input/use in generic performance evaluations 3

4. Spent Fuel and
Waste Science and
Technology
Key R&D Issues and High-Level
Research Questions
4
Key R&D Issues High-Level Research Questions
Near-Field Perturbation How important is the near-field damage to a host rock (such as clay and salt)
due to initial mechanical and thermal perturbation, and how effective is healing
and sealing of the damage zone in the long-term? How reliable are existing
constitutive models for the deformation of elastoplastic and plastic geomaterials
as affected by temperature and water content changes?
Engineered Barrier
Integrity
What is the long-term stability and retention capability of backfills and seals? In
a clay host rock, can bentonite mixtures be developed that allow for gas
pressure release while maintaining sealing properties for water? In fractured
granite, can bentonite be eroded when in contact with water from flowing
fractures? How relevant are interactions between engineered and natural barrier
materials, such as metal-bentonite-cement interactions?
Radionuclide Transport Can the radionuclide transport in fractured granites be predicted with
confidence? What is the potential for enhanced transport with colloids? How can
the diffusive transport processes in nano-pore materials such as compacted
clays and bentonites best be described? What is the effect of high temperature
on the swelling and sorption characteristics of clays (i.e., considering the heat
load from dual-purpose canisters)?
Demonstration of
Integrated System
Behavior
Can the behavior of an entire repository system, including all engineered and
natural barriers and their interaction, be demonstrated and is the planned
construction/emplacement method feasible?

5. Spent Fuel and
Waste Science and
Technology
Activities by R&D Issues (2015)
5
Main Technical
Area Addressed
International
Experiment
URL Main R&D Focus SFWST International Activity and
Status, Science Question Addressed
Near-Field Perturbation HE-E Heater Test Mont Terri,
Switzerland
Bentonite/rock interaction to evaluate sealing and clay
barrier performance at elevated temperature, micro-
tunnel
THM modeling and interpretation of the heater
test data to date and comparison of results with
other international teams
Near-Field Perturbation EBS Experiment Horonobe,
Japan
Studies of the thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical
(THMC) behavior of the EBS under heating conditions
with vertical emplacement
Design phase predictions for better planning of
test design and monitoring system. Model
results are being compared between
international teams.
Near-Field Perturbation HG-A Test Mont Terri,
Switzerland
Evaluation of flow paths through the near-field damage
zone and specifically along seals
Application of new discrete fracture damage
model for rock strain and fracture damage
Engineered Barrier
Integrity
CI Experiment Mont Terri Chemical interaction between host rock and engineered
barrier materials
Analysis of test samples (clay/cement interface)
using small-angle neutron scattering
Engineered Barrier
Integrity
BRIE (Bentonite-Rock
Interaction
experiment)
Äspö Hard
Rock
Laboratory
Understand the impact of flowing fractures in crystalline
rock on bentonite saturation, integrity and erosion
Discrete fracture modeling approach to interpret
BRIE data
Engineered Barrier
Integrity
FEBEX DP Grimsel Test
Site
Dismantling and sampling of long-term test evaluating
the long-term integrity and performance of heated
bentonite backfill
Sample analysis and THMC modeling
Flow and Radionuclide
Transport
Bedrichov Tunnel
Experiment
Bedrichov,
Czech Republic
Interpretation of water inflow patterns and tracer
transport behavior in fractured granite
Simulation of transport of multiple environmental
tracers to estimate fracture network properties
Flow and Radionuclide
Transport
Colloid-facilitated RN
Migration Test
Grimsel Test
Site
Evaluate RN transport of bentonite colloids compared in
a shear zone in fractured granite
Interpretation of breakthrough data via semi-
analytical and numerical methods
Flow and Radionuclide
Transport
DR-A Diffusion
Experiment
Mont Terri Diffusion behavior of tracers in a clay host rock with
anion exclusion and sorption
Application of new modeling capabilities (for
electrical double layer effects) to DR-A data and
comparison with international teams
Demonstration of
Integrated System
Behavior
FE Test Mont Terri Full-scale demonstration experiment, one of the largest
and longest-duration heater tests. Testing overall
performance of geologic disposal in Opalinus Clay.
Design phase predictions for better planning of
test design and monitoring system. Model
results are being compared between
international teams.
Demonstration of
Integrated System
Behavior
Prototype Repository Äspö Hard
Rock
Laboratory
Full-scale demonstration experiment. Testing overall
performance of geologic disposal in fractured granite.
Currently post-mortem.
Likely

6. Spent Fuel and
Waste Science and
Technology
2016 International Collaboration Report
 Content of Report:
– International Opportunities and
Strategic Considerations
– Multinational Cooperative
Initiatives
– Bilateral Collaboration
Opportunities
– Selection of International
Collaboration Activities
– Status of International
Collaboration Activities with
Focus on URL Experiments
– Brief Status of Other
International Collaboration
Activities
6
221 pages

7. Spent Fuel and
Waste Science and
Technology
 SFWST has built a broad portfolio of international R&D activities in
disposal science
 In particular, SFWST joined several multinational cooperation initiatives
as a formal partner, in addition to multiple bilateral collaborations
 Active collaboration with international programs, initiatives, or projects
is now the centerpiece of DOE’s disposal research program
 International disposal research activities have been very beneficial to
SFWST mission
- Improved technical understanding
- Model testing and validation against in situ data
- Confidence and community building
 HotBENT is first potential experiment that DOE has been actively
planning with partners; up to now, activities have been mostly
“opportunistic”
International Collaboration: Status
7

8. Spent Fuel and
Waste Science and
Technology
 Direct R&D Benefits within the SFWST Context
– Benefitting from a deep international knowledge base regarding different repository
environments
– Accessing relevant data/experiments from a variety of underground research labs and
host rocks
– Utilizing considerable international investments in research facilities and methods (such
as underground research laboratory tests and modeling)
– Tapping into millions of R&D dollars that have been provided by other countries
 Indirect Benefits Beyond SFWST
– Re-establishing the U.S. program as a trusted and committed participants in
international collaborative efforts
– Maintaining DOE’s international leadership regarding the necessary expertise and tools
to assess various disposal environments in the near-term and the long-term
– Sharing of knowledge and experience to stay abreast with new science advances
– Working towards a common set of disposal best practices and lessons learned
– Building valuable relationships of mutual respect and trust
– Attracting and building a new generation of “waste disposal” scientists
Benefits of International Collaboration
8

9. Spent Fuel and Waste Science and Technology
International Session
Discussion

10. Spent Fuel and
Waste Science and
Technology
Points of Contact
10
Agreement POC SFWST POC DOE SFWST Coord.
DECOVALEX Jens Birkholzer Mark Tynan Jens Birkholzer
Mont Terri Jens Birkholzer Prasad Nair Jens Birkholzer
SKB GWFTS Hari Viswanathan Prasad Nair Jens Birkholzer
SKB EBS Liange Zheng
Carlos Jove-C.
Prasad Nair Jens Birkholzer
FEBEX-DP Liange Zheng
Carlos Jove-C.
Prasad Nair Jens Birkholzer
KURT Kevin McMahon Bill Spezialetti Kevin McMahon

11. Spent Fuel and
Waste Science and
Technology
2016 International Collaboration Report
 Content of Report:
– International Opportunities and
Strategic Considerations
– Multinational Cooperative
Initiatives
– Bilateral Collaboration
Opportunities
– Selection of International
Collaboration Activities
– Status of International
Collaboration Activities with
Focus on URL Experiments
– Brief Status of Other
International Collaboration
Activities
11
221 pages

12. Spent Fuel and
Waste Science and
Technology
Milestone Feeds FY17
12

13. Spent Fuel and
Waste Science and
Technology
 Taking stock of current and future activities:
– Do we have the right portfolio/balance of projects and tasks?
– Are there valuable opportunities we missed? Why?
– What is the benefit to the program?
 Going forward
– Revisit, change, and add to current portfolio?
– Are there too many opportunities with too little support?
– Is it time for DOE to be more active than reactive in international settings? Plan own
experiments? Organize and lead own modeling tasks?
Discussion
13

14. Spent Fuel and Waste Science and Technology
International Session
Backup

15. Spent Fuel and
Waste Science and
Technology
 Reflection on current and planning of future activities:
– Do we have the right portfolio/balance of projects and tasks?
– Are there valuable opportunities we missed? Why?
 What is the benefit to the program:
– How has / will ongoing or proposed work enhanced our disposal system
understanding?
– How has / will ongoing or proposed work served the needs of generic / advanced
system model development?
– What FEP analysis benefits from the work?
– What knowledge gaps need to be addressed? Is activity within priority area of
concern?
– What advanced system models do we still need to develop? Will this work contribute to
model improvement or model validation?
– How will activity contribute to reduction in uncertainty, enhance technical basis,
address R&D roadmap priorities, support model development, refine safety case?
Taking Stock and Activity Planning
15

16. Spent Fuel and
Waste Science and
Technology
 Information Types and Sources
– Reports from ongoing SFWST activities and technical results
– Reports, databases, etc. from cooperation partners and initiatives
– Presentations from workshops and meetings
– Trip reports
– Updates on existing and upcoming opportunities
 Dissemination Options
– Regular conference calls (part of crystalline/argillite/salt or separate international)
– Email updates (email distribution list for international?)
– Designated web space for international
– Allow access to Mont Terri internal web site, other project web sites
– Others?
Dissemination of Information
16