Current status of research
The Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) has published a report on self-sealing of clays in the context of deep geological disposal.
Clays are suitable host formations for disposal of radioactive waste. At depths of several hundreds of metres they are tight and practically impermeable to water. Any fissures and fracture planes present in the rock close by themselves over the course of time. This property is termed “self-sealing” by scientists.
The NEA report summarises the current status of research on this phenomenon. It comes to the conclusion that the key mechanisms involved in self-sealing are scientifically well understood and can be considered in repository safety analyses.
The NEA is an organ of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). Its task is to support member countries in carrying out research in the nuclear field.
The report