Investigation of Coupled Processes in Argillite Rock: FY18 Progress

The report presents the current status of the TOUGH-FLAC and TOUGH-RBSN simulators for modeling of coupled THM processes in argillite, including fracturing, and verification of the TOUGH-FLAC model against major in situ heater experiments at the Mont Terri Underground Research Laboratory (URL) in Switzerland and at the URL in Bure, France. The heater experiments modeled are the Mont Terri FE (Full-scale Emplacement) Experiment, conducted as part of the Mont Terri Project, and the TED and ALC experiments conducted in Callovo-Oxfordian claystone (COx) at the Meuse/Haute-Marne (MHM) URL in Bure, France. The modeling of the TED and ALC heater experiments is part of a modeling task (Task E) of the international DECOVALEX-2019 project. DECOVALEX, which stands for DEvelopment of COupled Models and their VALidation against EXperiments, is an international collaborative activity, in which DOE and LBNL gain access to unique laboratory and field data defined as modeling test cases. DECOVALEX tasks are studied collectively among several international groups to better understand the processes and to improve numerical models that could eventually be applied in the performance assessment for nuclear waste disposal in clay host rocks and bentonite backfill. The report also includes a description of LBNL’s activities for modeling gas migration in bentonite related to Task A of the international DECOVALEX project, and presents new FY2018 work related to monitoring and characterization of faults using a unique borehole tool.