08 FEP Catalogue, Database, and Knowledge Archive

FEP Catalogue, Database, and Knowledge Archive
Geoff Freeze, David Sevougian, Mike Gross, and Kris Kuhlman
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL)
Jens Wolf and Dieter Buhmann
Gesellschaft für Anlagen- und Reaktorsicherheit (GRS)
8th US/German Workshop on Salt Repository
Research, Design, and Operation
Middelburg, The Netherlands
September 5-7, 2017
Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-mission laboratory managed and operated by
National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary
of Honeywell International Inc. for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear
Security Administration under contract DE-NA0003525. SAND2017-9305C.

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Outline
 Participants
 SNL: Geoff Freeze, David Sevougian, Michael Gross, Kris Kuhlman, Christi Leigh
 DOE Spent Fuel and Waste Science and Technology (SFWST)
 Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP)
 GRS: Jens Wolf, Dieter Buhmann, Jörg Mönig
 Gorleben (VSG) – domal salt
 KOSINA – bedded salt
 Objectives / Motivation for FEPs Collaboration
 Feature, Event, and Process (FEP) Matrix Review
 Update on Collaborative Results
 New structure/organization for FEPs and their Associated Processes
 Full set of “generic” FEPs and Associated Processes
 Advancements in SaltFEP Database and Salt Knowledge Archive
 Future Work

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Objectives/Motivation for
FEPs Collaboration
 Produce a common FEP list
 Identify relevant FEPs for disposal of heat-generating waste (SNF and
HLW) in salt
 Applicable to all potential salt concepts and sites
 Can support site selection
 Now applicable to other host rocks (e.g., crystalline and argillite/shale)
 Refine the FEP Matrix approach and organizational structure
 Improves transparency and reduces redundancy
 Develop an online FEP database and salt knowledge archive
 NEA Salt Club
 Produce a FEP Catalogue for use by all NEA Salt Club members
 Countries with potential interest in salt repositories
 Consistency with the pending update to the NEA International FEP
Database

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FEP Matrix Overview
Coupled THCMBR Processes and Events
A FEP is Process or Event acting upon
or within a Feature or Component
 Two-dimensional FEP organizational structure:
 Columns = Process/Event Categories
 Rows = Feature/Component Categories
Thermal-centric
organization of the
processes and
process coupling

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Full FEP Matrix
Processes and
Events
• 2-letter identifier
(TM, TC, etc.)
• General
Definition (GD)
Features and
Components
• 2-digit identifier
(00, 01, etc.)
• Characteristic
(CP)
Each Matrix Cell contains all Individual
FEPs related to the Process/Event acting
upon or within the Feature/Component
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Individual FEPs
 Each individual FEP has a unique alpha-numeric identifier
 Traceable to location in the FEP Matrix (row and column)
 e.g., BB.02.TT.01, BB.02.TT.02, …
 BB = Buffer/Backfill feature
 BB.02 = Backfill (component 02 of the buffer/backfill feature)
 TT = Transport process
 01 = first FEP in the BB.02.TT Matrix Cell
 More descriptive than strictly numeric identifiers
 Can still be traced to NEA FEP Database numbering scheme
 Related FEPs can be found
 In the same Matrix Cell
 Along a Row, for FEPs affecting the same feature/component
 Along a Column, for FEPs driven by the same process/event

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Associated Processes
 Each Individual FEP defined by one or more “Associated Processes”
 BB.02.TT.01 (Transport of Dissolved Radionuclides in the Liquid Phase in Backfill)
 (A) Advection
 (B) Dispersion
 (C) Diffusion
 (D) Matrix diffusion
 (E) Intra-aqueous complexation
 (F) Isotopic dilution
 (G) Dilution by mixing with formation waters
 (H) Solubility of radionuclides and other species
 BB.02.TT.02 (Transport of Dissolved Radionuclides with Stationary Phases in Backfill)
 ….
 BB.02.TT.08 (Interaction of Colloids with Other Phases in Backfill)
 Screening (inclusion/exclusion in PA model and/or scenario
development) occurs at the “Associated Process” level

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Accomplishments
 Combined Salt FEPs (2015)
 Derived from prior U.S. and German FEPs
 Informed by NEA FEPs
 Focus on FEPs which emphasize differences
between bedded and domal salt
 Documented in Sevougian et al. (2015)
 FEP Descriptions
 Preliminary, generic screening
 Generic Repository FEPs (2016)
 FEP Matrix redesigned to be generally applicable to
any mined concept and host rock
 Features/components made more general, e.g.,
– Host Rock (HR) component “Bedded or domal salt”
changed to “Emplacement Unit(s)”
 Various individual FEPs made less “salt-centric” and
more general

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Recent Developments
(2016-2017)
 New structured hierarchical formulation of Individual FEPs
and Associated Processes
 Eliminates some redundancy among FEPs
 Allow for easier completeness check for each FEP Matrix Cell
 Screening continues to be managed at the Associated Process level,
rather than at the overarching FEP level
 SaltFEP Database and Salt Knowledge Archive
 Incorporation of new FEPs and Associated Processes into database
 Mapping of prior (UFD, VSG) salt FEPs to new FEP structure
 Addition of references for FEP-based salt knowledge archive
 NEA Salt Club interactions
 SAND Report describing Salt FEP Catalogue and Database in preparation
 Potential deliverable to NEA Salt Club
 Beta testing of NEA FEP Database (web-based Version 0.3)

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New Structure for FEPs and
 Individual FEPs (e.g., HR.01.TM.06) are formulated around
driving forces or “loading”
 Associated Processes (e.g., HR.01.TM.06.A, B, …) are formulated
as fluxes or responses to the driving forces
 Developed templates for each specific process (TM, TH, TC, etc.)
 Each process-specific template attempted to define equivalent /
comparable driving forces and responses for each feature/component
 Some differences between forces/responses in waste/engineered features vs.
comparable forces/responses in geosphere/natural features
 Due to thermal-centric organization of FEPs, thermal effects are often captured
in separate FEPs
 In any template, the level of “discretization” of both FEPs and Associated
Processes is somewhat arbitrary
 New FEP list is finely discretized - could be amended for specific licensing issues
 Need broader discretization (more “lumping”) for model building

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Full Set of Generic FEPs and
 Completed development of a
full set of Generic Repository
FEPs and Associated Processes
 Generally applicable to any
mined concept and host rock
 Informed by parallel FEP
development efforts in U.S. for
Generic Mined Repositories and
Deep Borehole Disposal
 crystalline (2016), shale (2017)
 Mapped prior (UFD, VSG) salt
FEPs to new FEP structure
~ 450 FEPs
~ 2,000 Associated Processes

HR.02 =
Emplacement Unit(s)
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Example - New TH FEPs and
FEP
Identifier
FEP Description Associated Processes
HR.02.TH.01 Pressure-Driven Darcy Flow
Through Fractures and Porous
Media in Emplacement Unit(s)
- (A) Pressure-driven flow of liquid (wetting) phase
- (B) Pressure-driven flow of gas (non-wetting) phase
- (C) Flow of any additional phases (e.g., hydrocarbons)
- (D) Pressure-driven flow between fractures and matrix (local non-equilibrium)
HR.02.TH.02 Capillarity-Dominated Darcy Flow
in Emplacement Unit(s)
- (A) Wicking and imbibition (i.e., infiltration without gravity)
- (B) Vapor barrier (i.e., reduction in relative liquid permeability at low saturation)
- (C) Immiscible phase interaction and displacement
- (D) Trapping, discontinuous blobs, or viscous fingering in non-wetting phase
HR.02.TH.03 Gravity- and Density-Dominated
Flow in Emplacement Unit(s)
- (A) Free convection due to density variation (from temperature or salinity effects)
- (B) Infiltration and drainage
HR.02.TH.04 Adsorption-Dominated Flow in
Emplacement Unit(s)
- (A) Thin film flow below residual saturation (i.e., near liquid dry-out)
- (B) Hygroscopy (equilibration of solid phase with humidity)
- (C) Immobile water in nano-pores or in small-aperture fractures
HR.02.TH.05 Diffusion or Dispersion in Miscible
Phases in Emplacement Unit(s)
- (A) Diffusion of vapor in air phase
- (B) Diffusion of dissolved gas in liquid phase
HR.02.TH.06 Non-Darcy Flow Through
Fractures and Porous Media in
Emplacement Unit(s)
- (A) High Reynolds number fluid flow in large-aperture fractures
- (B) Erosion or sedimentation (i.e., non-chemical plugging) of fractures and flow paths
- (C) Threshold gradient flow in low-permeability matrix
HR.02.TH.07 Thermal-Hydrological Effects on
Flow in Emplacement Unit(s)
- (A) Convection and conduction of energy via liquid phase
- (B) Convection of energy via vapor (i.e., heat pipe)
- (C) Fluid density and viscosity changes due to temperature (e.g., thermal expansion of
brine)
- (D) Phase changes (i.e., condensation, boiling) leading to dry-out or resaturation
- (E) Release of water from hydrated minerals during heating
- (F) Decrepitation, creation (during reconsolidation), and migration of fluid inclusions
Driving Forces Responses

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Example - New TM FEPs and
FEP
Identifier
HR.01.TM.01 External Stress Causes
Elastic Deformation of
the DRZ
(A) Closure of the excavations causes elastic deformation of the DRZ
(B) Closure of the excavations opens or compresses the fractures in the DRZ
(C) Failure of the drift liners or mine workings causes elastic deformation of the DRZ
Plastic Deformation
and/or Localized Failure
of the DRZ
(A) Closure of the excavations causes permanent displacements along fractures in the DRZ
(B) Closure of the excavations heals fractures in the DRZ
(C) Backstress from backfill, drift/tunnel seals, drift supports, or drift liners accelerates healing of fractures in DRZ
(D) Floor heave or spalling from the walls and back changes the cross-section or depth of the DRZ.
(E) Non-thermally-induced volume changes (e.g., from closure of fractures) alter the mechanical properties of DRZ
(F) Erosion or dissolution of the DRZ surrounding the Mine Workings changes the mechanical loads on the DRZ
HR.01.TM.03 Gravitational Force
Causes Deformation or
Failure of the DRZ
(A) Rockfall changes the cross-section and depth of the DRZ
(B) Drift collapse changes the cross-section and depth of the DRZ
(C) Separation and failure of a roof beam changes the cross-section and depth of the DRZ
HR.01.TM.04 Mechanical Effects of
Gas Pressure on the
DRZ
(A) Internal pressurization caused by gas generation, gas explosion, or closure of excavations alters the internal
stress on the DRZ
Liquid Pressure on the
DRZ
(A) Internal pressurization caused by compression of pore water in the emplacement drifts alters the internal stress
on the DRZ
(B) Swelling of clay-based materials may increase pore pressure and change the effective stress on or in the DRZ
and its fractures
(C) Smectite illitization or other chemical reactions may increase pore pressure and change the effective stress on
or in the DRZ and its fractures
HR.01.TM.06 Thermal-Mechanical
Effects on the Evolution
of the DRZ
(A) Thermally-enhanced closure rates / rockfall / drift collapse / floor buckling / backfill consolidation alter the stress
state in the DRZ
(B) Thermally-induced volume changes(thermal expansion/thermal stress/thermally-induced cracking) alter the
stress state in the DRZ
(C) Temperature dependence of thermal or mechanical properties may alter the response of the DRZ
HR.01 = DRZ

FEP
Identifier
Elastic Deformation of the
Emplacement Unit(s)
-(A) Closure of the excavations causes stress redistribution and elastic deformation of the Emplacement
Unit(s)
-(B) Failure of the drift liners or mine workings causes stress redistribution and elastic deformation of the
Emplacement Unit(s)
Plastic Deformation and/or
Localized Failure of the
Emplacement Unit(s)
-(A) Closure of the excavations causes stress redistribution and plastic deformation and/or failure of the
Emplacement Unit(s)
- (B) Non-thermally-induced volume changes (e.g., from swelling or cracking) in the Emplacement Unit(s)
-(C) Closure of the excavations causes subsidence in the Emplacement Unit(s)
HR.02.TM.03 Gravitational Force Causes
Deformation or Failure of
the Emplacement Unit(s)
- (A) Formation of a rock chimney alters the mechanical state of the Emplacement Unit(s)
HR.02.TM.04 Mechanical Effects of Gas
Pressure on the
Emplacement Unit(s)
-(A) Internal pressurization caused by gas generation, gas explosion, or by closure of excavations alters
stress in the Emplacement Unit(s) beyond the DRZ
Liquid Pressure on the
Emplacement Unit(s)
-(A) Internal pressurization caused by compression of pore waters in the emplacement drifts or
Emplacement Unit(s) alters stress in the Emplacement Unit(s)
-(B) Swelling of clay-based materials may increase pore pressure and change the effective stress in the
Emplacement Unit(s)
-(C) Smectite illitization or other chemical reactions may increase pore pressure and change the effective
stress in the Emplacement Unit(s)
HR.02.TM.06 Thermal-Mechanical
Effects in the Emplacement
Unit(s)
-(A) Thermally-accelerated closure rates / rockfall / drift collapse alter the stresses in the Emplacement
Unit(s)
- (B) Thermally-induced volume changes (thermal expansion/thermal stress/thermally-induced cracking)
alter the stresses in the Emplacement Unit(s)
-(C) Temperature dependence of thermal or mechanical properties may alter the response of the
Emplacement Unit(s)
(D) Dryout may change the mechanical properties of the Emplacement Unit(s)
HR.02 =
Emplacement Unit(s)
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Example - New TM FEPs and

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SaltFEP Database and
Salt Knowledge Archive
 www.saltfep.org
 Incorporation of new FEPs and Associated Processes into
database
 Complete list of new FEPs fully incorporated into electronic database
 Mapping of prior (UFD, VSG) salt FEPs to new FEP structure
 New database search and evaluation functions added
 Addition of references for FEP-based salt knowledge archive
 Replaces SNL’s SITED on-line archive
 SITED has been taken offline and would require significant effort to comply
with SNL network security requirements

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Salt Knowledge Archive
 Add salt knowledge references from SITED
 SITED (web frontend to a MySQL bibliographic
database, like used at libraries) had:
 Large number of documents (most obtained through
query of other databases)
 Many false hits (e.g., “salton sea”, “molten salt
reactors”)
 Some carefully curated content
 Salt Knowledge Archive (as part of the saltFEP
Database) will have:
 Smaller number of documents
 More relevant documents
 Linking directly to FEPs

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Future Developments
 Salt FEP Catalogue and Database
 Fuller description/definition of FEPs and Associated Processes
 requires significant resources
 Preliminary screening for salt repository
 generic FEPs only, hard to screen without a site or design
 Salt FEP Database and Knowledge Archive
 Improve database functionality
 Add salt knowledge references from SITED
 NEA Participation
 Exchange with NEA FEP Group
 Finalize deliverable SAND Report

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FEP Analysis Overview
 A FEP is a Process or Event acting upon
or within Feature(s)
 FEP Identification
 Develop and classify a comprehensive
list of FEPs potentially relevant to long-
term repository performance
 FEP Screening
 Specify a subset of important FEPs that
individually, or in combination, that
contribute to long-term repository
performance
 Scenario Development and Screening
 Identify and screen scenarios (i.e.,
combinations/sequences of FEPs)
 Nominal/reference
 Disruptive/alternative

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Use of FEPs in Repository
Development
 Construction of scenarios and models
 Important processes and events (safety affecting)
 Completeness of model
 Post-closure safety case
 Organization of remaining “issues” and
uncertainties
 Completeness check
 RD&D prioritization
 Organization/planning and allocation of resources
(personnel, financial, etc.) to reduce future
uncertainties and add confidence
 Database structuring
 Linkages between models, scenarios, and RD&D
needs

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FEP Matrix with Combined
Salt FEPs
U.S.
~200 UFD Bedded Salt FEPs
(Sevougian et al. 2012)
 Modified from generic FEPs
(Freeze et al. 2011) to be more
salt-specific
 Derived from NEA FEP Database
(1999, 2006)
 Cross-checked against WIPP FEP
catalogue (DOE 2009)
Germany
~100 Gorleben VSG FEPs
(Wolf et al. 2012a,b)
 Derived from NEA FEP Database
(1999, 2006)
 Specific to a salt dome in
Northern Germany

08 FEP Catalogue, Database, and Knowledge Archive

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08 FEP Catalogue, Database, and Knowledge Archive