BGE TECHNOLOGY GmbH at EGU General Assembly 2026 in Vienna
BGE TECHNOLOGY GmbH colleagues at the EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, May 2026.
From 3 to 8 May 2026, the European Geosciences Union (EGU) held its annual General Assembly in Vienna, Austria. The conference is one of the largest geoscientific gatherings worldwide, bringing together 20,027 participants from 127 countries across 1,014 sessions and more than 20,000 presentations. Notably, 58 per cent of submitted abstracts were attributed to Junior Scientists and Researchers, which reflects the conference's role in supporting the development of the next generation of geoscientific researchers.
BGE TECHNOLOGY GmbH (BGE TEC) was represented by Dr. Tymofiy Gerasimov, Dr. Ulrich Kelka, and Dr. Ajmal Monnamitheen, who participated from 3 to 5 May 2026. They were joined by colleagues from BGE, Dr. Axel Liebscher and Dr. Alex Tatomir, who also contributed as co-authors to presentations delivered as part the BGE TEC programme.
Technical Contributions
All three oral presentations were delivered in sessions ERE3.4 and ERE3.2, both of which addressed topics directly relevant to repository research and geological disposal.
Dr. Gerasimov presented comparative studies of the sealing capacity of Wyoming MX-80 and BCV bentonites, drawing on data from the HotBENT in-situ experiment, which were supported by thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) simulations. The presentation examined the behaviour of both bentonite types under the thermal and hydraulic conditions relevant to engineered barrier systems in deep geological repositories, contributing to the technical basis for the characterisation and comparison of bentonite materials under repository-relevant conditions. (Session EGU26-9938 | ERE3.4 | DOI: 10.5194/egusphere-egu26-9938)
Dr. Kelka presented a methodology for the automated generation of site-specific discrete fracture networks (DFN), incorporating mixture-model orientation clustering and fracture-count calibration. The approach addresses the challenge of characterising fractured rock masses in a reproducible and site-specific manner, with direct relevance to the assessment of hydraulic and mechanical properties of potential host rock formations in geological disposal programmes. (Session EGU26-17621 | ERE3.4 | DOI: 10.5194/egusphere-egu26-17621)
Dr. Monnamitheen presented a study on the structural design of concrete lining for drift intersections in deep geological repositories in claystone. Drift intersections represent geometrically and structurally complex elements of repository infrastructure, where the interaction between the engineered support system and the host rock requires careful analysis. The study addressed design criteria and analytical approaches applicable to repository construction in claystone formations and thus contributed to the technical basis for repository engineering in this host rock type. (Session EGU26-20883 | ERE3.2 | DOI: 10.5194/egusphere-egu26-20883)
Exchange at the Conference
Beyond the formal presentation programme, the conference provided opportunities for exchange with research partners on topics including coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical processes, claystone behaviour, and the application of machine learning methods in the context of radioactive waste disposal. On the margins of the conference, BGE TEC met several partner organisations to review the current state of ongoing activities and to identify prospects for potential future activities.
The EGU General Assembly continues to provide a relevant forum for the geoscientific and repository research communities, enabling the presentation of technical findings and the exchange of methodological approaches across national programmes.
This and all further publications by BGE TEC are available in our publication database.