RANGERS
Development of a guideline for the design and verification of geotechnical barriers for a high-level radioactive waste repository in salt formations
Geotechnical barriers for a repository in salt formations have been addressed in numerous research projects. Within the framework of the Preliminary Safety Analysis for the Gorleben site (VSG), a verification procedure for the integrity of closure elements in a high-level radioactive waste repository in steeply dipping salt formations was developed. In the ELSA project, shaft closures for high-level radioactive waste repositories were extensively studied. Initial recommendations for the planning and execution of geotechnical barriers were formulated by the Salt Mechanics Working Group of the DGGT. The BGE and BGE TECHNOLOGY have been developing and constructing flow barriers in the Asse repository for over ten years. So far, 32 flow barriers have been built and are in routine operation. A prototype sealing structure was built by BGE on a real scale at the Morsleben repository and is currently being scientifically investigated. Despite extensive knowledge and experience with geotechnical barriers in salt formations, there is a lack of regulations for quality-assured design of such structures for a high-level radioactive waste repository.
In collaboration with SANDIA National Laboratories, BGE TECHNOLOGY aims to develop a methodology in the RANGERS project that incorporates existing knowledge and accumulated experience about geotechnical barriers in salt in Germany and the USA. Recommendations for the design and verification of geotechnical barriers based on the state of science and technology are to be formulated, and an overview of innovative concepts, materials, and technologies that will shape tomorrow's state of the art will be provided.
The RANGERS project is divided into the following work packages:
WP 0: Organization of collaboration between BGE TEC and SANDIA – Literature review on geotechnical structures in salt
WP 1: Compilation of the state of science and technology in the planning and construction of geotechnical barriers for repositories in salt
WP 2: Derivation and compilation of boundary conditions and requirements
WP 3: Development of the methodology for the design and verification of geotechnical barriers for a high-level radioactive waste repository in salt formations
WP 4: Utilization of the methodology for the design and verification of geotechnical barriers for one of the generic repository concepts developed in the R&D project KOSINA.
WP 5: Evaluation of the results and comparison with findings from previous projects
WP 6: Documentation and final report
Contact
Research & Development
info@bge-technology.de
Short Infos
Runtime: 2019 - 2023
Client:
Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz (BMWK)
Funding Code:
02E11839
Partner:
SANDIA National Laboratories (SANDIA), Vereinigte Staaten von Amerika
Publications
// Research report
Methodology for Design and Performance Assessment of Engineered Barrier Systems in a Salt Repository for HLW/SNF
Author(s): E. Simo, A. Gafoor, P. Herold, R. León Vargas, A. Lommerzheim, A. Keller, D. Seidel, K. Kuhlman, et al.
Synthesis Report
Language: Englisch
Publication number: BGE TEC 2025-07, SAND2025-02745R
27.01.2025
Simo, E.; Gafoor, A.; Herold, P.; León Vargas, R. P.; Lommerzheim, A.; Keller, A.; Seidel, D.; Kuhlman, K. L.; et al. (2025): Methodology for Design and Performance Assessment of Engineered Barrier Systems in a Salt Repository for HLW/SNF. Synthesis Report. RANGERS: Development of a guideline for the design and verification of geotechnical barriers for a high-level radioactive waste repository in salt formations. BGE TEC 2025-07, SAND2025-02745R. BGE TECHNOLOGY GmbH (BGE TEC), SANDIA National Laboratories (SANDIA). Peine, Albuquerque
// Conference paper
Coupling of Performance Assessments and Integrity Assessments of Sealing Elements in HLW/SNF Repositories in Rock Salt
Author(s): E. Simo, A. Gafoor, R. León Vargas, P. Herold, M. Polster, K. Kuhlman
In: Waste Management Symposia (WMS) (ed.)WM2025 Conference, Phoenix, Arizona, USA, March 9 – March 13, 2025. Curran Associates, Inc.
Language: Englisch
Publication number: 25304
01.06.2025
Simo, E.; Gafoor, A.; León Vargas, R. P.; Herold, P.; Polster, M.; Kuhlman, K. L. (2025): Coupling of Performance Assessments and Integrity Assessments of Sealing Elements in HLW/SNF Repositories in Rock Salt. In: Waste Management Symposia (WMS) (ed.)WM2025 Conference, Phoenix, Arizona, USA, March 9 – March 13, 2025. Curran Associates, Inc.. RANGERS: Development of a guideline for the design and verification of geotechnical barriers for a high-level radioactive waste repository in salt formations. 25304. BGE TECHNOLOGY GmbH (BGE TEC), SANDIA National Laboratories (SANDIA). Red Hook, NY
// Conference paper
Hydraulic evolution in the shaft sealing system of a generic salt repository
Author(s): E. Simo, V. Burlaka, K. Kuhlman, T. Nagel, et al.
In: S. Sobolik; Ingraham, Mathew; Matteo, Edward; Mills, Melissa; Ross, Tonya; Conley, Donald; Stormont, John (eds.)11th Conference on the Mechanical Behavior of Salt (SaltMech XI), Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, July 8 – July 10, 2025. London: CRC Press. pp. 707–721
Language: Englisch
11.07.2025
Simo, E.; Burlaka, V.; Kuhlman, K. L.; Nagel, T.; et al. (2025): Hydraulic evolution in the shaft sealing system of a generic salt repository. In: S. Sobolik; Ingraham, Mathew; Matteo, Edward; Mills, Melissa; Ross, Tonya; Conley, Donald; Stormont, John (eds.)11th Conference on the Mechanical Behavior of Salt (SaltMech XI), Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, July 8 – July 10, 2025. London: CRC Press. pp. 707–721. RANGERS: Development of a guideline for the design and verification of geotechnical barriers for a high-level radioactive waste repository in salt formations. BGE TECHNOLOGY GmbH (BGE TEC), SANDIA National Laboratories (SANDIA), Technischen Universität Bergakademie Freiberg (TUBAF). Santa Fe NM, USA
// Geschäftsberichte
Geschäftsbericht 2024
Author(s): B. TECHNOLOGY GmbH
Geschäftsbericht der BGE TECHNOLOGY GmbH für das Jahr 2024
Language: Deutsch
15.10.2025
// Newsletter
BGE TECHNOLOGY NEWS 2022 Q2
Author(s): T. von Berlepsch, et al.
Second newsletter of BGE TECHNOLOGY GmbH in 2022
- Repository Research in Claystone – The ANSICHT-II Project
- Waste Container Design for the Dutch Disposal Concept in Rock Salt
- BGE and BGE TECHNOLOGY GmbH Intensify Their Cooperation with NUMO
- Start of another 5-YearContract for Technical Support to ONDRAF/NIRAS
- Design and Performance Assessment of Engineered Barrier Systems in a Salt Repository for HLW/SNF
Language: Englisch
01.07.2022