• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.15-23
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• 2012

A numerical model and field monitoring data are used to estimate a change in groundwater level at a borrow site, which will be constructed at the mountainous area with a large ground excavation in the study area, Hwaseong city. Lithologic data and hydraulic coefficients are collected at 9 boreholes and also groundwater levels are measured at these boreholes and existing wells in the study area. Additionally, groundwater recharge rate for the type of land cover is estimated using water budget analysis; 133.34mm/year for a mountainous area, 157.68mm/year for a farming area, 71.08mm/year for an urbanized area, and 26.06mm/year for a bedrock exposure area. The change in groundwater level in and around a borrow site is simulated with Modflow using these data. The result of a transient model indicates that a removal of high ground (over 40El.m) by an excavation will produce a decrease in groundwater levels, up to 1 m, around a borrow site in 10 years. It also explains that this ground excavation will bring about the decreases of 9.4% and 7.0% for groundwater recharge and surface runoff, respectively, which are the factors causing groundwater level's change. This study shows that it is required to construct the groundwater monitoring wells to observe the change of groundwater near a borrow site.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.47-55
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• 2007

Using the results of the Piezocone Penetration Test (PCPT) which were executed at the Yangsan-Mulgum site, the applicability of the interpretation methods for estimating the coefficient of consolidation ($C_v$) of soft clay was evaluated. At the same time, laboratory soil tests using the total of 172 undisturbed soft clay samples from the 44 regions of the Yangsan-Mulgum site were performed to study the differency in the coefficient of consolidation ($C_v$) compared to the results of PCPT. The calculated constrained modulus ($M_{\varepsilon}$) and coefficient of consolidation ($C_v$) using the results of consolidation laboratory tests which are based upon the consolidation theory of Terzaghi were compared with the predicted constrained modulus ($M_p$) and coefficient of consolidation ($C_{v-{M_p}}$) from the PCPT. The relationship between the predicted constrained modulus ($M_p$) and the calculated constrained modulus($M_c$) were showed good correlation. The $M_p$ by the Jones & Rust method were showed mostly similar to the calculated constrained modulus ($M_c$). The relationship between the coefficient of consolidation ($C_v$) obtained from the consolidation tests and the calculated coefficient of consolidation ($C_{v-{M_p}}$) were showed a linear relationship. The results of the calculated coefficient of consolidation ($C_{v-{M_p}}$) were about 54% of the value of the coefficient of consolidation ($C_v$) obtained from the consolidation tests.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.12 no.7
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• pp.5-12
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• 2011

When choosing the support pattern of tunnel, the characteristics of rock are identified from the result of the surface geologic survey, boring, and geophysical prospecting and laboratory test. And a rock mass rating is classified and excavation method and standard support pattern are designed considering rock classification, domestic and international construction practices, numerical analysis. According to the revised design standard for tunnel, it was recommended to classify the rock mass rating for the design of tunnel into a rating based on RMR. If necessary, it proposed a flexible standard allowed applying more atomized the rock mass rating and Q-System. Also, the resonable verification of the support pattern must be accompanied because the factors affecting the structure and behavior of ground during the construction of tunnel are the main factors of uncertainty factors such as the nature of ground, ground water and the characteristics of structural materials. These days, such verification method is getting more specialized and diversified. In this study, the empirical method, numerical analysis and comparative analysis of in situ measurements were used to prove the reasonableness in the support pattern by RMR and Q-value on the Imha Dam emergency spillway.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.33-40
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• 2021

The deterioration of underground facilities, disturbance of the ground due to underground development activities, and changes in ground water can cause ground subsidence accidents in the urban areas. The investigation on the geotechnical and hydraulic factors affecting the ground subsidence accident is very significant to predict the ground subsidence risk in advance. In this study, an analysis DB was constructed through 3D ground modeling to utilize the currently operating geotechnical survey information DB and ground water behavior information for risk prediction. Additionally, using these results, the relationship between the actual ground subsidence occurrence history and ground conditions and ground water level changes was confirmed. Furthermore, the methodology used to visualize the risk of ground subsidence was presented by reconstructing the engineering characteristics of the soil presented according to the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) in the existing geotechnical survey information into the internal erosion sensitivity of the soil, Based on the result, it was confirmed that the ground in the area where the ground subsidence occurred consists of more than 40% of sand (SM, SC, SP, SW) vulnerable to internal erosion. In addition, the effect of the occurrence frequency of ground subsidence due to the change in ground water level is also confirmed.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.28-53
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• 2024

In general, high-level radioactive waste (HLW) generated as a result of nuclear power generation should be disposed within the country. Determination of the disposal site and host rock for HLW deep geological repository is an important issue not only scientifically but also politically, economically, and socially. Considered host rock types worldwide for geological disposal include crystalline rocks, sedimentary rocks, volcanic rocks, and salt dome. However, South Korea consists of various rock types except salt dome. This paper not only analyzed the geological and rock mechanical characteristics on a nationwide scale with the preliminary results on various rock type studies for the disposal host rock, but also reviewed the characteristics and possibility of various rock types as a host rock through deep drilling surveys. Based on the nationwide screening for host rock types resulted from literature review, rock distributions, and detailed case studies, Jurassic granites and Cretaceous sedimentary rocks (Jinju and Jindong formations) were derived as a possible candidate host rock types for the geological disposal. However, since the analyzed data for candidate rock types from this study is not enough, it is suggested that the disposal rock type should be carefully determined from additional and detailed analysis on disposal depth, regional characteristics, multidisciplinary investigations, etc.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.313-327
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• 2013

In the study, three-dimensional geostatistical simulations on McMurray Formation which is the largest oil sand reservoir in Athabasca area, Canada were performed, and the optimal site for steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) was selected based on the predictions. In the selection, the factors related to the vertical extendibility of steam chamber were considered as the criteria for an optimal site. For the predictions, 110 borehole data acquired from the study area were analyzed in the Markovian transition probability (TP) framework and three-dimensional distributions of the composing media were predicted stochastically through an existing TP based geostatistical model. The potential of a specific medium at a position within the prediction domain was estimated from the ensemble probability based on the multiple realizations. From the ensemble map, the cumulative thickness of the permeable media (i.e. Breccia and Sand) was analyzed and the locations with the highest potential for SAGD applications were delineated. As a supportive criterion for an optimal SAGD site, mean vertical extension of a unit permeable media was also delineated through transition rate based computations. The mean vertical extension of a permeable media show rough agreement with the cumulative thickness in their general distribution. However, the distributions show distinctive disagreement at a few locations where the cumulative thickness was higher due to highly alternating juxtaposition of the permeable and the less permeable media. This observation implies that the cumulative thickness alone may not be a sufficient criterion for an optimal SAGD site and the mean vertical extension of the permeable media needs to be jointly considered for the sound selections.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.5-15
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• 2020

The liquefaction phenomenon that occurred during the Pohang earthquake (M_L=5.4) brought new awareness to the people about the risk of liquefaction caused by the earthquake. Liquefaction hazard maps with 2 km grid made in 2014 used more than 100,000 borehole data for the whole country, and regions without soil investigation data were produced using interpolation. In the mapping of macro liquefaction hazard for the whole country, the site amplification effect and the ground water level 0 m were considered. Recently, the Ministry of Public Administration and Security (2018) published a new site classification method and amplification coefficient of the common standard for seismic design. Therefore, it is necessary to rewrite the liquefaction hazard map reflecting the revised amplification coefficient. In this study, the results of site classification according to the average shear wave velocity in soils before and after revision were compared in the whole country. Also, liquefaction assessment results were compared in Gangseo-gu, Busan. At this time, two ground accelerations corresponding to the 500 and 1,000 years of return period and two ground water table, 5 m for the average condition and 0 m the extreme condition were applied. In the drawing of liquefaction hazard map, a 500 m grid was applied to secure a resolution higher than the previous 2 km grid. As a result, the ground conditions that were classified as S_C and S_D grounds based on the existing site classification standard were reclassified as S₂, S₃, and S₄ through the revised site classification standard. Also, the result of the Liquefaction assessments with a return period of 500 years and 1,000 years resulted in a relatively overestimation of the LPI applied with the ground amplification factor before revision. And the results of this study have a great influence on the liquefaction assessment, which is the basis of the creation of the regional liquefaction hazard map using the amplification factor.

• The Korean Journal of Petroleum Geology
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• v.3 no.1 s.4
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• pp.1-15
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• 1995

Seismic reflection profiles and exploratory drilling well samples from the southern marginal-continental shelf basin of Korea delineate that the Tertiary sedimentary sequences can be grouped into five sequences (Sequence A, Sequence B, Sequence C, Sequence D and Sequence E, in descending order). Paleontologic data, K-Ar age datings, correlation with tuff layers and sequence stratigraphic analysis reveal that the sequences A, B, C, D and E can be considered as the deposits of Holocene $\~$ Pleistocene, Pliocene, Late Miocene, Early $\~$ Middle Miocene and Oligocene, respectively. The sequence stratigraphic and structural analyses suggest that the southern part of the Cheju Basin had experienced severe folding and faulting. NE-SW trending strike-slip movement is responsible for the deformation. The sinistral movement of strike-slip fault ceased before the deposition of Sequence B. Age dating and rare-earth elements analysis of volvanic rocks reveal+ that the Sequence D was deposited during the Early $\~$ Middle Miocene and the Sequence I was deposited earlier than the deposition of the Green Tuff Formation. Sedimentary petrological studies indicate that sediments of the Sequence I came from the continental block provenance. After the deposition of the Sequence E, uplift of the source area resulted in increase of sediment supply, subsidence and volcanic activities. The Sequence D show these factors and the sediments of the Sequence D are considered to be transported from the recycled orogenic belt.

• Journal of the Geological Society of Korea
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.587-603
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• 2018

3-D petroleum system modeling was performed on the Jeju Basin, offshore southern Korea to analyze the hydrocarbon migration and accumulation as well as the generation and expulsion of the hydrocarbon, based on subsurface structure maps of respective sedimentary formations. The lowermost formation deposited in Eocene time was assigned as a source rock, for which a mixed kerogen of type II and III was input in the modeling of oil and gas generation in consideration of the sedimentary environment of fluvio-lacustrine condition. Initial TOC was 4% as an input, based on the analysis of the well data and sedimentary environment. The modeling results show that a considerable amount of hydrocarbons was generated and expelled from the source rocks at the western Joint Development Zone (JDZ) sub-block 4, where the hydrocarbons was migrated to the above reservoir rocks at 20 Ma. The oil and gas in the reservoir rocks of the JDZ sub-block 4 are accumulated into the prospects with closure structures that has already been formed at the nearby areas. Another generation of hydrocarbon occurs from the source rock at the eastern border area of JDZ sub-block 1 and 2, where the expulsion of the hydrocarbons occurs at 10 Ma from the source rock into the above reservoir rocks, in which the accumulation also is expected. The generation, migration and accumulation were retarded at the eastern area of the JDZ sub-block 1 and 2, compared with the area of the western JDZ sub-block 4. Based on the modeling results, it is estimated that gases migrated laterally and vertically in long distance whereas oil migrated laterally in shorter distance than gases. A substantial amount of hydrocarbon could have seeped out of the reservoir formations to the surface since the migration of oil and gas actively occurred in Miocene time before the formation of seals. However, the modeling shows that the hydrocarbon could be accumulated smoothly into the closed structures that can be formed locally by alternation of sand and shale beds.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.67-72
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• 2005

To investigate the feasibility of a new concept of storing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in a lined hard rock cavern, and to develop essential technologies for constructing underground LNG storage facilities, a small pilot plant storing liquid nitrogen (LN2) has been constructed at the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM). The LN2 stored in the cavern will subject the host rock around the cavern to very low temperatures, which is expected to cause the development of an ice ring and the change of ground condition around the storage cavern. To investigate and monitor changes in ground conditions at this pilot plant site, geophysical, hydrogeological, and rock mechanical investigations were carried out. In particular, geophysical methods including borehole radar and three-dimensional (3D) resistivity surveys were used to identify and monitor the development of an ice ring, and other possible changes in ground conditions resulting from the very low temperature of LN2 in the storage tank. We acquired 3D resistivity data before and after storing the LN2, and the results were compared. From the 3D images obtained during the three phases of the resistivity monitoring survey, we delineated zones of distinct resistivity changes that are closely related to the storage of LN2. In these results, we observed a decrease in resistivity at the eastern part of the storage cavern. Comparing the hydrogeological data and Joint patterns around the storage cavern, we interpret this change in resistivity to result from changes in the groundwater flow pattern. Freezing of the host rock by the very low temperature of LN2 causes a drastic change in the hydrogeological conditions and groundwater flow patterns in this pilot plant.