• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.198-209
• /
• 2002

To assess deep geological environment for the research and development of hish-level radioactive waste disposal, six boreholes of 3" in diameter were installed in two granitic areas. An areal extent of the rock block scale in the study sites was estimated by the lineament analysis from satellite images and shaded relief maps. The characterization of fracture system developed in rock block scale was carried out based on the acoustic televiewer logging in deep boreholes. In the Yuseong site, the granite rock mass was divided into the upper and lower zones at around -160m based on the probabilistic distribution characteristics of the geometric parameters such as orientation, fracture frequency, spacing and aperture size. Since the groundwater flow is dependent on the fracture system in a fractured rock mass, the correlation of the fracture frequency and cumulative aperture size to the hydraulic conductivity was also discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
• /
• 2004.09a
• /
• pp.453-454
• /
• 2004

Hydrogeochemical and isotopic characteristics were investigated for groundwater of Tertiary basin in southeastern part of Korea where deep drilling is in progress for geothermal investigation. According to geology, aquifer was distinguished as alluvial, tertiary sedimentary bedrock (bedrock groundwater), and fractured volcanic rock (deep groundwater). Groundwater of each aquifer is distinctively separated in Eh-pH conditions and concentrations of Cl, F, B and HCO$_3$. Deep groundwater has very low level 3H and 14C whereas alluvial groundwater has those of recent precipitation level. However one of deep groundwater show mixed characteristics in terms of hydrochemistry which indicates effect of pumping. Deep groundwater have temperature of 38 to 43$^{\circ}C$ whereas bedrock and alluvial groundwater have temperature less than 2$0^{\circ}C$. Fractured basement rock aquifer has different hydrogeologicalsetting from bedrock and alluvial aquifer considering hydrogeochemical and isotopic characteristics, and temperature.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.5-14
• /
• 2008

The deep subseafloor rock in oil reservoirs represents a unique environment in which a high oil contamination and a very low biomass can be observed. Sampling this environment has been a challenge owing to the techniques used for drilling and coring. In this study, the facilities developed by the Brazilian oil company PETROBRAS for accessing deep subsurface oil reservoirs were used to obtain rock samples at 2,822-2,828 m below the ocean floor surface from a virgin field located in the Atlantic Ocean, Rio de Janeiro. To address the bacterial diversity of these rock samples, PCR amplicons were obtained using the DNA from four core sections and universal primers for 16S rRNA and for APS reductase (aps) genes. Clone libraries were generated from these PCR fragments and 87 clones were sequenced. The phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rDNA clone libraries showed a wide distribution of types in the domain bacteria in the four core samples, and the majority of the clones were identified as belonging to Betaproteobacteria. The sulfate-reducing bacteria community could only be amplified by PCR in one sample, and all clones were identified as belonging to Gammaproteobacteria. For the first time, the bacterial community was assessed in such a deep subsurface environment.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.243-269
• /
• 2021

Since the early 2010s, the social importance of research and practical projects targeting deep geological disposal of high-level nuclear waste, underground CO₂ storage and characterization of deep subsurface by borehole investigation has been increasing. In this regard, there is also a significant increase in the need for in situ test technology to obtain quantitative and reliable information on the hydraulic characteristics of deep rock mass. Through years of research and development, we have independently set up Deep borehole Hydraulic Test System (DHTS) based on the key apparatuses designed and made with our own technology. Using this system, high precision constant pressure injection tests were successfully completed at the two 1 km boreholes located in Mesozoic granite and sedimentary rock regions, Gyeongju. During the field tests, it was possible to measure very low flow rate below 0.01 l/min with micro flow rate injection/control module. In this paper, the major characteristics of DHTS are introduced and also some results obtained from the high precision field tests under the deep and low permeable rock mass environment are briefly discussed.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.374-392
• /
• 2024

In order to successfully select a site for deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste, it is important to perform the stepwise approach along with the systematic selection and survey of evaluation parameters of geological environmental characteristics suitable for the domestic geological environment. In this study, we evaluated the characteristics of hydraulic conductivity, which is considered the most important evaluation parameter in the field of hydrogeology, targeting a deep-depth rock aquifer where actual disposal facilities are expected to be located. In particular, for the first time in Korea, we obtained in-situ pressure-flow data by directly conducting hydraulic tests in boreholes at depths ranging from 500 m to 750 m in various rock types distributed in Korea (granite/volcanic rock/gneiss/mudstone). And we derived hydraulic conductivity values by rock types and depth using verified analytical methods. For this purpose, precision hydraulic testing equipment developed in-house through this study was used, and detailed investigation procedures based on standard test methods were applied to field tests. As a result of the analysis, the average hydraulic conductivity value was found to be in the range of 10^-9 m/s in all granite/volcanic rock/gneiss areas. In the mudstone area, an average hydraulic conductivity value of 10^-11 m/s was derived, which was about 100 times (2 orders of magnitude) lower than that of the fractured rock aquifers. Moreover, permeability tended to slightly decrease with depth in fractured rock aquifers (granite and volcanic rock areas) containing many rock fractures. The gneiss area tended to have large local differences in permeability according to the composition of the stratum and the development of fracture zones rather than depth. In mudstone areas with weak fracture development, there was no significant variation in rock permeability according to depth. The hydraulic conductivity results by various rock types and depth presented in this study are expected to be utilized in building a foundational database for the site selection, design, and construction of disposal facilities in Korea.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.113-131
• /
• 2022

A rockburst is a common disaster in deep-tunnel excavation engineering, especially for high-geostress areas. An anomalously low friction effect is one of the most important inducements of rockbursts. To elucidate the correlation between an anomalously low friction effect and a rockburst, we establish a two-dimensional prediction model that considers the discontinuous structure of a rock mass. The degree of freedom of the rotation angle is introduced, thus the motion equations of the blocks under the influence of a transient disturbing force are acquired according to the interactions of the blocks. Based on the two-dimensional discontinuous block model of deep rock mass, a rockburst prediction model is established, and the initiation process of ultra-low friction rockburst is analyzed. In addition, the intensity of a rockburst, including the location, depth, area, and velocity of ejection fragments, can be determined quantitatively using the proposed prediction model. Then, through a specific example, the effects of geomechanical parameters such as the different principal stress ratios, the material properties, a dip of principal stress on the occurrence form and range of rockburst are analyzed. The results indicate that under dynamic disturbance, stress variation on the structural surface in a deep rock mass may directly give rise to a rockburst. The formation of rockburst is characterized by three stages: the appearance of cracks that result from the tension or compression failure of the deformation block, the transformation of strain energy of rock blocks to kinetic energy, and the ejection of some of the free blocks from the surrounding rock mass. Finally, the two-dimensional rockburst prediction model is applied to the construction drainage tunnel project of Jinping II hydropower station. Through the comparison with the field measured rockburst data and UDEC simulation results, it shows that the model in this paper is in good agreement with the actual working conditions, which verifies the accuracy of the model in this paper.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.503-526
• /
• 2024

In the research project for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste, where the deep rock environment is considered as the main target for the disposal facilities, the hydrogeological characteristics of rock aquifers are utilized as the most important evaluation factor for the suitability of the disposal site, design/construction of facilities and stability analysis during operation. Such hydrogeological data are obtained by conducting in-situ hydraulic tests using deep boreholes located at the target sites. In this process, the reliability and accuracy of the investigation results are closely linked to various factors including the selection of the optimal testing methods, the performance of testing equipment, the standardization of testing procedures, and data interpretation methods. In this paper, to improve the reliability of the evaluation of hydrogeological characteristics in deep rock aquifers, we conducted a comparative analysis of the hydraulic conductivity characteristics derived from the injection and recovery phases of the most representative hydraulic test, the constant pressure injection test. A high-performance hydraulic testing equipment and standardized testing procedures were applied to deep boreholes in the fractured rock aquifers located in granite/volcanic rock areas in Korea, to obtain the downhole pressure-flow rate, and the hydraulic conductivity was derived by using various transient flow analysis solutions. The results of the study showed a high consistency between the hydraulic conductivity values obtained during the injection and recovery phases within the same test section, even under different permeability conditions (low-permeability/high-permeability). This research case, which precisely conducted a comparative analysis of two different phases (injection/recovery) within a single specific hydraulic testing process using actual field data from deep rock aquifers in Korea, is expected to help overcome the inherent limitations of in-situ field tests, where the validation and verification of measurement results are challenging, and ultimately contribute to enhancing the reliability of deriving in-situ hydrogeological characteristics information.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.15 no.6 s.59
• /
• pp.411-424
• /
• 2005

Weathering is defined as a process by which surface rock, once formed in the deep ground, is broken down and altered to keep the equilibrium with the ambient environment. In this study granitic rock samples of different weathering grades were collected in the field and the microscopic observation, X-ray diffraction analysis, electron microscopic observation, chemical analysis, and rock property tests were carried out. Formation of secondary minerals, especially clay minerals, by weathering was identified and the mechanism for the change of engineering properties such as rock strength degradation was analyzed. Tunnel model test, Failure behaviour, Shallow tunnel, Unsupproted tunnel length.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.599-618
• /
• 2024

This study investigated the effects of microwave irradiation on the physical properties of basalt to explore its potential as an efficient technique for lunar surface and deep excavation. Experiments were conducted to measure changes in P-wave velocity, Leeb hardness, Schmidt hammer rebound hardness, Cerchar Abrasivity Index (CAI), Uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), Young's modulus, and temperature of basalt specimens according to microwave irradiation time. Results showed that microwave irradiation induced microcracks in basalt and reduced its physical strength. Notably, after 5 minutes of microwave irradiation, UCS and Young's modulus decreased significantly. P-wave velocity also decreased markedly with increased irradiation time, indicating internal structural weakening of the rock. This is primarily attributed to thermal stress induced by microwave penetration into the rock and crack propagation due to differential thermal expansion between minerals. By confirming the rock weakening effect of microwave irradiation under conditions similar to the lunar environment, this study suggests the possibility of greatly improving the efficiency of lunar surface and deep excavation operations.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.721-728
• /
• 2018

The surrounding rock mass contains cracks and joints which are distributed randomly around tunnels, and in the process of tunnel blasting excavation, radial cracks could also be induced in the surrounding rock mass. In order to clearly understand the impact of radial cracks on tunnel stability, tunnel model tests and finite element numerical analysis were implemented in this paper. Two kinds of materials: cement mortar and sandstone, were used to make tunnel models, which were loaded vertically and confined horizontally. The tunnel failure pattern was simulated by using RFPA2D code, and the Tresca stresses and the stress intensity factors were calculated by using ABAQUS code, which were applied to the analysis of tunnel model test results. The numerical results generally agree with the model test results, and the mode II stress intensity factors calculated by ABAQUS code can well explain the model test results. It can be seen that for tunnels with a radial crack emanating from three points on tunnel edge, i.e., the middle point between tunnel spandrel and its top with a dip angle $45^{\circ}$, the tunnel foot with a dip angle $127^{\circ}$, and the tunnel spandrel with $135^{\circ}$ with tunnel wall, the tunnel model strength is about a half of the regular tunnel model strength, and the corresponding tunnel stability decreases largely.