Work packages
FORGE focuses on understanding gas generation and migration as it is a key issue for repository performance.
Concern about the pressurisation of waste containers, perturbation of the groundwater flux, effect on repository backfill and seals, engineered disturbed zone (EDZ) and self-sealing properties, host-rock mass transport properties, heat dissipation, release of active gases and displacement of contaminated groundwater.
Uncertainties are defining long-term corrosion rates of ferrous materials in repositories (WP2), understanding gas migration in clay-based engineered barriers and host rocks (WP3,4,5), effects of high gas pressures on groundwater movement and aqueous bone contaminants (WP4), role of gas on the near field and the EDZ (WP4) and possible coupling effects that could compromise repository performance (WP1).