A framework for modelling groundwater flow in deep heterolithic sedimentary sequences

The management of risk associated with the deep disposal of radioactive material in an underground Geological Deposal Facility (GDF) is based on the multiple barrier concept. One of these barriers is the geosphere or the geological environment of the host and surrounding rock formations. Therefore, understanding the movement of groundwater in these formations and its effect on radionuclide transport is vital to the development of operational and post-closure safety cases.
The Mercia Mudstone Group (MMG) is currently being considered as a potential host rock for a GDF. This formation, however, has not been investigated to the same extent as other potential host rocks. There is a need, therefore, to develop hydrogeological models of the MMG and adjacent rocks in the North East Irish Sea Basin (NEISB). This will be the focus of the PhD, which will use data collection to construct a conceptual 3D stratigraphic ground model. This, in turn, will be converted into a dynamic numerical model using the Imperial College Finite Element Reservoir Simulator (IC-FERST). This state-of-the-art numerical code will be used to explore the controls on groundwater flow in the context of radionuclide movement, along with the effects of data uncertainty under current and near future climates.