A Natural Analog for a Fuel Waste Disposal Vault

Abstract

Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) is researching the concept of underground disposal of nuclear fuel waste in plutonic rock in the Canadian Shield. Mathematical models are being used to assess the safety of this disposal concept for time periods of more than 106 years. Natural analogs are being used to enhance the level of confidence in these assessments for both complex systems and long time periods. Good natural analogs can be found for a variety of processes and systems under study. Although an exact analog to a complete disposal vault does not exist, this paper discusses the Cigar Lake U-deposit as a comprehensive analog that includes many of the characteristics of a conceptual vault.