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Активизация соляного карста и угроза обводнения подземного хранилища радиоактивных отходов Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), спровоцированные подземным ядерным взрывом «Гном» в штате Нью-Мексико, США

Голубов Б.Н.

Активизация соляного карста и угроза обводнения подземного хранилища радиоактивных отходов Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), спровоцированные подземным ядерным взрывом «Гном» в штате Нью-Мексико, США

Голубов Борис Николаевич, кандидат геолого-минералогических наук, старший научный сотрудник, ведущий научный сотрудник Института динамики геосфер РАН, г. Москва

E-mail: bgolubov@mail.ru

Статья посвящена двум  взаимосвязанным проблемами, имеющими научное и практическое значение: 1) надежности подземных хранилищ радиоактивных отходов (РАО) в соленосных толщах пород, 2) необходимости устранения опасных последствий промышленных подземных ядерных взрывов (ПЯВ). Своеобразие этих проблем раскрыто на примере подземного хранилища РАО Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) и ПЯВ «Гном» (Нью–Мексико, США). В статье приведены сведения о географии и геологии края, проведен анализ геодинамических подвижек недр, режима подземных вод и активности карста в зоне ПЯВ "Гном"-WIPP, определены предпосылки и механизмы ожидаемого обводнения WIPP, предложены пути смягчения такой опасности.

Ключевые слова: подземный ядерный взрыв «Гном»; подземное хранилище радиоактивных отходов Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP); геодинамические подвижки недр; соляной карст, режим подземных вод, техногенные радионуклиды в подземных водах.

Golubov B.N. Salt Karst Activation and Water Intrusion Threat to Radioactive Waste Underground Storage Facility Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Provoked by Underground Nuclear Explosion ‘Gnome’ in the State of New Mexico, USA

Boris N. Golubov, Sc.D. (Geology and Mineralogy), Senior Researcher, Leading Researcher at RAS Institute of Geosphere Dynamics

E-mail: bgolubov@mail.ru

The actuality of this article is based on two interrelated problems that have scientific and practical meaning. The first relates to the reliability of underground storage of radioactive waste in the salt sediments, and the second is the need to eliminate the dangerous outcomes of industrial underground nuclear explosions (UNE), which United States and Soviet Union conducted during the second half of the last century, in several regions of our planet.

Each UNE forms a peculiar technogenic structure in the rock mass. This structure is characterized by long-term geodynamic activity not decaying with age. It also characterized by abrupt perturbations of underground fluids regime, variations of geophysical fields, etc. Such perturbations firstly gravitate toward the hydrothermal locus which arises at the time of UNE in its cavity by the reaction of nuclear fission. Secondly, these perturbations gravitate toward the newly created throughflow channels and their offshoots through the complex network of cracks. Its development provides regrouping of rock blocks, forming of increased permeability zones, circulation of fluids (groundwater, oil, gas) and the release of radionuclides from the cavity of UNE sometimes over long distances and to the surface. Here however geodynamic disturbances and fluid dynamics under subsurface hypocenters UNE remained not entirely clear.

The peculiarity of these problems is demonstrated on the example WIPP and UNE "Gnome", located in the US, New Mexico. WIPP was constructed since 1981 to 1999 in the layer of salt rock in the Dèlavare sedimentary basin at depth 660 m, slightly to the side and below the UNE "GNOME", which was conducted here in 1961, at depth of 360.9 m. In that connection I have observed preliminary data of the regional geography and geology and then have solved two main scientific tasks. The first one is the analysis of geodynamic movements, regime of ground water and activity of karst around the UNE "Gnome"-WIPP locality. The second task was to determine the conditions and arrangements for the anticipated flooding of WIPP, as well as finding ways to mitigate such risks. As a result, I have shown that:

(i) in rock massive under the UNE "Gnome" cavity was formed a network of cracks and caverns, which leads to activation salt karst in Salado formation and powerful channel for flow of underground waters into  the mine and WIPP cameras;   

(ii) in the foreseeable future the WIPP can be flooded, which would inevitably lead to diversion of huge amounts of radioactive waste if the necessary protective steps will not undertake.

This in turn implies that:

(a) conventional methods for ensuring safety WIPP need to be revised as ignore the special features and fluid-dynamic  changes of Dèlavare sedimentary under the steadily increasing man-made stresses on its depths especially in the locality of UNE "Gnome".

(b) contrary to the requirements of the US legislation WIPP is cannot be safe for disposal of radioactive waste during 10000 years.

(c) the problem of dumping of radioactive waste  in geological formations is a deadlock, which inevitably leads to refusal of expansion of atomic industry in its current form.

Therefore, I identified practical recommendations concerning methods of monitoring hazard geological processes, detection, and elimination of groundwater in the newly formed clusters of karst caverns in salt rocks of Salado formation on the approaches to the WIPP and revision strategies for accumulation of radioactive waste. 

Keywords: underground nuclear explosion "Gnome", underground radioactive waste storage facility Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP); geodynamic shifts subsoil; salt karst; groundwater regime; artificial radionuclides in groundwater.