A thematic network on gas issues in safety assessment of deep repositories for radioactive waste (GASNET): Final report

The Gasnet project is a 'thematic network' that was initiated and financially supported by the European Commission to provide a forum for considering and reporting on 'Gas issues in safety assessment of deep repositories for radioactive waste'. Gas generation is expected to occur to some extent, at least, in all repository types currently envisaged in Europe, and thus issues arising from gas generation need to be addressed in safety cases for these repositories. The final report assembled by participants in the Gasnet project considers requirements for the treatment of gas issues in the context of a safety case for a deep repository, with documentation of current approaches and discussion of the strengths and limitations of these approaches, where appropriate. Only the effects of gas generation from the wastes and repository construction materials that are present after repository closure are specifically addressed, although the influence of processes occurring prior to closure on the inventory of gas-generating materials remaining at closure does fall within the scope of the study.