// Site Investigation and Assessment

PRECODE

PRECODE

The PRECODE project is a joint project of BGE TECHNOLOGY GmbH and RWTH Aachen University in co-operation with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) and York University. The overall project objectives are:

1. to improve the understanding of ALZ formation in crystalline rock, 
2. to test methods of near-natural fracture filling by injection to reduce rock permeability, and
3. developing a method for quantifying the dilatancy and fluid pressure criteria in crystalline host rock for safety assessments.

While the RWTH colleagues are concentrating on the first objective, BGE TECHNOLOGY GmbH is focussing on the latter two. The use of injections for systematic rock improvement is of great interest for the German concept of safe containment in order to test whether it is possible to produce near-natural, long-term stable fracture fillings with the help of injections. BGE TECHNOLOGY GmbH has established a standardised process chain (material, technology, evaluation) as part of its activities in the Asse II mine, and the hydraulic resistances of the injected areas can be verified in accordance with the requirements. One aim of the project is therefore to adapt the injection process for use in crystalline rock and to carry out crack injections in order to determine the extent to which the retention effect in crystalline rock can be improved.