Statistical analyses of pressure signals, hydrogeologic characterization and evolution of Excavation Damaged Zone (claystone sites of Mont Terri and Tournemire)

We present statistical analyses of pore pressure and other signals, aimed at characterizing the properties of a geologic porous medium and, particularly, of the Excavation Damaged Zone ("EDZ") around underground galleries. The purpose is not only to identify the material properties, but also to quantify their evolution during excavation (creation of an EDZ). The methods are applied to two Underground Research Laboratories ("URL’s") in claystone sites: Mont Terri in Switzerland (gallery Ga98) and Tournemire in France (gallery Ga03). This work is part of the LP 14 experiment, an international research program of the Mont Terri Consortium, aimed at assessing the isolation properties of claystone as a potential geologic repository for radioactive waste (LP 14 experiment: Long term Pressure experiment, phase 14)

Seismotectonic analysis around the Mont Terri rock laboratory (Switzerland): a pilot study

For this pilot study we used recorded seismic events from the SED permanent network and data from a dedicated SNS network to improve the seismotectonic understanding of very weak seismicity in the vicinity of the Mont Terri underground laboratory. We combined field data on faults with microseismic events and modelling of stress and focal mechanisms. Eighty-six events with very low magnitudes (ML ≈ −2.0 to 2.0) recorded between July 2014 and August 2015 were located within a radius of 10 km of the underground laboratory and used for modelling. We compiled 234 fault/striation data from laboratory tunnels and regional geology, and also from seismic/borehole data on basement faults. With this database we defined seven groups of main faults in the cover and four groups in the basement. For each of these groups we computed a synthetic focal mechanism that was subsequently used to determine a synthetic P-phase waveform. The synthetic waveforms were then correlated with the microseismic events of the cover and the basement respectively. Of these, 78 events yielded satisfactorily correlation coefficients that we used for a regional seismotectonic interpretation. The synthetic focal mechanism can be linked to the main regional structural features: the NNE–SSW-oriented reactivated faults associated with the Rhine Graben development, and the NE–SW-oriented reverse faults related to the thrust development of major folds such as the Mont Terri anticline. The results for this pilot study confirm that our affirmative method can be used to augment local and regional seismotectonic interpretations with very weak-intensity earthquake data

Anisotropy of electrical conductivity of the Excavation Damaged Zone in the Mont Terri Underground Rock Laboratory

International audienceElectrical resistivity measurements were performed to characterize the anisotropy of electrical resistivity of the excavation damaged zone (EDZ) at the end-face of a gallery in the Opalinus clay of the Mont Terri Underground Rock Laboratory (URL). The data were acquired with a combination of square arrays in 18 zones on the gallery's face and in two series of four boreholes perpendicular to the face. Each data set is independently inverted using simulated annealing to recover the resistivity tensor. Both the stability and the non-uniqueness of the inverse problem are discussed with synthetic examples. The inversion of the data shows that the face is split in two domains separated by a tectonic fracture, with different resistivity values but with a common orientation. The direction of the maximum resistivity is found perpendicular to the bedding plane, and the direction of minimum resistivity is contained in the face's plane. These results show that the geo-electrical structure of the EDZ is controlled by a combination of effects due to tectonics, stratigraphy, and recent fracturing produced by the excavation of the gallery

Statistical Analyses of Pore Pressure Signals in Claystone During Excavation Works at the Mont Terri Underground Research Laboratory

In many countries (such as Belgium, Germany, France, Japan, Switzerland, and United Kingdom), deep argillaceous formations are considered as potential host rocks for geological disposal of high-level and intermediate-level long-lived radioactive wastes. Some of these countries are investigating the suitability of high compacted clay-rich rocks at depths down to around 500 m below the ground surface. The general disposal concept comprises a network of drifts and tunnels linked to the surface by shafts and ramps, all artificially ventilated. Research is ongoing in Underground Research Laboratories, like the Mont Terri site in the Swiss Jura, to assess and ensure the safety of the repositories for the full decay life of the radioactive waste, i.e. the capacity of the hypothetical repository toprevent the migration of radionuclides towards the biosphere.[...

Microseismicity Induced in the Opalinus Clay by a Gallery Excavation in the Mont Terri Underground Rock Laboratory

International audienc

Tabletop exercise: Coherent Resilience 2021 Baltic (CORE21-B)

Coherent Resilience 2021 – Baltic (CORE 21-B) was a Tabletop Exercise (TTX) on the Baltic States and hybrid threats to the regional electric grid with a focus on critical energy infrastructure protection. The TTX took place 20-24 September 2021 in Vilnius, Lithuania. The aim of the exercise was to support the national authorities and electricity system operators of the Baltic States in ensuring supply of electricity to civilian and military consumers and mitigating the possible disruption in the light of hybrid threats over the Baltic region due to vulnerabilities caused by close proximity of unsafe Belarusian NPP and the process of synchronization of the Baltic States power grid with the Continental Europe grid. CORE 21-B was a five-day regional, multilateral, interagency, and public-private sector event that was executed with an academic seminar, a three-day TTX, and a distinguished visitors’ day that included after-action briefings. This report focuses largely on syndicate responses to the exercise scenario vignettes and injects to include capturing key takeaways and recommendations. The event brought together over 100 participants from 12 NATO and European Union countries or partner nations, who came from 35 different organizations representing electricity supply and energy security stakeholders.JRC.C.3 - Energy Security, Distribution and Market

Autoantibodies neutralizing type I IFNs are present in ~4% of uninfected individuals over 70 years old and account for ~20% of COVID-19 deaths

Circulating autoantibodies (auto-Abs) neutralizing high concentrations (10 ng/mL, in plasma diluted 1 to 10) of IFN-α and/or -ω are found in about 10% of patients with critical COVID-19 pneumonia, but not in subjects with asymptomatic infections. We detect auto-Abs neutralizing 100-fold lower, more physiological, concentrations of IFN-α and/or -ω (100 pg/mL, in 1/10 dilutions of plasma) in 13.6% of 3,595 patients with critical COVID-19, including 21% of 374 patients > 80 years, and 6.5% of 522 patients with severe COVID-19. These antibodies are also detected in 18% of the 1,124 deceased patients (aged 20 days-99 years; mean: 70 years). Moreover, another 1.3% of patients with critical COVID-19 and 0.9% of the deceased patients have auto-Abs neutralizing high concentrations of IFN-β. We also show, in a sample of 34,159 uninfected subjects from the general population, that auto-Abs neutralizing high concentrations of IFN-α and/or -ω are present in 0.18% of individuals between 18 and 69 years, 1.1% between 70 and 79 years, and 3.4% >80 years. Moreover, the proportion of subjects carrying auto-Abs neutralizing lower concentrations is greater in a subsample of 10,778 uninfected individuals: 1% of individuals <70 years, 2.3% between 70 and 80 years, and 6.3% >80 years. By contrast, auto-Abs neutralizing IFN-β do not become more frequent with age. Auto-Abs neutralizing type I IFNs predate SARS-CoV-2 infection and sharply increase in prevalence after the age of 70 years. They account for about 20% of both critical COVID-19 cases in the over-80s, and total fatal COVID-19 cases

Autoantibodies neutralizing type I IFNs are present in ~4% of uninfected individuals over 70 years old and account for ~20% of COVID-19 deaths

Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Authors, some rights reserved.Circulating autoantibodies (auto-Abs) neutralizing high concentrations (10 ng/ml; in plasma diluted 1:10) of IFN-alpha and/or IFN-omega are found in about 10% of patients with critical COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pneumonia but not in individuals with asymptomatic infections. We detect auto-Abs neutralizing 100-fold lower, more physiological, concentrations of IFN-alpha and/or IFN-omega (100 pg/ml; in 1:10 dilutions of plasma) in 13.6% of 3595 patients with critical COVID-19, including 21% of 374 patients >80 years, and 6.5% of 522 patients with severe COVID-19. These antibodies are also detected in 18% of the 1124 deceased patients (aged 20 days to 99 years; mean: 70 years). Moreover, another 1.3% of patients with critical COVID-19 and 0.9% of the deceased patients have auto-Abs neutralizing high concentrations of IFN-beta. We also show, in a sample of 34,159 uninfected individuals from the general population, that auto-Abs neutralizing high concentrations of IFN-alpha and/or IFN-omega are present in 0.18% of individuals between 18 and 69 years, 1.1% between 70 and 79 years, and 3.4% >80 years. Moreover, the proportion of individuals carrying auto-Abs neutralizing lower concentrations is greater in a subsample of 10,778 uninfected individuals: 1% of individuals 80 years. By contrast, auto-Abs neutralizing IFN-beta do not become more frequent with age. Auto-Abs neutralizing type I IFNs predate SARS-CoV-2 infection and sharply increase in prevalence after the age of 70 years. They account for about 20% of both critical COVID-19 cases in the over 80s and total fatal COVID-19 cases.Peer reviewe