Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
Buckingham (2003) summarises the project:
'
Inadequate thought and planning during the site investigation stage
lead to poor equipment and method selection. Also the fact that the
contractor was open to all ground condition risks, which eventually led
him to pull of the job resulting in lengthy and expensive arbitration,
created additional problems.
'
It was argued at the time of the failed Stage 1 works, in defence of the
government
s case, that the investigation for the SSDS tunnels was the
most extensive seen in Hong Kong (albeit that most boreholes did not
reach eventual tunnel depth, failed to sample or intersect the major
faults along the route and provided almost no data on permeability
conditions). That argument resonates in some ways with a quote
regarding nuclear works (Nirex application, see below), highlighted
by Green &Western (1994):
'
'
cult to solve, one cannot claim that it is solved by
pointing to all the efforts made to solve it.
If a problem is too dif
'
(Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, 1976)
7.8.3 Inadequate investigations and
laboratory, Sellafield, UK
An application by Nirex to construct an underground rock research
laboratory at Sella
s suitability for disposal
of nuclear waste was rejected following a public inquiry. This essen-
tially brought a halt to investigations in a dramatic way. Considering
the considerable cost of investigations up to that time and the con-
sequences for the nuclear industry and Britain
eld to investigate the site
'
s energy policies, this
can be considered a major failed project. Moreover, the failure was
basically a matter of ground modelling and interpretation.
Nirex in the 1990s were given the task of developing a site for the
disposal of waste in the UK. The government set strict safety guidelines
that would need to be met for a
'
final application for a repository.
Following a high-quality ground investigation that was
'
the most
expensive
geological investigation carried out in Britain
other than the North Sea oil projects
“
single
”
(Oldroyd, 2002), Nirex decided
that part of their studies should include an underground rock research
laboratory. Other parties were not convinced that Nirex were ready
for this stage because of doubts regarding:
'
1.
the general suitability of the site at Sella
eld
2.
the capability of the Nirex team to control the necessary science
