Trial phase continues with third drilling

Following extensive conversion works in the working area in front of emplacement chamber 7, the Asse-GmbH’s drilling team started another drilling to investigate the vicinity of the chamber. The drilling goes into the area above the emplacement chamber and will probably be 56 metres long.

Investigation of the chamber roof

Drilling B 1.2 is the first of several planned drillings to investigate the pillar of emplacement chamber 7. The mining term “pillar” refers to the horizontal area (the intermediate ceiling) between two mining districts on top of each other. The objective is to gain findings as to the stability of the chamber ceilings. This data is especially important with regard to the safety and technique of waste retrieval. For example, should the ceilings prove to be brittle, one has to expect that pieces of rock falling down will impede the work.

Extensive conversion measures in advance

Setting up of the preventer for an exploration drilling into the roof above emplacement chamber 7

Prior to starting the new drilling, the drilling rig with the preventer had to be set up again on a scaffolding in order to be able to drill into the area above the chamber. Furthermore, the so-called cuttings bunker has been relocated. In this part of the facility, drilled material is separated from the borehole and collected and finally examined radiologically. Setting up the radiological filter also proved to be an elaborate process. Changes to the ventilation of the work area in front of emplacement chamber 7 also made comprehensive modifications of the filter system necessary.