On 25 April 2017, the operator responsibilities for the Asse II mine as well as the Konrad and Morsleben repositories were transferred to the Federal Company for Radioactive Waste Disposal (Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung mbH, BGE). This website of the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) will therefore no longer be updated and displays the status as on 24 April 2017. You will find current information at the BGE: www.bge.de

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What will become of Asse?

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The 3D-seismics surveying method

Pre-planning: Schematic diagram of the 3D-seismics (preliminary) Pre-planning: Schematic diagram of the 3D-seismics (preliminary)Pre-planning: Schematic diagram of the 3D-seismics (preliminary)

The three-dimensional seismics surveying method has been used for decades for the exploration of complicated geological structures, such as natural mineral deposits or (currently) geothermal energy and CO2 storage projects.

The principle of seismics is simple. It consists of the artificial generation of acoustic waves whose echo from the different rock layers of the underground is then recorded.

The artificially generated weak signals/vibrations spread wave-like from the earth's crust into the depth and are reflected by the individual rock layers. The reflected echo signals are registered at the surface with the help of geophones arranged in a network.

Generation of seismic signals

For the exploration of the Asse, two approved techniques for the generation of seismic signals (vibrations) are appropriate. Their application depends on the conditions of the area to be surveyed.

Off-road or in the forest, small bore holes (e. g. two and a half to eight metres deep) are filled with carefully dosed small amounts of explosives and safely sealed. When they are detonated, only a slight tremor can be perceived at the surface.

In built-up areas, vibrators fastened to specially constructed vehicles are used on solid ground (roads and lanes).

Survey of the seismic signals

A geophone works like a highly sensitive microphone. It converts slightest tremors of the ground into electrical signals which are recorded in a surveying vehicle. The elaborate further processing of the collected data is done at the data centre with the help of high-performance process computers.

The area to be surveyed is in most cases divided into geophone lines which are measured one after the other. In these geophone lines, "geophone groups" are placed on the surface. Vertical to this, the shot point alignments are arranged.

Survey map showing an example of a survey configuration (pre-planning) Survey map showing an example of a survey configurationSurvey map showing an example of a survey configuration (pre-planning)

Result: A comprehensive insight into the depth

The interpretation of results provides a three-dimensional image of the underground below the surveyed surface.

An optimum 3D seismics survey enables a comprehensive insight into the depth and forms the basis for a three-dimensional model of the Asse.

State of 2016.08.18

Transfer of operator responsibilities

On 25 April 2017, the operator responsibilities for the Asse II mine as well as the Konrad and Morsleben repositories were transferred to the Federal Company for Radioactive Waste Disposal (Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung mbH, BGE). Previously, the responsibility for the projects was with the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS). The foundations for the change of operatorship are laid down in the "Act on the Realignment of the Organisational Structures in the Field of Radioactive Waste Disposal", which became effective on 30 July 2016. The BfS focusses on the federal tasks of radiation protection, for example in the field of defence against nuclear hazards, medical research, mobile communication, UV protection or the measuring networks for environmental radioactivity.

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