Boom Clay sample request

Request and conditions for using Boom Clay samples from the Belgian programme on radioactive waste management for own research

clay samples

Characterisation of potential barriers and surrounding formations is an essential part of the Belgian R&D programme on final disposal of radioactive waste. A rigorous management of the geological samples used for this characterisation is required. A formal procedure has therefore been worked out by the EIG EURIDICE in order to ensure traceability and quality standards in assigning geological samples for research purposes. The procedure described below covers the entire process from sample request till publication of the results and is guided by one form divided in several parts.

Loose pieces of clay that are collected during a visit are not representative for the in-situ conditions of the Boom Clay and cannot be used for research purposes.

Please take into account that sample requests will be grouped! Sample request forms should be delivered before the end of January, May, or October. The requests will be handled within the next month.

In order to request geological samples, the applicant should first send a mail to sample-request@euridice.be.

During the procedure, different forms are used to ensure traceability and quality standards in assigning geological samples for research purposes:

The “General terms and conditions applicable for the supply of samples (bulk, cores, porewater) by EIG EURIDICE to third parties”. This document should be signed by the applicant and the researcher. Only when this document is signed and returned to EIG EURIDICE, EIG EURIDICE can start the sampling procedure.

The Sample Request Form consists of several parts:
Part A – sample request: in this part the Applicant and/or the Researcher formalises the request of samples and informs the EIG EURIDICE of the intended use of the samples obtained within the Belgian programme on radioactive waste disposal.
Part B - approval: in this part EIG EURIDICE informs the Applicant if the core sample request is granted or not.
Part C – sample pre-selection (C1), sampling (C2), description (C3):  in this part the Core Keeper first does a pre-selection of the samples. Then the actual sampling is organised, and finally the samples are identified and described according to the purposes.

Two additional forms are used to inform EIG EURIDICE about the good receipt of the samples, and the usability of the samples after a quality check.
Receipt Form: in this part the researcher declares the 'Notice of receipt' of the samples.
Usability Form: in this part the researcher performs a quality check of the samples and declares the 'Usability'. This form should be completed by the researcher upon opening of the package in which the samples were send to the researcher. This can be later in time than the receiving of the samples itself.

Finally a template excel file needs to be completed to report on a regular basis newly obtained data on the samples, which will be stored on GSIS – the Geographic Scientific Information System of the EIG EURIDICE.

 

PROCEDURE

The basic steps in the procedure are:

  1. The applicant sends a mail to sample-request@euridice.be
  2. The applicant receives a form with the General terms and conditions and signs it. The applicant also receives the Sample Request Form and fills in Part A. The applicant sends both forms to EIG EURIDICE (sample-request@euridice.be).
  3. EIG EURIDICE fills in part B, the decision taken with respect to the request, and communicates this to the Researcher/Applicant.
  4. The core keeper makes a pre-selection (based on the availability of samples) and fills in part C1.
  5. The core keeper (if necessary together with the Applicant/Researcher) performs the actual sampling and fills in part C2. In case a pre-selected sample seems to be 'not suitable', an alternative sample is taken.
  6. The core keeper provides the sample identification code and a description of the samples in Part C3.
  7. EIG EURIDICE sends the samples and part C to the Researcher/Applicant.
  8. The Researcher/Applicant sends a notification of receipt of the samples within 3 working days by sending the Receipt Form to EIG EURIDICE (sample-request@euridice.be).
  9. The Researcher/Applicant performs a quality check of the samples prior to their use and  informs EIG EURIDICE about the quality check by sending the Usability Form  to EIG EURIDICE (sample-request@euridice.be). In case of bad quality of the samples at reception, the EIG EURIDICE can decide based on the Researcher’s input to replace several samples if needed.
  10. EIG EURIDICE will provide a template excel file to the researcher/applicant, to report new obtained data from research on the samples on a six months interval (cumulative in the same sheet), starting on the 30 of June or 31 of December whichever of the dates occurs first. In that way EURIDICE can keep track of the data obtained from all samples that were distributed. If no data were acquired during the last six months, the sheet is returned anyway. The data will be stored on GSIS – the Geographic Scientific Information System - used to store all the geoscientific data acquired in the scope of the Belgian research programmes. The data will only be made available to other parties after the project is finished/published.
  11. Before publication, a copy of the text is sent to ONDRAF/NIRAS. Based on the content, ONDRAF/NIRAS can decide to add a caveat mentioning that the views expressed in the publication don’t necessarily correspond to those of ONDRAF/NIRAS. An acknowledgement of ONDRAF/NIRAS for providing the samples needs to be added in the publication.

 

Any further questions on this procedure should be addressed to sample-request@euridice.be .