United Kingdom – Off the coast of Copeland, Cumbria, the first marine geophysical survey will start in order to collect information about the rock structure and aid in the search for a suitable location for a geological disposal facility (GDF).
A 92-meter ship with specialized acoustic equipment will be stationed 5 to 20 kilometers from the coast. The survey, conducted by experts Shearwater GeoServices, will last three to four weeks.
A GDF will be created by Nuclear Waste Services, which is dedicated to protecting the environment at all times. This includes obtaining all required permits and licenses from the appropriate UK authorities. In order to ensure that any marine mammals have left the area immediately surrounding the vessel before the survey can begin, a team of specialized observers will be on board the vessel as part of this survey.
Region’s potential
Understanding the deep geology beyond the coast begins with this initial survey, which is concentrated off the coast of South and Mid Copeland.
The technology is based on sound waves that are reflected as an echo from various geological layers, much like ultrasound scans used in medicine. This makes it possible to gradually build up a 3D image of the underlying rocks without disturbing the seabed. This kind of research is frequently done in the infrastructure, offshore wind, and carbon capture and storage industries.
Over the course of the following year, a thorough analysis of the survey data will be conducted, and the results will be shared with the local communities to support discussions about the potential of a region to host a GDF.
