Context and challenges

In May 2010 Russia and Turkey signed an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) to construct 4 VVER 1200 MW reactors in Akkuyu at the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. The expected cost of the project is 20 billon USD and it will be the first nuclear power plant project that will be constructed with the Build, Own and Operate model (BOO). IGA was ratified by the Turkish Parliament in July 2010 and by Russian Parliament in November 2010. In December of the same year project a company was established and in 2011 site studies were initiated in Akkuyu and its vicinity.

A major construction company managing large infrastructure projects has been appointed as general contractor of the project.

In order to define the design parameters of the nuclear power plant, it was necessary to collect data and prepare engineering and environment analysis.

The client appointed Assystem to perform site surveys required to define nuclear power plant design.

Project scope

  • 500 boreholes representing 20,000m onshore and offshore drillings
  • Hydrogeological tests
  • Slope stability and karstification surveys
  • Detailed surface, borehole and marine geophysical surveys
  • Preparation of geological, hydrogeological maps and cross-sections
  • Detailed seismological studies including archeoseismology, trenching, surface faulting
  • Seismic hazard assessments (Deterministic Seismic Hazard Analysis, DSHA - Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis, PSHA)
  • Tsunami hazard calculations
  • Bathymetric surveys, modeling studies, demographical surveys
  • Analysis and assessment of human induced effects
  • Meteorological, oceanographic, environmental monitoring
  • Chemical, radiological and other laboratory studies

Results

  • Anticipation of potential construction risks related to the environment, with the issue of a report dealing with geology, geodetic, seismotectonic & seismology, hydrometeorological, ecology and human induced external impact
  • Definition of the necessary specific parameters for the design of the nuclear power plant, with the assessment of the site condition

in figures

  • 14,500
    geotechnical laboratory analysis
  • 4,000
    rock and soil samples
  • 60
    boreholes to perform 500 pressuremeter tests
  • 900
    points for geological route observations

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