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Gas migration through a potential host clay formation for the geological disposal of radioactive waste in Belgium is experimentally investigated in the laboratory, and numerical modelling is performed to help in the interpretation of the results. Selected air injection tests under oedometer conditions on initially saturated Boom Clay samples with oriented bedding planes are presented. Priority in the experimental programme is given to the study of the deformation response along the injection and dissipation stages, as well as to the analysis of the pore network changes, which detect the opening of fissures that can act as preferential air pathways. The experimental results are simulated using a fully coupled hydro-mechanical finite element code, which incorporates an embedded fracture permeability model to account for the simulation of the gas flow along preferential pathways. The intrinsic permeability and the …