Deep borehole disposal of nuclear waste: US perspective

TL;DR

Deep borehole disposal of nuclear waste leverages existing drilling experience, offering a potentially faster, cheaper, and more secure alternative to mined repositories due to its greater depth and natural isolation mechanisms.

Contribution

This paper presents the US perspective on deep borehole disposal, highlighting its feasibility, advantages, and the existing precedents that support its implementation for nuclear waste.

Findings

Deep boreholes have thousands of precedents over 2 km deep.

Borehole disposal can be faster and cheaper than mined repositories.

Natural conditions in deep boreholes enhance long-term waste isolation.

Abstract

Radioactive waste disposal in deep boreholes may be more "ready" than disposal in mined geologic repositories since mankind has greater experience operating small deep holes - boreholes, than big shallow holes - mines. There are several thousand precedents for constructing >2 km deep boreholes and several hundred precedents for disposing long-lived wastes in boreholes. Borehole disposal is likely to be faster, cheaper, and more flexible than mined disposal, while also offering greater long-term isolation. Isolation would rely on the great depth, water density gradients, and reducing conditions to prevent vertical movement of waste up the borehole.