Deep Isolation at #WMSym2022

Deep Isolation Announcement

WM Symposia 2022 Deep Isolation Topics:

Technical readiness, stakeholder opinions on deep boreholes, canister design

WM Symposia Deep Isolation Presenters, Chris Parker, Dr. Ethan Bates, Mark Frei

Deep Isolation at #WMSym

Deep Isolation will present its latest research in three sessions at Waste Management Symposia 2022, taking place March 6-10 in Phoenix.

On March 7 Deep Isolation Director of Systems Engineering Dr. Ethan Bates and Chris Parker, Director of Deep Isolation EMEA Ltd., will present during the session "Developments in Deep Borehole Disposal Around the World."

Dr. Bates, an expert in reactor safety and nuclear systems integration, will present his paper "Preliminary Technology Readiness Assessment of Deep Borehole Disposal," an analysis of the readiness of Deep Isolation’s deep borehole repository operations from the storage phase through transportation, construction, and disposal.

Parker will present "Implementing Deep Borehole Disposal: Study of International Stakeholder Views from Regulatory, Policy and WMO Communities." (See article below.)

On March 9 M ark Frei will join a panel discussion, "Evolution and Development for Waste Transport and Disposal," to share the results of the paper, "Canister for Radioactive Waste Transport, Storage and Disposal in Boreholes."

Last year Deep Isolation, in partnership with NAC International, developed a preliminary design for a drillhole canister for nuclear waste storage, transportation, and deep borehole disposal. The canister is designed to contain an intact pressurized water reactor (PWR) assembly and is expected to pave the way for new options for managing the lifecycle of nuclear waste.

Learn more about their presentations.

Waste Management Symposia

This assessment concludes that spent nuclear fuel handling above ground is the most mature technical process and that demonstrating borehole drilling (at relevant depths and diameters), borehole stability, and canister emplacement should receive the highest priority in terms of technology development planning.

— Dr. Ethan Bates, Director of Systems Engineering

International Stakeholder Perspectives on Deep Borehole Disposal of Nuclear Waste

Stakeholder Opinions on Deep Borehole Repositories

New research shows there is growing interest worldwide in the advancement of deep borehole disposal as a solution for nuclear waste.

Deep boreholes offer a scalable, modular, and economical disposal solution for spent nuclear fuel and vitrified high-level waste, particularly for countries with smaller waste inventories or those with waste products which may compromise the safety case for a mined facility.

A 12-month study that Deep Isolation conducted with geologic disposal expert Prof. Neil A. Chapman of the University of Sheffield revealed that those surveyed (80 percent) agree overwhelmingly that the next best step for advancing this option is a (non-radioactive) demonstration of the end-to-end technology.

Read our announcement to learn more.

The general consensus that (deep borehole disposal) could be incorporated into a suite of safe disposal solutions, considerably improving strategic and economic flexibility, ought to encourage countries to get together now and support an early multi-national demonstration project.

— Prof. Neil Chapman, participant in stakeholder research project

Learn More About WM presenter: Borehole Expert Dr. Ethan Bates

Dr. Ethan Bates answered a few questions when he joined the Deep Isolation team last year.

Dr. Bates, a nuclear engineer who received his doctorate from MIT in 2015, is an expert in reactor safety and nuclear systems integration and has worked for more than five years with leading advanced nuclear companies. In 2014 he co-authored a short paper for the Energy Policy journal published by Elsevier titled “Can Deep Boreholes Solve America’s Nuclear Waste Problem?” The highly cited paper looked at how disposal in deep boreholes could ease siting issues, provide modularity, and lower costs.

Visit our blog to learn more (and find out about Dr. Bates' secret musical talent)!

Read blog

Where is Deep Isolation at WM 2022?

We look forward to seeing everyone soon in Arizona. Stop by our booth (No. 630) on the main floor and our kiosk (No. 4) in the U.K. Pavilion, to meet the Deep Isolation team.