Deep Borehole Disposal of Radioactive Waste
Summary
Deep borehole disposal (DBD) entails emplacement of radioactive waste in boreholes drilled to depths of 3–5 km within stable crystalline or sedimentary formations. By exploiting multiple natural barriers—deep geochemical environments, long radionuclide migration pathways and low-permeability host rock—DBD aims to achieve passive, long-term isolation of high-level waste (HLW) and spent nuclear fuel. The concept can accommodate both vertical and horizontal borehole geometries, each presenting distinct thermal-hydrological regimes and engineering requirements. Key components include engineered waste canisters, backfill and sealing materials designed to complement the host geology. Thermal output from waste decays to negligible levels over centuries, while geochemical conditions at depth, such as reducing and saline environments, retard radionuclide mobility. DBD offers potential advantages over mined geological repositories, including smaller surface footprint, reduced excavation volumes, modular implementation and proximity to waste generation sites. Operational considerations encompass borehole drilling and casing, canister emplacement methods, quality assurance of seals and contingency for retrievability. Global research efforts focus on site characterisation, safety-case development, performance assessment modelling and demonstration of borehole sealing technologies to underpin licence applications and stakeholder engagement.
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Deep Borehole Disposal of Radioactive Waste publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in deep borehole disposal of radioactive waste across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
High-level waste (HLW): Radioactive materials with high thermal output requiring deep geological isolation.
Engineered barrier: Artificial component (e.g., canister, backfill, seal) designed to limit radionuclide migration.
Performance assessment: Quantitative evaluation of repository evolution and radionuclide transport over time.
Radionuclide retardation: Processes (e.g., sorption, precipitation) that slow movement of radioactive isotopes.
Host rock: Geological formation into which waste is emplaced, providing physical and chemical containment.
References
- Deep Borehole Disposal Safety Case. Energies (2019).
- Post-Closure Performance Assessment for Deep Borehole Disposal of Cs/Sr Capsules. Energies (2019).
- Post-Closure Safety Calculations for the Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel in a Generic Horizontal Drillhole Repository. Energies (2020).
- Sealing of a Deep Horizontal Borehole Repository for Nuclear Waste. Energies (2020).
- Analytical and Numerical Estimation of Fracture Initiation and Propagation Regions around Large-Diameter, Deep Boreholes for Disposal of Long-Lived Intermediate-Level Waste. Energies (2022).
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