WorldWide Drilling Resource

Battelle Continues Search For Deep Borehole Field Test Site Compiled by the Editorial Staff of WorldWide Drilling Resource ® The Deep Borehole Field Test (DBFT), a research effort conducted by Battelle Memorial Institute, has once again been rejected by citizens local to a proposed site for the endeavor. Originally covered by WWDR in our March 2016 issue, the Deep Borehole Field Test is a project with a specific question to answer; namely, it seeks to establish whether or not geologic disposal is a feasible means of handling certain types of the country’s nuclear waste inventory. Currently, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) sites house the result of a half century’s worth of research on nuclear weapons and the by-products of building our nation’s nuclear arsenal during the Cold War and World War II. Boreholes into granite formations deep un- derground could be a potential solution to the very real problem presented by nuclear waste buildup, but there simply isn’t enough science to back up the idea. The DBFT’s purpose is to discover how suitable granite would be for stipulated kinds of nuclear disposal, operating on the idea that if waste can be stored deep in the earth in Precambrian geology (which has been stable for millions of years), it will never interact with earth’s biosphere. The project is expected to take approximately five years. Although the study is intended for research purposes only, it has yet to be put into motion, facing too much opposition from the communities local to proposed test sites. Thus far, counties in both North and South Dakota have effectively halted the initiative, despite the positive economic impacts the project would have. Supporters of the project point out potential benefits include increased revenue from sources such as local dining and grocery establishments, re- tail shopping, and lodging for the influx of workers. The job market would also experience growth as a reflection of the project with the addition of jobs in construction, carpentry, and electrical fields. Dollars spent by Battelle for resources needed to run the study, like fuel and water, could also sig- nificantly boost the local economy. The stoppage is a direct result of a lack of trust as naysayers are quick to point out fears that the DBFT could lead to eventual nuclear waste stor- age in the test sites, despite reassurance that no radioactive material will be present before, during, or after the test is conducted. The project is meant to serve merely as proof-of-concept; put simply, it’s all about the sci- ence. The tracts of land originally picked for the site were chosen because they were far from any active earthquake zones, weren’t near any oil or gas drilling, and had the kind of solid crystalline “base- ment” rock the government was looking for. Bill Wicker, a spokesman for DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy, said the following in an effort to soothe the local public’s concerns: “We are committed to choos- ing potential disposal sites through a consent-based process that would in- volve local and state governments, and any affected Tribes.” Currently, leaders of the DBFT proj- ect are reviewing other bids to find a suit- able locat ion. Contenders in South Carolina and Texas are both being con- sidered. Diagram courtesy of Battelle. 41 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® APRIL 2017 The deadline for the June issue is almost here! Space Reservation: April 25 th Display & Classified Ad Copy: May 1 st