Nuclear projects demand precision, trust, and proven expertise. Element supports utilities, manufacturers, and engineering teams with testing and qualification services that keep systems safe, compliant, and ready to perform—delivering data-driven insight to meet regulations and extend asset life.

May 3, 2024, 9:31AMRadwaste SolutionsRod Baltzer

Borehole disposal of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and high-level waste (HLW) uses off-the-shelf directional drilling technology developed and commercialized by the oil and gas sectors. It is a technology that has been gaining traction in recent years in the nuclear industry. Disposal can be done in one or more boreholes (including an array) drilled into suitable sedimentary, igneous, or metamorphic host rocks. Waste is encapsulated in specialized corrosion-resistant canisters, which are placed end to end in disposal sections of relatively small-diameter boreholes that have been cased and fluid-filled. After emplacement, the vertical access hole is plugged and backfilled as an engineered barrier.

To continue reading, log in or create a free account!

NRC approves Diablo Canyon license renewal, extension

April 3, 2026, 9:23AMNuclear News

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved Pacific Gas & Electric’s application to extend the operating licenses for Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant’s two pressurized water...

The DOE’s plan for AI in NRC licensing

April 2, 2026, 9:40AMNuclear News

The Department of Energy announced the completion of a proof-of-concept demonstration of the use of Everstar’s AI tool to generate chapter 5 of an NRC license application from preliminary...

NRC to add new items to categorical exclusions list

March 31, 2026, 3:31PMNuclear News

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has identified five categories of action to add to its list of categorical exclusions to reduce its documentation work under National Environmental Policy Act...

GAO: Clarification of HLW definition could save DOE billions

March 31, 2026, 9:29AMNuclear News

A clearer definition of what constitutes high-level radioactive waste could save the Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management “tens of billions of dollars” in waste...

NRC adopts ROP updates

March 30, 2026, 3:14PMNuclear News

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved a significant overhaul of its Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) baseline inspection program that stresses a leaner, more risk-focused inspection...

U.S. Air Force opens power reactor RFI

March 30, 2026, 9:35AMNuclear News

The U.S. Air Force wants to hear from companies that could be interested in deploying small nuclear reactors at its bases.The request for information posted Wednesday intends to assist the...

Tech giants and nuclear leaders make news at CERAWeek

March 27, 2026, 9:46AMNuclear News

Microsoft and Nvidia have formed an “AI for nuclear” partnership intended to streamline the permitting, design, and operations of nuclear power plant facilities, and highlighted the...

Deep Isolation validates borehole disposal for recycled SNF waste

March 26, 2026, 9:28AMNuclear News

Waste disposal technology company Deep Isolation Nuclear has claimed that results of a study it conducted with reactor developer Oklo demonstrate that deep borehole disposal could be an option...

NRC unveils Part 53 final rule

March 26, 2026, 7:01AMNuclear News

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has finalized its new regulatory framework for advanced reactors that officials believe will accelerate, simplify, and reduce burdens in the new reactor...

NRC looks to leverage previous approvals for large LWRs

March 24, 2026, 4:36PMNuclear News

During this time of resurging interest in nuclear power, many conversations have centered on one fundamental problem: Electricity is needed now, but nuclear projects (in recent decades) have...

Retrieval of nuclear waste canisters from a borehole

Related Articles