The primary objective of this project is to host a full-scale demonstration of Deep Borehole Disposal (DBD) to prove the feasibility of the method and to study technical, environmental and socio-economic factors with international partners.
Adjacent to our Sandy Ridge Facility in Western Australia, Tellus has mining approval for five characterisation boreholes and three deep boreholes for research 3-5km deep to support an International Deep Borehole Disposal demonstration project.
We are currently focused on our Stakeholder Engagement Strategy and continuing to promote open dialogue with interested parties from around the world, ahead of commencing field work.
What is DBD:
DBD has been proposed as a safe and cost-effective method for the disposal of smaller inventories of radioactive waste, as an alternative to deep geological repositories. It involves drilling a very deep borehole several kilometres into the earth, carefully lowering waste canisters to the bottom before completely sealing the borehole to permanently and totally isolate the canister from the surface environment.
The global radioactive waste management industry has been seeking a demonstration site for more than 30 years, and Tellus is proud to be able to offer our Sandy Ridge site. Our proposed international demonstration project is for scientific research purposes, only using benign packages in testing. No hazardous waste will be emplaced as part of the project.
Stage 1: Planning and exploration
The Sandy Ridge site is an ideal location for the DBD project. Not only are the rocks at depth very old, strong and stable granites with no significant groundwater but the proximity to our Sandy Ridge facility allows easy access and logistical support.
The first stage will be to agree the research plan and objectives, before the design of the borehole (e.g. depth and diameter) and drilling method. We will do this in collaboration with our international partners. As part of this preparation work, we will also undertake further geological characterisation and build a 3D geological model of the deep geology of the site.
Stage 2: Research and demonstration
The research and demonstration phase will address all aspects of DBD including testing of alternative technologies for drilling the boreholes; lowering waste packages into the boreholes; reversibility and retrieval; sealing boreholes to ensure isolation of the waste; long-term characterisation and monitoring of the rock and groundwaters using an array of methods, testing and measurement devices; safety and environmental assessments etc.
The project will progress in stages, with each stage carefully planned and evaluated before moving forward to the next stage. In this way, we will gather comprehensive information on all safety and technical aspects which will allow our international partners to implement DBD in their own countries.
Stage 3: Closure and Rehabilitation
After all of the research and demonstration work is completed, we will close and remediate the site following guidance and requirements of the Western Australia Government, including the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation, and Safety. This will involve backfilling and plugging any characterisation and monitoring boreholes, as well as the deep boreholes to ensure there are no safety or environmental impacts. The land will also be remediated and revegetated to return the site to natural conditions.