Current research on deep borehole disposal of nuclear spent fuel and high-level radioactive waste - considerations within a German research project

1. Current research on deep borehole disposal
of nuclear spent fuel and high-level
radioactive waste - considerations within a
German research project
Tino Rosenzweig
TU Bergakademie Freiberg
Middelburg, The Netherlands
September 5-7, 2017

2. Research Team and Co-Authors
 Prof. Matthias Reich TU Bergakademie Freiberg
 Christin Dieterichs Institute of Drilling Engineering and Fluid Mining
 Prof. Wolfram Kudla TU Bergakademie Freiberg
 Dr. Tino Rosenzweig Institute of Mining and Special Civil Engineering
 Wilhelm Bollingerfehr DBE TECHNOLOGY GmbH
 Maxi Herold Department research and development
_________________________________________________________________________
 COORDINATION: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
Project Management Agency Karlsruhe (PTKA)
TU Bergakademie Freiberg I Institute of Mining and Special Civil Engineering
Dr.-Ing. Tino Rosenzweig, M.Sc. I Gustav-Zeuner-Street 1a I 09599 Freiberg / Germany
Phone: +493731393870 I Fax: +493731393581 I E-Mail: Tino.Rosenzweig@mabb.tu-freiberg.de
2

3. TU Bergakademie Freiberg I Institute of Mining and Special Civil Engineering
Dr.-Ing. Tino Rosenzweig, M.Sc. I Gustav-Zeuner-Street 1a I 09599 Freiberg / Germany
Phone: +493731393870 I Fax: +493731393581 I E-Mail: Tino.Rosenzweig@mabb.tu-freiberg.de
Content
 What is deep borehole disposal?
 What are the challenges?
 What is the aim of the research project?
 What was our approach to solve the task?
 First results of the research project
 Summary
3

4. TU Bergakademie Freiberg I Institute of Mining and Special Civil Engineering
Dr.-Ing. Tino Rosenzweig, M.Sc. I Gustav-Zeuner-Street 1a I 09599 Freiberg / Germany
Phone: +493731393870 I Fax: +493731393581 I E-Mail: Tino.Rosenzweig@mabb.tu-freiberg.de
What is deep borehole disposal?
4
Sandia (2012)
Early stage of the DBD concept of the US

5. TU Bergakademie Freiberg I Institute of Mining and Special Civil Engineering
Dr.-Ing. Tino Rosenzweig, M.Sc. I Gustav-Zeuner-Street 1a I 09599 Freiberg / Germany
Phone: +493731393870 I Fax: +493731393581 I E-Mail: Tino.Rosenzweig@mabb.tu-freiberg.de
What is deep
borehole
disposal?
5
SKB (2010)
Deep borehole disposal
concept of Sweden

6. TU Bergakademie Freiberg I Institute of Mining and Special Civil Engineering
Dr.-Ing. Tino Rosenzweig, M.Sc. I Gustav-Zeuner-Street 1a I 09599 Freiberg / Germany
Phone: +493731393870 I Fax: +493731393581 I E-Mail: Tino.Rosenzweig@mabb.tu-freiberg.de
What is deep borehole disposal?
 In our research project:
 disposal of high-level radioactive waste in 5000 m deep vertical
boreholes
 waste disposal zone from 3000 m – 5000 m depth
 waste disposal zone: crystalline basement rock
 overburden: layers of salt and/or clay
 sealing zone from 3000 m – 0 m (surface)
 Advantages of a deep borehole disposal:
 great distance between the waste canisters and the biosphere
 long sealing zone up to 3000 m
 low permeability, high salinity and reducing conditions in the host rock
 possibility of several different overlaying layers like clay and salt
6

7. TU Bergakademie Freiberg I Institute of Mining and Special Civil Engineering
Dr.-Ing. Tino Rosenzweig, M.Sc. I Gustav-Zeuner-Street 1a I 09599 Freiberg / Germany
Phone: +493731393870 I Fax: +493731393581 I E-Mail: Tino.Rosenzweig@mabb.tu-freiberg.de
What are the challenges?
 Drilling a borehole with large diameter to a depth of 5000 m
 Storage and emplacement of waste containers in a fluid
7
Ekologia (2017)

8. TU Bergakademie Freiberg I Institute of Mining and Special Civil Engineering
Dr.-Ing. Tino Rosenzweig, M.Sc. I Gustav-Zeuner-Street 1a I 09599 Freiberg / Germany
Phone: +493731393870 I Fax: +493731393581 I E-Mail: Tino.Rosenzweig@mabb.tu-freiberg.de
What are the challenges?
8
sealing zone
disposal zone
casing
cement
fluid
drill pipe
or
wire line
housing emplacement device
fluid tank
waste canister
in shielded
transfer cask
lock

9. TU Bergakademie Freiberg I Institute of Mining and Special Civil Engineering
Dr.-Ing. Tino Rosenzweig, M.Sc. I Gustav-Zeuner-Street 1a I 09599 Freiberg / Germany
Phone: +493731393870 I Fax: +493731393581 I E-Mail: Tino.Rosenzweig@mabb.tu-freiberg.de
What are the challenges?
9
 Drilling a borehole with large diameter to a depth of 5000 m
 Storage and emplacement of waste containers in a fluid
 Impermeability of the casing and the cementation
 Accident management >>> fishing technology
 Sealing of a fluid filled borehole
 Retrievability
Johnson (2013)
fishing

10. TU Bergakademie Freiberg I Institute of Mining and Special Civil Engineering
Dr.-Ing. Tino Rosenzweig, M.Sc. I Gustav-Zeuner-Street 1a I 09599 Freiberg / Germany
Phone: +493731393870 I Fax: +493731393581 I E-Mail: Tino.Rosenzweig@mabb.tu-freiberg.de
What is the aim of the research
 Identification of basic points:
 drilling technology up to 5000 m
 emplacement of waste canisters
 storage of the waste canisters in a fluid
 sealing of the borehole in a fluid (materials, technology, …)
 concept for the storage on basis of known waste inventory
(size and number of waste canisters, number of boreholes)
 Evaluation of the deep borehole disposal option by showing
the chances and the risks
10
project?

11. TU Bergakademie Freiberg I Institute of Mining and Special Civil Engineering
Dr.-Ing. Tino Rosenzweig, M.Sc. I Gustav-Zeuner-Street 1a I 09599 Freiberg / Germany
Phone: +493731393870 I Fax: +493731393581 I E-Mail: Tino.Rosenzweig@mabb.tu-freiberg.de
What was our approach to solve
 No nuclear power plants in Germany ahead of 2022 - defined
waste inventory
 Waste consists of:
 spent fuel
 waste from reprocessing (vitrified)
 structural components of spent fuel
 spent fuel of prototype and research reactors
[BMUB, 2015]
11
the task?

12. TU Bergakademie Freiberg I Institute of Mining and Special Civil Engineering
Dr.-Ing. Tino Rosenzweig, M.Sc. I Gustav-Zeuner-Street 1a I 09599 Freiberg / Germany
Phone: +493731393870 I Fax: +493731393581 I E-Mail: Tino.Rosenzweig@mabb.tu-freiberg.de
What was our approach
12
to solve the task?
Starting point of the project:
 simplified generic geologic profile (necessary
to design suitable drilling technology)
 crystalline rock: 2500 m – 5000 m
 overburden: salt rock and/or clay with
large horizontal expansion
Geology
limestone
sandstone
salt
sandstone
0 m
460 m
clay
salt
400 m
270 m
crystalline
rock
2500 m
1750 m
990 m

13. TU Bergakademie Freiberg I Institute of Mining and Special Civil Engineering
Dr.-Ing. Tino Rosenzweig, M.Sc. I Gustav-Zeuner-Street 1a I 09599 Freiberg / Germany
Phone: +493731393870 I Fax: +493731393581 I E-Mail: Tino.Rosenzweig@mabb.tu-freiberg.de
First results of the research
Drilling Engineering
state of the art further research
17,5 in final borehole diameter in 36 in
≙ 44,5 cm the crystalline rock (5000 m) ≙ 91,4 cm
13
project

14. TU Bergakademie Freiberg I Institute of Mining and Special Civil Engineering
Dr.-Ing. Tino Rosenzweig, M.Sc. I Gustav-Zeuner-Street 1a I 09599 Freiberg / Germany
Phone: +493731393870 I Fax: +493731393581 I E-Mail: Tino.Rosenzweig@mabb.tu-freiberg.de
First results of the research
14
project
Alibaba (2017)
schematic
borehole
construction
next slide

15. TU Bergakademie Freiberg I Institute of Mining and Special Civil Engineering
Dr.-Ing. Tino Rosenzweig, M.Sc. I Gustav-Zeuner-Street 1a I 09599 Freiberg / Germany
Phone: +493731393870 I Fax: +493731393581 I E-Mail: Tino.Rosenzweig@mabb.tu-freiberg.de
First results of the research
15
project
borehole
cement
casing
space
container
waste
(to be filled)

16. TU Bergakademie Freiberg I Institute of Mining and Special Civil Engineering
Dr.-Ing. Tino Rosenzweig, M.Sc. I Gustav-Zeuner-Street 1a I 09599 Freiberg / Germany
Phone: +493731393870 I Fax: +493731393581 I E-Mail: Tino.Rosenzweig@mabb.tu-freiberg.de
First results of the research
Drilling Engineering
state of the art further research
17,5 in final borehole diameter in 36 in
≙ 44,5 cm the crystalline rock (5000 m) ≙ 91,4 cm
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(6,8 cm) inner diameter of container 43,5 cm
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
only spent fuel waste forms for disposal all waste forms
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(467) boreholes required 31
16
project

17. TU Bergakademie Freiberg I Institute of Mining and Special Civil Engineering
Dr.-Ing. Tino Rosenzweig, M.Sc. I Gustav-Zeuner-Street 1a I 09599 Freiberg / Germany
Phone: +493731393870 I Fax: +493731393581 I E-Mail: Tino.Rosenzweig@mabb.tu-freiberg.de
Summary (1)
 The deep borehole disposal option still has some severe
challenges to deal with and will require research and
development work in several areas.
 Outgoing from the current state of the art in drilling techno-
logy it will not be possible to create a repository with a
realistic number of deep boreholes in that we could dispose
all of the high-level radioactive waste of Germany because
standard equipment from oil and gas industry is not suited
for repositories of high-level radioactive waste.
17

18. TU Bergakademie Freiberg I Institute of Mining and Special Civil Engineering
Dr.-Ing. Tino Rosenzweig, M.Sc. I Gustav-Zeuner-Street 1a I 09599 Freiberg / Germany
Phone: +493731393870 I Fax: +493731393581 I E-Mail: Tino.Rosenzweig@mabb.tu-freiberg.de
Summary (2)
 There are still some unsolved problems that might never be
solved specifically the issue of retrievability, which is
demanded in Germany.
 By solving the uncertainty of retrievability and with further
research especially in drilling technology (development of
required technology appears feasible - provided there will be
a “market” for the service companies), the deep borehole
disposal option could be an alternative for the future.
18

19. TU Bergakademie Freiberg I Institute of Mining and Special Civil Engineering
Dr.-Ing. Tino Rosenzweig, M.Sc. I Gustav-Zeuner-Street 1a I 09599 Freiberg / Germany
Phone: +493731393870 I Fax: +493731393581 I E-Mail: Tino.Rosenzweig@mabb.tu-freiberg.de
Thank you for your
attention!
19

20. TU Bergakademie Freiberg I Institute of Mining and Special Civil Engineering
Dr.-Ing. Tino Rosenzweig, M.Sc. I Gustav-Zeuner-Street 1a I 09599 Freiberg / Germany
Phone: +493731393870 I Fax: +493731393581 I E-Mail: Tino.Rosenzweig@mabb.tu-freiberg.de
References
 Alibaba (2017) ALIBABA: “China Hebei yichuan fabrik 17 1/2 zoll TCI tricone
bohrer rollenbohrkrone für bohrgestein”, Alibaba.com Hong
Kong Limited, Hong Kong, URL: <http://german.alibaba.com/p-
detail/china-hebei-yichuan-factory-17-1-2-inch-tci-tricone-drill-
rock-bit-used-for-drilling-60606506527.html>, retrieved on
August 28th, 2017.
 Ekologia (2017) EKOLOGIA: “Gaz łupkowy w Polsce: Na Pomorzu popłynął gaz z
łupków”, URL: <http://www.ekologia.pl/wiadomosci/energia/
gaz-lupkowy-w-polsce-na-pomorzu-poplynal-gaz-z-lupkow,
18576.html>, retrieved on September 4th, 2017.
 Johnson (2013) JOHNSON, Enos; LAND, Jimmy; LEE, Mark; ROBERTSON, Robert:
“Landing the Big One – The Art of Fishing”, Schlumberger, Oilfield
Review, Winter 2012/2013, Volume 24, Number 4, Pages 26-35,
2013.
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21. TU Bergakademie Freiberg I Institute of Mining and Special Civil Engineering
Dr.-Ing. Tino Rosenzweig, M.Sc. I Gustav-Zeuner-Street 1a I 09599 Freiberg / Germany
Phone: +493731393870 I Fax: +493731393581 I E-Mail: Tino.Rosenzweig@mabb.tu-freiberg.de
References
 BMUB (2015) BMUB: “Programm für eine verantwortungsvolle und sichere
Entsorgung bestrahlter Brennelemente und radioaktiver Abfälle
(Nationales Entsorgungsprogramm)“, Bundesministerium für
Umwelt, Naturschutz, Bau und Reaktorsicherheit, 2015.
 Sandia (2012) ARNOLD, Bill W.; VAUGHN, Palmer; MACKINNON, Robert;
TILLMAN, Jack; NIELSON, Dennis; BRADY, Patrick V.; HALSEY,
William; ALTMAN, Susan: “Research, Development, and
Demonstration Roadmap for Deep Borehole Disposal”, Sandia
National Laboratories, Albuquerque and Livermore, 2012.
 SKB (2010) SKB: “Choice of method - evaluation of strategies and systems
for disposal of spent nuclear fuel”, Svensk Kärnbränslehantering
AB, Stockholm, 2010.
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