U.S-based start-up Deep Fission, an advanced nuclear energy company developing small modular pressurised water reactors deep underground, has started drilling its first data acquisition well.
The Parsons, Kansas, borehole will be drilled to a depth of about 6000ft (1828m) with an 8in (203mm) diameter and is the first of three wells planned for site validation.
Deep Fission has also completed construction of the drilling pad at the Parsons site, preparing the location for safe operations. Pad completion marks a key infrastructure milestone as the company advances from planning and engineering into active field development.
"Drilling our first borehole represents the shift from concept to construction and begins the process of demonstrating a fundamentally new approach to nuclear energy deployment," said Liz Muller, CEO and Co-Founder of Deep Fission.
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The data acquisition well will enable the company to gather critical geological, hydrological, and thermal data for a series of technical evaluations aimed at accelerating the company's pathway to commercial deployment.
Deep Fission's proprietary approach integrates proven pressurised water reactor (PWR) technology with advanced drilling methods developed in the oil and gas industry and geothermal heat-transfer techniques.
Each "Gravity Reactor" is designed to be installed deep underground in a sealed borehole, leveraging stable bedrock for natural shielding and containment.
The three-well drilling program is expected to provide the subsurface data necessary to advance reactor demonstration and future commercialization efforts.
Deep Fission is participating in the U.S Department of Energy's (DOE) Reactor Pilot Programme to reform and streamline the development of next-generation nuclear technologies.
