NA-243 Office of Nuclear Verification

Ward Hawkins

Vienna, Austria

June 2015

Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty

Science and Technology Conference 2015

The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Government, the United States Department of

Energy or the Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Drilling to Obtain Radioactive Samples:

Concept of Operations and Equipment

LA-UR-15-24256

OSI Drilling to Obtain Radioactive Samples

Concept of Operations (ConOps)

Topics

• Drilling site selection

• Requirements, Regulations, Permits

• Mobilization

• Site layout and operational plans

including Health, Safety, and

Environment

• Drilling and sampling equipment

and personnel for rapid deployment

Drilled shaft

Mined shaft

Mined Tunnel

Nuclear Test Emplacement

ConfigurationsIn the course of the OSI, drilling for

samples can be proposed.

Drilling Site Selection

Site Selection

• Triggering event

location and data

• OSI information

• Sampling target is

identified and

characterized

Requirements, Regulations, Permits

Site Permission

Boundaries Established

Right-of Way Accesses

Environmental

Considerations

Regulatory Permits,

Requirements, and

Restrictions

Health and Safety is paramount; and, the Inspected State Party has an

“obligation not to impede the ability of the inspection team to move within

the inspection area and to carry out inspection activities in accordance with

this Treaty and the Protocol.” (CTBT, Article IV, paragraph 57e).

Drilling Site Preparations

Drilling Pad

• Size

• Stability

• Geology

• Proximity to target

The Inspection Team can request a 70 day extension of the OSI.

Equipment Mobilization

Arrangements among Contractor, Technical

Secretariat, and Inspected State Party.

Mobile Rig

Site Layout

Transport to Inspected State

Ancillary Equipment

Drilling and Sampling Equipment and

Personnel for Rapid Deployment

Equipment

• Industry Standard

• Depth Capable

• Portable

• Steering/Directional

• Minimal Footprint

• Self Contained

• Experienced/Well-Trained

Personnel

• Site restoration

Contractual “standing arrangements” for rig and crew?

CTBT On-Site Inspection, drilling for

samples is a complex process.

Many of the issues that need to be addressed are identified in the “Report on OSI Expert Meeting on Drilling and Subsoil Sampling”CTBT/PTS/INF.1166, 30 January 2012

2x ~1,000m holes/day

2-3 hrs move/rig up

100m/hr penetration

Gamma logging

Measurements while

drilling

Sample

management