Deep Fission Begins Drilling First Data‑Acquisition Well in Kansas

Deep Fission starts drilling first data‑acquisition well in Parsons, Kansas – The California startup began drilling the initial well of a three‑well programme at its pilot site, targeting a depth of about 6,000 ft (1,830 m) and an eight‑inch (20 cm) diameter, marking the first phase of site characterisation and engineering validation [1].

Well will gather geological, hydrological and thermal data for design and safety – Collected subsurface information will feed final engineering design, safety analysis and regulatory planning, underpinning a series of technical evaluations for the underground reactor concept [1].

Drilling pad construction completed, enabling safe field operations – The finished pad at the Parsons location provides the infrastructure needed for efficient drilling, signalling a transition from planning to active field development [1].

CEO Liz Muller says first borehole shifts project from concept to construction – “Drilling our first borehole is a major step forward for Deep Fission,” the CEO and co‑founder declared, emphasizing the move toward demonstrating a new nuclear‑energy deployment approach [1].

Gravity reactor design: 15 MWe SMR placed one mile underground using LEU fuel – The reactor employs conventional pressurised‑water technology, generates 15 MWe per unit, and relies on passive geological shielding; ten units would yield 150 MWe and 100 units 1.5 GWe, using off‑the‑shelf parts and mature industry practices [1].

DOE backs project; founders also created Deep Isolation – Deep Fission broke ground in December at the Great Plains Industrial Park, was selected in August 2025 among ten firms for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Nuclear Reactor Pilot Program targeting criticality for three designs by 4 July 2026, and was founded in 2023 by Elizabeth and Richard Muller, who earlier founded Deep Isolation to develop deep‑borehole waste storage [1].