Youngquist Brothers joins underground nuclear project

Fort Myers-based Youngquist Brothers is partnering with Deep Fission to test drilling methods for deploying nuclear reactors about a mile underground. The companies will evaluate construction of the large-diameter boreholes needed for Deep Fission’s small modular reactor technology. On Sept. 3, they completed an equipment demonstration in Fort Myers, lowering and retrieving a full-size, 30-inch prototype reactor canister about 100 feet into a 34-inch borehole. Youngquist, which has drilled large-diameter boreholes deeper than 8,000 feet, will contribute its drilling and construction expertise. Nasdaq-listed Deep Fission’s proposed Gravity reactor uses pressurized water reactor technology and low-enriched uranium fuel.