A hazardous waste canister includes a housing that includes at least one open end and defines an interior volume; and an end cap sized and configured to attach to the at least one open end of the housing to enclose the interior volume. The housing is configured to enclose a plurality of nuclear waste forms within the interior volume, with at least one of the plurality of nuclear waste forms different than at least another of the plurality of nuclear waste forms.
A hazardous waste canister includes a housing that defines an inner volume sized to enclose a portion of hazardous waste and including an excess space between the enclosed portion of hazardous waste and an inner wall surface of the housing; a cap configured to seal an open end of the housing through which the portion of hazardous waste is inserted into the inner volume; and a pressure balancing material inserted into the inner volume to fill the excess space.
A hazardous waste repository system includes at least one vertical access drillhole formed from a terranean surface into a subterranean formation. The system further includes a first horizontal drillhole portion coupled to the vertical access drillhole and sized to receive a first hazardous waste canister. The first horizontal drillhole portion includes a first hazardous waste repository area formed at a first depth within the subterranean formation. The system further includes a second horizontal drillhole portion coupled to the at least one vertical access drillhole and sized to receive a second hazardous waste canister. The second horizontal drillhole portion includes a second hazardous waste repository area formed at a second depth within the subterranean formation such that a difference between the first and second depths is at least as much as a vertical drilling uncertainty. The second horizontal drillhole portion is horizontally spaced apart from the first horizontal drillhole portion by a distance less than a horizontal drilling uncertainty.
Techniques for monitoring hazardous waste include identifying a hazardous waste drillhole formed from a terranean surface into one or more subterranean formations, the hazardous waste drillhole including an entry sized to receive a plurality of hazardous waste canisters that enclose hazardous waste into and through the entry, and a hazardous waste storage area formed in a storage subterranean formation and sized to receive the plurality of hazardous waste canisters; identifying a probe borehole formed from the terranean surface into the one or more subterranean formations adjacent the hazardous waste drillhole, the probe borehole having a diameter sized insufficiently to receive the plurality of hazardous waste canisters; and measuring, with at least one measurement instrument positioned in the probe borehole near the hazardous waste storage area, at least one parameter associated with the hazardous waste.
A hazardous waste repository system includes a borehole repository that includes at least one human-unoccupiable borehole formed from a terranean surface into a subterranean formation suitable to store hazardous waste, where the at least one borehole includes an entry on a parcel of real property at the terranean surface and at least one human-unoccupiable storage region configured to store one or more hazardous waste canisters that enclose portions of a nuclear waste material. The system includes at least one of: (i) a nuclear waste facility, located on the parcel, that stores the nuclear waste material, or (ii) a nuclear power plant, located on the parcel, that produces the nuclear waste material.
A hazardous waste repository includes a drillhole formed from a terranean surface and through one or more subterranean formations. The drillhole includes a storage portion formed within at least one of the one or more subterranean formations. The hazardous waste repository includes a portion of vitrified hazardous waste enclosed in a housing of at least one high level waste canister (HLWC) exclusive of an outer canister. The HLWC is positioned in the storage portion.
A hazardous waste canister includes a housing that defines an interior volume configured to store nuclear waste, the housing configured to enclose the nuclear waste in a human-unoccupiable drillhole formed from a terranean surface into a subterranean formation; a support assembly positioned within the inner volume and configured to fill at least a portion of a gap between the housing and the enclosed nuclear waste; a lid assembly configured to couple to an open end of the housing to seal the inner volume; and a lift assembly coupled to the lid assembly and configured to engage a lifting device.
A hazardous waste repository includes a directional drillhole formed from a terranean surface into a subterranean formation. The directional drillhole includes an access drillhole portion that includes an entry at the terranean surface sized to receive one or more hazardous waste canisters configured to enclose hazardous waste, a curved drillhole portion, and a substantially horizontal or inclined drillhole portion. The substantially horizontal or inclined drillhole portion includes a storage region sized and configured to store the one or more hazardous waste canisters. The repository includes a flow conduit formed or installed from the terranean surface into the subterranean formation and in fluid communication with the storage region. The flow conduit and the directional drillhole are configured to receive a flow of a liquid that circulates from the terranean surface, through the flow conduit and the storage region, and back to the terranean surface for a corrosion analysis of the liquid.
E21B 41/00 - Equipment or details not covered by groups
E21D 11/10 - Lining with building materials with concrete cast in situShuttering or other equipment adapted therefor
G01N 35/08 - Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups Handling materials therefor using a stream of discrete samples flowing along a tube system, e.g. flow injection analysis
G01N 1/10 - Devices for withdrawing samples in the liquid or fluent state
G01T 1/20 - Measuring radiation intensity with scintillation detectors
G21F 5/002 - Containers for fluid radioactive wastes
G21F 5/005 - Containers for solid radioactive wastes, e.g. for ultimate disposal
A hazardous waste canister includes a housing that defines an interior volume configured to store nuclear waste, the housing configured to enclose the nuclear waste in a human-unoccupiable drillhole formed from a terranean surface into a subterranean formation; and a knob coupled to the housing at an end of the canister, the knob configured to attach to a set of latching calipers of a latching assembly coupled to a downhole conveyance for moving the canister from the human-unoccupiable drillhole to the terranean surface.
A hazardous material storage repository includes a borehole that extends into the Earth from a terranean surface. The borehole includes an entry and a hazardous material storage borehole portion formed in a subterranean salt formation. The repository includes a storage canister positioned in the hazardous material storage borehole portion. The storage canister is sized to fit from the entry through a substantially vertical borehole portion of the borehole, and into the hazardous material storage borehole portion. The storage canister includes an inner cavity sized to enclose nuclear waste material that includes TRansUranic waste.
A hazardous waste repository includes a substantially vertical drillhole portion that extends toward a subterranean rock formation from a terranean surface, the drillhole including an entry at least proximate the terranean surface; and a hazardous material storage drillhole portion formed in or under the subterranean rock formation and coupled to the substantially vertical drillhole portion, the hazardous material storage drillhole portion configured to store one or more hazardous material canisters that encloses nuclear waste. The substantially vertical drillhole portion includes an aspect ratio of surface area of the substantially vertical drillhole portion to a cross-sectional area of the substantially vertical drillhole portion that impedes movement of a hazardous component of a nuclear waste material from a first end of the substantially vertical drillhole portion to a second end of the substantially vertical drillhole portion through at least one of advective isolation or diffusive isolation.
A hazardous waste repository includes a drillhole formed from a terranean surface into a subterranean formation. The drillhole includes an entry at the terranean surface and an access portion that extends from the entry toward a storage portion within the subterranean formation. The hazardous waste repository further includes a plurality of hazardous waste canisters emplaced within the storage portion of the drillhole, each of the hazardous waste canisters enclosing hazardous waste; and a granular material installed in a volume of the drillhole between a casing and the plurality of canisters and between adjacent canisters of the plurality of canisters. The granular material is configured to support at least a portion of a weight of each of the plurality of canisters.
A casing joint includes a tubular including a particular length, a particular diameter, and a first wall thickness; a male connection formed on a first end of the tubular, the male connection including an axial length and a plurality of threads formed on a portion of an external surface of the male connection less than the axial length of the male connection; and a female connection formed on a second end of the tubular opposite the first end, the female connection including an axial length and a plurality of threads formed on a portion of an internal surface of the female connection less than the axial length of the female connection.
F16L 15/00 - Screw-threaded jointsForms of screw-threads for such joints
E21B 17/042 - CouplingsJoints between rod and bit, or between rod and rod threaded
E21B 17/046 - CouplingsJoints between rod and bit, or between rod and rod with ribs, pins, or jaws, and complementary grooves or the like, e.g. bayonet catches
F16L 15/08 - Screw-threaded jointsForms of screw-threads for such joints with supplementary elements
Techniques for determining the suitability of a subterranean formation as a hazardous waste repository include determining a neutron flux of a first isotope in a subterranean formation; calculating, based at least in part on the determined neutron flux of the first isotope, a predicted production rate of a second isotope in the subterranean formation; calculating a first ratio of the predicted production rate of the second isotope relative to a theoretical production rate of a stable form of the second isotope; measuring respective concentrations of the second isotope and the stable form of the second isotope in a subterranean water sample; calculating a second ratio of the measured concentration of the second isotope relative to the measured concentration of the stable form of the second isotope; and based on a comparison of the first and second ratios, determining that the subterranean formation is suitable as a hazardous waste repository.
A hazardous material storage system includes a drillhole extending into the Earth and including an entry at least proximate a terranean surface. The drillhole includes a substantially vertical portion, a curved portion, and a horizontal portion that includes a hazardous waste repository formed within a first portion of the horizontal portion of the drillhole, the hazardous waste repository vertically isolated, by a rock formation, from a subterranean zone that includes mobile water, and a safety runway formed within a second portion of the horizontal portion exclusive of the hazardous waste repository and adjacent the curved portion, the safety runway defined by a particular length.
A hazardous waste repository includes a directional drillhole formed from a terranean surface into at least one subterranean formation suitable for storing hazardous waste. The directional drillhole includes a storage region configured to store one or more hazardous waste canisters that is configured to enclose hazardous waste. The repository further includes a casing that extends to at or near the terranean surface, through the directional drillhole, and into the storage region of the substantially horizontal drillhole portion. The repository further includes a monitor borehole formed from the terranean surface into the at least one subterranean formation adjacent the storage region. The monitor borehole is sized to receive a measurement instrument run from the terranean surface to a portion of the monitor borehole adjacent the storage region. The measurement instrument is configured to detect a distortion of the casing.
E21B 47/14 - Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling using acoustic waves
A hazardous waste canister includes a housing that includes at least one open end and defines an interior volume; and an end cap sized and configured to attach to the at least one open end of the housing to enclose the interior volume. The housing is configured to enclose a plurality of nuclear waste forms within the interior volume, with at least one of the plurality of nuclear waste forms different than at least another of the plurality of nuclear waste forms.
A hazardous waste repository system includes at least one vertical access drillhole formed from a terranean surface into a subterranean formation. The system further includes a first horizontal drillhole portion coupled to the vertical access drillhole and sized to receive a first hazardous waste canister. The first horizontal drillhole portion includes a first hazardous waste repository area formed at a first depth within the subterranean formation. The system further includes a second horizontal drillhole portion coupled to the at least one vertical access drillhole and sized to receive a second hazardous waste canister. The second horizontal drillhole portion includes a second hazardous waste repository area formed at a second depth within the subterranean formation such that a difference between the first and second depths is at least as much as a vertical drilling uncertainty. The second horizontal drillhole portion is horizontally spaced apart from the first horizontal drillhole portion by a distance less than a horizontal drilling uncertainty.
Techniques for monitoring hazardous waste include identifying a hazardous waste drillhole formed from a terranean surface into one or more subterranean formations, the hazardous waste drillhole including an entry sized to receive a plurality of hazardous waste canisters that enclose hazardous waste into and through the entry, and a hazardous waste storage area formed in a storage subterranean formation and sized to receive the plurality of hazardous waste canisters; identifying a probe borehole formed from the terranean surface into the one or more subterranean formations adjacent the hazardous waste drillhole, the probe borehole having a diameter sized insufficiently to receive the plurality of hazardous waste canisters; and measuring, with at least one measurement instrument positioned in the probe borehole near the hazardous waste storage area, at least one parameter associated with the hazardous waste.
Methods for storing or disposing of nuclear waste include forming a drillhole that extends into the Earth from a terranean surface. The drillhole includes an entry at least proximate the terranean surface, a substantially vertical drillhole portion, and a hazardous material storage drillhole portion that is coupled to the substantially vertical drillhole portion and is formed in a subterranean salt formation. The methods further include moving a storage canister into the hazardous material storage drillhole portion. The storage canister is sized to fit from the drillhole entry through the substantially vertical drillhole portion, and into the hazardous material storage drillhole portion of the drillhole. The storage canister has an inner cavity that encloses nuclear waste material. The methods further include positioning a seal in the drillhole to isolate the hazardous material storage drillhole portion of the drillhole from the entry of the drillhole.
A nuclear waste storage system includes a human-unoccupiable directional drillhole formed from a terranean surface into a subterranean formation, the drillhole including a substantially vertical portion and a substantially horizontal portion that includes a hazardous waste repository for nuclear waste storage; a casing including one or more tubular sections sized to fit within the drillhole; and a coating attached to an exterior surface of the casing, the exterior surface facing a rock formation through which the drillhole is formed.
A power generator system includes one or more heat transfer members configured to contact: a heat source in a hazardous waste repository of a directional drillhole that stores nuclear waste in one or more nuclear waste canisters, and a heat sink in the hazardous waste repository; and one or more thermoelectric generators thermally coupled to the one or more heat transfer members and configured to generate electric power based on a temperature difference between the heat source and the heat sink.
E21B 41/00 - Equipment or details not covered by groups
G21H 1/10 - Cells in which radiation heats a thermoelectric junction or a thermionic converter
H10N 10/13 - Thermoelectric devices comprising a junction of dissimilar materials, i.e. devices exhibiting Seebeck or Peltier effects operating with only the Peltier or Seebeck effects characterised by the heat-exchanging means at the junction
G21F 1/00 - Shielding characterised by the composition of the material
A hazardous waste canister includes a housing that defines an inner volume sized to enclose a portion of hazardous waste and including an excess space between the enclosed portion of hazardous waste and an inner wall surface of the housing; a cap configured to seal an open end of the housing through which the portion of hazardous waste is inserted into the inner volume; and a pressure balancing material inserted into the inner volume to fill the excess space.
A hazardous waste repository includes a drillhole formed from a terranean surface into a subterranean formation, the drillhole including an entry at the terranean surface and an access portion that extends from the entry toward a storage portion within the subterranean formation; a plurality of hazardous waste canisters emplaced within the storage portion of the drillhole, each of the hazardous waste canisters enclosing hazardous waste; and a granular material installed in a volume of the drillhole between a casing and the plurality of canisters and between adjacent canisters of the plurality of canisters, the granular material configured to support at least a portion of a weight of each of the plurality of canisters.
Techniques for inspecting a weld of a nuclear waste canister include positioning a gamma ray image detector near a nuclear waste canister that encloses nuclear waste. The nuclear waste canister includes a housing that includes a volume in which the waste is enclosed and a top connected to the housing with at least one weld to seal the nuclear waste in the nuclear waste canister. The techniques further include receiving, at the gamma ray image detector, gamma rays from the nuclear waste that travel through one or more voids in the weld; generating an image of the received gamma rays with the gamma ray image detector; and based on the generated image, determining an integrity of the at least one weld.
G01M 3/38 - Investigating fluid tightness of structures by using light
G01N 23/10 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups , or by transmitting the radiation through the material and measuring the absorption the material being confined in a container, e.g. in luggage X-ray scanners
A hazardous waste repository includes a substantially vertical drillhole portion that extends toward a subterranean rock formation from a terranean surface, the drillhole including an entry at least proximate the terranean surface; and a hazardous material storage drillhole portion formed in or under the subterranean rock formation and coupled to the substantially vertical drillhole portion, the hazardous material storage drillhole portion configured to store one or more hazardous material canisters that encloses nuclear waste. The substantially vertical drillhole portion includes an aspect ratio of surface area of the substantially vertical drillhole portion to a cross-sectional area of the substantially vertical drillhole portion that impedes movement of a hazardous component of a nuclear waste material from a first end of the substantially vertical drillhole portion to a second end of the substantially vertical drillhole portion through at least one of advective isolation or diffusive isolation.
A casing joint includes a tubular including a particular length, a particular diameter, and a first wall thickness; a male connection formed on a first end of the tubular, the male connection including an axial length and a plurality of threads formed on a portion of an external surface of the male connection less than the axial length of the male connection; and a female connection formed on a second end of the tubular opposite the first end, the female connection including an axial length and a plurality of threads formed on a portion of an internal surface of the female connection less than the axial length of the female connection.
E21B 17/042 - CouplingsJoints between rod and bit, or between rod and rod threaded
E21B 17/046 - CouplingsJoints between rod and bit, or between rod and rod with ribs, pins, or jaws, and complementary grooves or the like, e.g. bayonet catches
E21B 17/20 - Flexible or articulated drilling pipes
F16L 15/00 - Screw-threaded jointsForms of screw-threads for such joints
F16L 15/06 - Screw-threaded jointsForms of screw-threads for such joints characterised by the shape of the screw-thread
F16L 15/08 - Screw-threaded jointsForms of screw-threads for such joints with supplementary elements
F16L 25/02 - Construction or details of pipe joints not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups specially adapted for electrically insulating the two pipe ends of the joint from each other
F16L 27/10 - Adjustable jointsJoints allowing movement comprising a flexible connection only
Techniques for storing hazardous material include moving a storage canister sized to enclose radioactive hazardous material through an entry of a drillhole that extends into a terranean surface and is at least proximate the terranean surface; moving the storage canister from the entry through an angled drillhole portion that is coupled to the entry and deviates from true vertical at an angle; moving the storage canister from the angled drillhole portion to a hazardous material storage drillhole portion coupled to the angled drillhole portion; moving the storage canister into the hazardous material storage drillhole portion; and forming a seal in the drillhole that isolates the hazardous material storage portion of the drillhole from the entry of the drillhole.
Techniques for inspecting a weld of a nuclear waste canister include positioning a gamma ray image detector near a nuclear waste canister that encloses nuclear waste. The nuclear waste canister includes a housing that includes a volume in which the waste is enclosed and a top connected to the housing with at least one weld to seal the nuclear waste in the nuclear waste canister. The techniques further include receiving, at the gamma ray image detector, gamma rays from the nuclear waste that travel through one or more voids in the weld; generating an image of the received gamma rays with the gamma ray image detector; and based on the generated image, determining an integrity of the at least one weld.
G01M 3/38 - Investigating fluid tightness of structures by using light
G01N 23/10 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups , or by transmitting the radiation through the material and measuring the absorption the material being confined in a container, e.g. in luggage X-ray scanners
30.
Testing subterranean water for a hazardous waste material repository
Techniques for determining the suitability of a subterranean formation as a hazardous waste repository include determining a neutron flux of a first isotope in a subterranean formation; calculating, based at least in part on the determined neutron flux of the first isotope, a predicted production rate of a second isotope in the subterranean formation; calculating a first ratio of the predicted production rate of the second isotope relative to a theoretical production rate of a stable form of the second isotope; measuring respective concentrations of the second isotope and the stable form of the second isotope in a subterranean water sample; calculating a second ratio of the measured concentration of the second isotope relative to the measured concentration of the stable form of the second isotope; and based on a comparison of the first and second ratios, determining that the subterranean formation is suitable as a hazardous waste repository.
A hazardous material storage system includes a drillhole extending into the Earth and including an entry at least proximate a terranean surface. The drillhole includes a substantially vertical portion, a curved portion, and a horizontal portion that includes a hazardous waste repository formed within a first portion of the horizontal portion of the drillhole, the hazardous waste repository vertically isolated, by a rock formation, from a subterranean zone that includes mobile water, and a safety runway formed within a second portion of the horizontal portion exclusive of the hazardous waste repository and adjacent the curved portion, the safety runway defined by a particular length.
A hazardous material storage repository includes a drillhole extending into the Earth and including an entry. The drillhole includes a vertical drillhole portion, a transition drillhole portion coupled to the vertical drillhole portion, and a hazardous material storage drillhole portion coupled to the transition drillhole portion. The hazardous material storage drillhole portion is located below a self-healing geological formation and is vertically isolated, by the self-healing geological formation, from a zone that comprises mobile water. The repository includes a storage canister positioned in the hazardous material storage drillhole portion and sized to fit from the drillhole entry through the vertical drillhole portion, the transition drillhole portion, and into the hazardous material storage drillhole portion. The storage canister includes an inner cavity sized to enclose hazardous material.
A nuclear waste storage system includes a human-unoccupiable directional drillhole formed from a terranean surface into a subterranean formation, the drillhole including a substantially vertical portion and a substantially horizontal portion that includes a hazardous waste repository for nuclear waste storage; a casing including one or more tubular sections sized to fit within the drillhole; and a coating attached to an exterior surface of the casing, the exterior surface facing a rock formation through which the drillhole is formed.
Techniques for determining the suitability of a subterranean formation as a hazardous waste repository include determining a neutron flux of a first isotope in a subterranean formation; calculating, based at least in part on the determined neutron flux of the first isotope, a predicted production rate of a second isotope in the subterranean formation; calculating a first ratio of the predicted production rate of the second isotope relative to a theoretical production rate of a stable form of the second isotope; measuring respective concentrations of the second isotope and the stable form of the second isotope in a subterranean water sample; calculating a second ratio of the measured concentration of the second isotope relative to the measured concentration of the stable form of the second isotope; and based on a comparison of the first and second ratios, determining that the subterranean formation is suitable as a hazardous waste repository.
A drillhole plug includes a frame or housing of a corrosion-resistant material and sized to fit within a milled portion of a directional drillhole that includes a hazardous waste repository; and a material that fills at least a portion of the frame or housing. The material exhibits creep such that the material fills one or more voids between the frame or housing and a subterranean formation adjacent the milled portion of the directional drillhole.
Techniques for inspecting a weld of a nuclear waste canister include positioning a gamma ray image detector near a nuclear waste canister that encloses nuclear waste. The nuclear waste canister includes a housing that includes a volume in which the waste is enclosed and a top connected to the housing with at least one weld to seal the nuclear waste in the nuclear waste canister. The techniques further include receiving, at the gamma ray image detector, gamma rays from the nuclear waste that travel through one or more voids in the weld; generating an image of the received gamma rays with the gamma ray image detector; and based on the generated image, determining an integrity of the at least one weld.
G01M 3/38 - Investigating fluid tightness of structures by using light
G01N 23/10 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups , or by transmitting the radiation through the material and measuring the absorption the material being confined in a container, e.g. in luggage X-ray scanners
37.
TESTING SUBTERRANEAN WATER FOR A HAZARDOUS WASTE MATERIAL REPOSITORY
Techniques for determining the suitability of a subterranean formation as a hazardous waste repositoiy include deter¬ mining a concentration of at least one noble gas isotope of a plurality of noble gas isotopes in fluid sample from a subterranean for¬ mation below a terranean surface; determining a produced amount of the at least one noble gas isotope in the subterranean formation based on a production rate of the at least one noble gas isotope and a minimum residence time; calculating a ratio of the determined concentration of the at least one noble gas isotope in the fluid sample to the determined produced amount of the at least one noble gas isotope; and based on the calculated ratio being at or near a threshold value, determining that the subterranean formation is suitable as a hazardous waste repository.
Techniques for determining the suitability of a subterranean formation as a hazardous waste repository include determining a concentration of at least one noble gas isotope of a plurality of noble gas isotopes in fluid sample from a subterranean formation below a terranean surface; determining a produced amount of the at least one noble gas isotope in the subterranean formation based on a production rate of the at least one noble gas isotope and a minimum residence time; calculating a ratio of the determined concentration of the at least one noble gas isotope in the fluid sample to the determined produced amount of the at least one noble gas isotope; and based on the calculated ratio being at or near a threshold value, determining that the subterranean formation is suitable as a hazardous waste repository. .
E21B 49/08 - Obtaining fluid samples or testing fluids, in boreholes or wells
G01V 5/06 - Prospecting or detecting by the use of ionising radiation, e.g. of natural or induced radioactivity specially adapted for well-logging for detecting naturally radioactive minerals
G01V 9/02 - Determining existence or flow of underground water
Techniques for determining the suitability of a subterranean formation as a hazardous waste repository include determining a concentration of at least one noble gas isotope of a plurality of noble gas isotopes in fluid sample from a subterranean formation below a terranean surface; determining a produced amount of the at least one noble gas isotope in the subterranean formation based on a production rate of the at least one noble gas isotope and a minimum residence time; calculating a ratio of the determined concentration of the at least one noble gas isotope in the fluid sample to the determined produced amount of the at least one noble gas isotope; and based on the calculated ratio being at or near a threshold value, determining that the subterranean formation is suitable as a hazardous waste repository.
Techniques for inspecting a weld of a nuclear waste canister include positioning a gamma ray image detector near a nuclear waste canister that encloses nuclear waste. The nuclear waste canister includes a housing that includes a volume in which the waste is enclosed and a top connected to the housing with at least one weld to seal the nuclear waste in the nuclear waste canister. The techniques further include receiving, at the gamma ray image detector, gamma rays from the nuclear waste that travel through one or more voids in the weld; generating an image of the received gamma rays with the gamma ray image detector; and based on the generated image, determining an integrity of the at least one weld.
Techniques for forming a directional drillhole for hazardous waste storage include identifying a subterranean formation suitable to store hazardous waste; determining one or more faults that extend through the subterranean formation; forming a vertical drillhole from a terranean surface toward the subterranean formation; and forming a directional drillhole from the vertical drillhole that extends in or under the subterranean formation and parallel to at least one of the one or more faults. The directional drillhole includes a hazardous waste repository configured to store the hazardous waste.
Techniques for determining the suitability of a subterranean formation as a hazardous waste repository include determining a concentration of at least one noble gas isotope of a plurality of noble gas isotopes in fluid sample from a subterranean formation below a terranean surface; determining a produced amount of the at least one noble gas isotope in the subterranean formation based on a production rate of the at least one noble gas isotope and a minimum residence time; calculating a ratio of the determined concentration of the at least one noble gas isotope in the fluid sample to the determined produced amount of the at least one noble gas isotope; and based on the calculated ratio being at or near a threshold value, determining that the subterranean formation is suitable as a hazardous waste repository.
Techniques for storing nuclear waste include placing a plurality of nuclear waste portions into an inner volume of a housing of a nuclear waste canister configured to store the nuclear waste portions in a hazardous waste repository of a directional drillhole formed in a subterranean formation; substantially filling voids within the inner volume and between the plurality of nuclear waste portions with a solid or semi-solid granular material; and sealing the inner volume of the nuclear waste canister to enclose the plurality of nuclear waste portions and the solid or semi-solid granular material.
Techniques for storing nuclear waste include placing a plurality of nuclear waste portions into an inner volume of a housing of a nuclear waste canister configured to store the nuclear waste portions in a hazardous waste repository of a directional drillhole formed in a subterranean formation; substantially filling voids within the inner volume and between the plurality of nuclear waste portions with a solid or semi-solid granular material; and sealing the inner volume of the nuclear waste canister to enclose the plurality of nuclear waste portions and the solid or semi-solid granular material.
Techniques for forming a directional drillhole for hazardous waste storage include identifying a subterranean formation suitable to store hazardous waste; determining one or more faults that extend through the subterranean formation; forming a vertical drillhole from a terranean surface toward the subterranean formation; and forming a directional drillhole from the vertical drillhole that extends in or under the subterranean formation and parallel to at least one of the one or more faults. The directional drillhole includes a hazardous waste repository configured to store the hazardous waste.
Techniques for storing nuclear waste hazardous material include identifying a storage area of a directional wellbore formed from a terranean surface and extending into a subterranean formation; circulating a slurry that includes a hardenable material and one or more portions of nuclear waste hazardous material into the storage area; forming a seal in the directional wellbore that isolates the storage area of the directional wellbore from an entry of the directional wellbore; monitoring at least one variable associated with the one or more portions of nuclear waste hazardous material from a sensor positioned proximate the storage area; recording the monitored variable at the terranean surface; and based on the monitored variable exceeding a threshold value, removing the seal from the wellbore and retrieving at least a portion of the slurry from the storage area to the terranean surface.
A hazardous material repository includes a drillhole formed from a terranean surface into a subterranean zone that includes a geologic formation, where the drillhole includes a vertical portion and a non-vertical portion coupled to the vertical portion by a transition portion, the non-vertical portion includes a storage volume for hazardous waste; a casing installed between the geologic formation and the drillhole, the casing including one or more metallic tubular sections; at least one canister positioned in the storage volume of the non-vertical portion of the drillhole, the at least one canister sized to enclose a portion of hazardous material and including an outer housing formed from a non-corrosive metallic material; and a backfill material inserted into the non-vertical portion of the drillhole to fill at least a portion of the storage volume between the at least one canister and the casing.
A hazardous material repository includes a drillhole formed from a terranean surface into a subterranean zone that includes a geologic formation, where the drillhole includes a vertical portion and a non-vertical portion coupled to the vertical portion by a transition portion, the non-vertical portion includes a storage volume for hazardous waste; a casing installed between the geologic formation and the drillhole, the casing including one or more metallic tubular sections; at least one canister positioned in the storage volume of the non-vertical portion of the drillhole, the at least one canister sized to enclose a portion of hazardous material and including an outer housing formed from a non-corrosive metallic material; and a backfill material inserted into the non-vertical portion of the drillhole to fill at least a portion of the storage volume between the at least one canister and the casing.
G21F 9/36 - Disposal of solid waste by packagingDisposal of solid waste by baling
E21B 41/00 - Equipment or details not covered by groups
G21F 5/015 - Transportable or portable shielded containers for storing radioactive sources, e.g. source carriers for irradiation unitsRadioisotope containers
G21F 5/06 - Details of, or accessories to, the containers
49.
TESTING SUBTERRANEAN WATER FOR A HAZARDOUS WASTE MATERIAL REPOSITORY
Techniques for testing subterranean water for one or more radioactive isotopes for a hazardous waste material repository include collecting, from a test drillhole formed from a terranean surface to a subterranean formation, a subterranean water sample from the subterranean formation; determining, with an accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) system, a concentration of a radioactive isotope of an element in the subterranean water sample relative to a stable isotope of the element in the subterranean water sample; comparing the determined concentration of the radioactive isotope of the element in the subterranean water sample with a concentration of the radioactive isotope of the element in a surface water sample relative to the stable isotope of the element in the surface water sample; and based on the determined concentration of the radioactive isotope in the subterranean water sample being a specified percentage of the concentration of the radioactive isotope in the surface water sample, determining that the subterranean formation is a hazardous waste storage repository.
A hazardous material storage repository includes a drillhole extending into the Earth and including an entry. The drillhole includes a vertical drillhole portion, a transition drillhole portion coupled to the vertical drillhole portion, and a hazardous material storage drillhole portion coupled to the transition drillhole portion. The hazardous material storage drillhole portion is located below a self-healing geological formation and is vertically isolated, by the self-healing geological formation, from a zone that comprises mobile water. The repository includes a storage canister positioned in the hazardous material storage drillhole portion and sized to fit from the drillhole entry through the vertical drillhole portion, the transition drillhole portion, and into the hazardous material storage drillhole portion. The storage canister includes an inner cavity sized to enclose hazardous material.
A canister to store spent nuclear fuel in an underground repository includes a first end portion; a second end portion; and a middle portion attachable to the first and second end portions to define an interior volume of the housing that is sized to enclose at least one spent nuclear fuel assembly. The first and second end portions comprise shielding.
G21C 19/00 - Arrangements for treating, for handling, or for facilitating the handling of, fuel or other materials which are used within the reactor, e.g. within its pressure vessel
A canister to store spent nuclear fuel in an underground repository includes a first end portion; a second end portion; and a middle portion attachable to the first and second end portions to define an interior volume of the housing that is sized to enclose at least one spent nuclear fuel assembly. The first and second end portions comprise shielding.
A canister to store spent nuclear fuel in an underground repository includes a first end portion; a second end portion; and a middle portion attachable to the first and second end portions to define an interior volume of the housing that is sized to enclose at least one spent nuclear fuel assembly. The first and second end portions comprise shielding.
A hazardous material storage bank includes a wellbore extending into the Earth and including an entry at least proximate a terranean surface, the wellbore including a substantially vertical portion, a transition portion, and a substantially horizontal portion; a storage area coupled to the substantially horizontal portion of the well bore, the storage area within or below a shale formation, the storage area vertically isolated, by the shale formation, from a subterranean zone that includes mobile water; a storage container positioned in the storage area, the storage container sized to fit from the wellbore entry through the substantially vertical, the transition, and the substantially horizontal portions of the wellbore, and into the storage area, the storage container including an inner cavity sized enclose hazardous material; and a seal positioned in the wellbore, the seal isolating the storage portion of the wellbore from the entry of the wellbore.
Techniques for testing subterranean water for one or more radioactive isotopes for a hazardous waste material repository include collecting, from a test drillhole formed from a terranean surface to a subterranean formation, a subterranean water sample from the subterranean formation; determining, with an accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) system, a concentration of a radioactive isotope of an element in the subterranean water sample relative to a stable isotope of the element in the subterranean water sample; comparing the determined concentration of the radioactive isotope of the element in the subterranean water sample with a concentration of the radioactive isotope of the element in a surface water sample relative to the stable isotope of the element in the surface water sample; and based on the determined concentration of the radioactive isotope in the subterranean water sample being a specified percentage of the concentration of the radioactive isotope in the surface water sample, determining that the subterranean formation is a hazardous waste storage repository.
Techniques for testing subterranean water for one or more radioactive isotopes for a hazardous waste material repository include collecting, from a test drillhole formed from a terranean surface to a subterranean formation, a subterranean water sample from the subterranean formation; determining, with an accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) system, a concentration of a radioactive isotope of an element in the subterranean water sample relative to a stable isotope of the element in the subterranean water sample; comparing the determined concentration of the radioactive isotope of the element in the subterranean water sample with a concentration of the radioactive isotope of the element in a surface water sample relative to the stable isotope of the element in the surface water sample; and based on the determined concentration of the radioactive isotope in the subterranean water sample being a specified percentage of the concentration of the radioactive isotope in the surface water sample, determining that the subterranean formation is a hazardous waste storage repository.
A hazardous material storage repository includes a drillhole extending into the Earth and including an entry at least proximate a terranean surface, the drillhole including a substantially vertical drillhole portion, a transition drillhole portion coupled to the substantially vertical drillhole portion, and a hazardous material storage drillhole portion, at least one of the transition drillhole portion or the hazardous material storage drillhole portion including an isolation drillhole portion; a storage canister positioned in the hazardous material storage drillhole portion, the storage canister sized to fit from the drillhole entry through the substantially vertical drillhole portion, the transition drillhole portion, and into the hazardous material storage drillhole portion of the drillhole, the storage canister including an inner cavity sized enclose hazardous material; and a seal positioned in the drillhole, the seal isolating the hazardous material storage drillhole portion of the drillhole from the entry of the drillhole.
A hazardous material storage repository includes a drillhole extending into the Earth and including an entry at least proximate a terranean surface, the drillhole including a substantially vertical drillhole portion, a transition drillhole portion coupled to the substantially vertical drillhole portion, and a hazardous material storage drillhole portion, at least one of the transition drillhole portion or the hazardous material storage drillhole portion including an isolation drillhole portion; a storage canister positioned in the hazardous material storage drillhole portion, the storage canister sized to fit from the drillhole entry through the substantially vertical drillhole portion, the transition drillhole portion, and into the hazardous material storage drillhole portion of the drillhole, the storage canister including an inner cavity sized enclose hazardous material; and a seal positioned in the drillhole, the seal isolating the hazardous material storage drillhole portion of the drillhole from the entry of the drillhole.
A hazardous material storage repository includes a drillhole extending into the Earth and including an entry at least proximate a terranean surface, the drillhole including a substantially vertical drillhole portion, a transition drillhole portion coupled to the substantially vertical drillhole portion, and a hazardous material storage drillhole portion, at least one of the transition drillhole portion or the hazardous material storage drillhole portion including an isolation drillhole portion; a storage canister positioned in the hazardous material storage drillhole portion, the storage canister sized to fit from the drillhole entry through the substantially vertical drillhole portion, the transition drillhole portion, and into the hazardous material storage drillhole portion of the drillhole, the storage canister including an inner cavity sized enclose hazardous material; and a seal positioned in the drillhole, the seal isolating the hazardous material storage drillhole portion of the drillhole from the entry of the drillhole.
A hazardous material storage repository includes a drillhole extending into the Earth and including an entry at least proximate a terranean surface, the drillhole including a substantially vertical drillhole portion, a transition drillhole portion coupled to the substantially vertical drillhole portion, and a hazardous material storage drillhole portion, at least one of the transition drillhole portion or the hazardous material storage drillhole portion including an isolation drillhole portion; a storage canister positioned in the hazardous material storage drillhole portion, the storage canister sized to fit from the drillhole entry through the substantially vertical drillhole portion, the transition drillhole portion, and into the hazardous material storage drillhole portion of the drillhole, the storage canister including an inner cavity sized enclose hazardous material; and a seal positioned in the drillhole, the seal isolating the hazardous material storage drillhole portion of the drillhole from the entry of the drillhole.
37 - Construction and mining; installation and repair services
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
Promoting the public awareness of real property evaluation for potential disposal and storage of nuclear waste by meeting with communities, utility companies, local governments, and the public Technical consulting on drilling deep narrow drill holes for disposal and storage of nuclear waste Research and development for others of technology for storage, retrieval, and disposal of nuclear waste in deep narrow drill holes; Technical consulting services in the field of evaluating and analyzing geological data and sites for storage and disposal of nuclear waste
62.
STORING HAZARDOUS MATERIAL IN A SUBTERRANEAN FORMATION
A hazardous material storage bank includes a wellbore extending into the Earth and including an entry at least proximate a terranean surface, the wellbore including a substantially vertical portion, a transition portion, and a substantially horizontal portion; a storage area coupled to the substantially horizontal portion of the well bore, the storage area within or below a shale formation, the storage area vertically isolated, by the shale formation, from a subterranean zone that includes mobile water; a storage container positioned in the storage area, the storage container sized to fit from the wellbore entry through the substantially vertical, the transition, and the substantially horizontal portions of the wellbore, and into the storage area, the storage container including an inner cavity sized enclose hazardous material; and a seal positioned in the wellbore, the seal isolating the storage portion of the wellbore from the entry of the wellbore.
A hazardous material storage bank includes a wellbore extending into the Earth and including an entry at least proximate a terranean surface, the wellbore including a substantially vertical portion, a transition portion, and a substantially horizontal portion; a storage area coupled to the substantially horizontal portion of the well bore, the storage area within or below a shale formation, the storage area vertically isolated, by the shale formation, from a subterranean zone that includes mobile water; a storage container positioned in the storage area, the storage container sized to fit from the wellbore entry through the substantially vertical, the transition, and the substantially horizontal portions of the wellbore, and into the storage area, the storage container including an inner cavity sized enclose hazardous material; and a seal positioned in the wellbore, the seal isolating the storage portion of the wellbore from the entry of the wellbore.
A hazardous material storage bank includes a wellbore extending into the Earth and including an entry at least proximate a terranean surface, the wellbore including a substantially vertical portion, a transition portion, and a substantially horizontal portion; a storage area coupled to the substantially horizontal portion of the well bore, the storage area within or below a shale formation, the storage area vertically isolated, by the shale formation, from a subterranean zone that includes mobile water; a storage container positioned in the storage area, the storage container sized to fit from the wellbore entry through the substantially vertical, the transition, and the substantially horizontal portions of the wellbore, and into the storage area, the storage container including an inner cavity sized enclose hazardous material; and a seal positioned in the wellbore, the seal isolating the storage portion of the wellbore from the entry of the wellbore.
