Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are used to seal and close a deeply located waste repository such that waste and byproducts thereof within the deeply located waste repository are prevented from migrating upwards past a modified cap-zone over geologically relevant time. The waste repository is located within a deep geologic formation. The modified cap-zone is located above the deep geologic formation and below a terrestrial surface of the Earth. The modified cap-zone is a portion of a cap-zone that gets modified by: (1) having at least one radial-hole made into the cap-zone; (2) reaming away portions of the cap-zone rock from around a wellbore that passes through the cap-zone to form a void-volume; (3) filling the void-volume with a crushed rock composite; (4) melting the crushed rock within the void-volume and native and intact rock of the cap-zone; and then (5) cooling that formally melted rock to yield the modified cap-zone.

Abstract: A method for evaluating, selecting, and implementing at existing nuclear surface (or near surface) sites a deeply located high-level nuclear waste (HLW) disposal repository that is located directly vertically below the areal confines of that existing site, within a particular deeply located geologic rock formation. Many of these existing sites are ideal because: they are already legally permitted and/or licensed for using nuclear/radioactive materials, they already have nuclear/radioactive materials onsite that need a long-term safe disposal solution, and many of these existing sites already have onsite useful infrastructure (e.g., roads, buildings, cooling pools, equipment, machinery, personnel, and/or the like). Such existing sites include nuclear power plants (operating or decommissioned), interim spent nuclear fuel rod assemblies (SNF) surface storage sites, and/or near surface SNF storage sites.

Abstract: Self-loading systems and methods for disposal of waste materials in a deep underground formation may include at least one wellbore that runs from the Earth's surface to the deep underground formations, wellbore viscous fluid within that at least one wellbore, and at least one waste capsule, wherein the at least one waste capsules houses some waste and is configured to fall within both the at least one wellbore and the wellbore viscous fluid. The systems and methods may also include at least one human-made cavern located in the deep underground formation and connected to the at least one wellbore, wherein the at least one human-made cavern may be configured to receive the at least one waste capsule. The systems and methods may also include a counter for counting waste capsules and/or a robot for dropping waste capsules into a wellhead leading to the at least one wellbore.

Abstract: A method of disposing of uranium oxides and of disposing of metal casks that had formerly held uranium hexafluoride may include steps of: (a) receiving at least a quantity of at least one type of uranium oxide; (b) receiving at least one metal cask selected from the metal casks that was formerly housing at least some quantity of the uranium hexafluoride; (c) cutting up and/or shredding the at least one metal cask into smaller pieces; and (d) loading at least some of the quantity of the at least one type of uranium oxide and/or loading at least some of the smaller pieces into one or more human-made caverns. The one or more human-made caverns may be located within at least one deeply located geologic (rock) formation. The at least one deeply located geologic (rock) formation may be located at least 2,000 feet vertically below a terrestrial surface of the Earth.

Abstract: Open pit mine (OPM) structures are modified or built new for use in disposing of low-level radioactive/nuclear waste (LLW). A drainage system is added to the OPM to drain water, such as, but not limited to, rain water, out of a volume of the OPM and to a particular geologic zone located far below the OPM that is isolated away from the local water table. Cells are formed within the volume of the OPM that are configured to receive the LLW. Cells are added to the OPM from a bottom towards a top of the OPM. Void spaces around the LLW materials within the cells are filled in with a protective-medium to mitigate against radionuclide migration away from the LLW materials within the cells. The protective-medium may be a blend of carbon nanotubes and a foam cement slurry. The carbon nanotubes may be made from reacting ethylene with vermiculite.

Abstract: Steel and/or copper spherical capsules are specifically engineered and manufactured for housing uranium waste products. The uranium waste products are placed within the spherical capsules. Human-made cavern(s) and/or substantially lateral wellbore(s) are constructed for receiving the uranium waste containing spherical capsules. The human-made cavern(s) and/or the substantially lateral wellbore(s) are deeply located in specific types of geologic rock formations thousands of feet below the Earth's surface. These uranium waste containing spherical capsules are loaded from the Earth's surface into the human-made cavern(s) and/or into the substantially lateral wellbore(s). The emplaced spherical capsules are surrounded by an immersive protective medium within the given human-made cavern(s) and/or within the substantially lateral wellbore(s). The given human-made cavern(s) and/or the given substantially lateral wellbore(s), with the uranium waste containing spherical capsules, are sealed off.

Abstract: Dangerous, toxic, and/or radioactive volatiles are produced from nuclear fission, nuclear decay, and/or as a byproduct from vitrification of radioactive wastes. Such volatiles are treated during and after vitrification of the radioactive waste, to be converted into fixed-chemicals, that are retained in, on, and/or proximate to a cold-cap located vertically above vitrified melt. The cold-cap may have one or more volatile fixing additives (VFAs) for retaining the fixed-chemicals. The VFAs are located in and/or the cold-cap. The vitrification may occur within at least one human-made cavern. The human-made cavern may be located within a deep geologic rock formation. The deep geologic rock formation may be located at least 2,000 feet below a terrestrial surface of the Earth. The human-made cavern may be formed by first drilling a wellbore from the terrestrial surface to the deep geologic rock formation and then underreaming the wellbore into the deep geologic rock formation.

Abstract: Systems, methods, processes, and/or steps for the long-term disposal of high-level nuclear and radioactive waste, along with other radioactive waste forms, is done within deep salt formation(s) of predetermined characteristics. Waste may be emplaced within a given deep salt formation and after emplacement, creep of that deep salt formation around the deposited waste may entirely entomb that emplaced waste safely for geologic time periods. To emplace the waste, wellbore(s) may be drilled from the Earth's terrestrial surface into the given deep salt formation and then either a mostly horizontal wellbore may be formed within the given deep salt formation and/or a human-made cavern may be formed down and within the given deep salt formation. After emplacement, creep of the deep salt formation will destroy the initial boundaries of the horizontal wellbore and/or of the human-made cavern. This creep sealing process may occur over relatively short time periods.

Abstract: A method for evaluating, selecting, and implementing at existing nuclear surface (or near surface) sites a deeply located high-level nuclear waste (HLW) disposal repository that is located directly vertically below the areal confines of that existing site, within a particular deeply located geologic rock formation. Many of these existing sites are ideal because: they are already legally permitted and/or licensed for using nuclear/radioactive materials, they already have nuclear/radioactive materials onsite that need a long-term safe disposal solution, and many of these existing sites already have onsite useful infrastructure (e.g., roads, buildings, cooling pools, equipment, machinery, personnel, and/or the like). Such existing sites include nuclear power plants (operating or decommissioned), interim spent nuclear fuel rod assemblies (SNF) surface storage sites, and/or near surface SNF storage sites.

Abstract: A method for managing disposal of high-level nuclear waste (HLW) may include: generating electrical power from nuclear fuel; producing HLW as a byproduct from generating the electrical power; encapsulating the HLW within waste-capsules, forming a deep geologic repository for disposing of the encapsulated HLW; and/or loading the HLW into lateral wellbore(s) of the deep geologic repository. The method may also include other steps such as, but not limited to: surface storage and transporting steps of the HLW; licensing steps; receiving payments; closing the deep geologic repository; monitoring, maintaining and/or providing security with respect to the deep geologic repository; and/or using the deep geologic repository for either temporary HLW disposal or permanent HLW disposal. At least some of the steps in the method may be carried by a nuclear power generating company and/or agent(s) thereof; such that the nuclear power generating company takes an active role in the disposal of HLW.

Abstract: Reusable transporters for removable housing of radioactive materials and configured for safely containing the radioactive materials during transportation operations of the transporters are described. A given transporter may have at least four layers, an outermost structural-jacket, an innermost liner, a containment layer, and a radiation shielding layer. The structural-jacket is made from strong materials like steel and/or titanium, but not stainless steel. The containment layer and/or the radiation shielding layer may have one or more sub-layers. The containment layer is stretchable and designed to completely enclose the internally stored radioactive materials even in the event of a serious impact event to the overall transporter. The radioactive materials are removably stored within an inner cavity of the transporter, within the liner. The inner cavity may be accessible from at least one terminal end of the transporter. The at least one terminal end is removably closeable via use of closure means.

Abstract: Steel and/or copper spherical capsules are specifically engineered and manufactured for housing uranium waste products. The uranium waste products are placed within the spherical capsules. Human-made cavern(s) and/or substantially lateral wellbore(s) are constructed for receiving the uranium waste containing spherical capsules. The human-made cavern(s) and/or the substantially lateral wellbore(s) are deeply located in specific types of geologic rock formations thousands of feet below the Earth's surface. These uranium waste containing spherical capsules are loaded from the Earth's surface into the human-made cavern(s) and/or into the substantially lateral wellbore(s). The emplaced spherical capsules are surrounded by an immersive protective medium within the given human-made cavern(s) and/or within the substantially lateral wellbore(s). The given human-made cavern(s) and/or the given substantially lateral wellbore(s), with the uranium waste containing spherical capsules, are sealed off.

Abstract: Systems and/or methods of waste disposal use human-made caverns that are constructed within deep geological formations. A given human-made cavern may be constructed by first drilling out a vertical wellbore to a deep geological formation. Then a bottom portion of the vertical wellbore is jet drilled using an abrasive jetting fluid to form a launch chamber of void volume, that is sized to fit a reaming tool in its deployed open configuration. A reaming tool, in a closed configuration, is then inserted into the vertical wellbore for landing in the launch chamber. The reaming tool is then deployed into its open configuration while in the launch chamber. Reaming operations then occur from the launch chamber directed downwards within the deep geological formation, forming a given human-made cavern. The newly formed human-made cavern may be conditioned and/or configured for receiving amounts of the waste for long-term disposal and/or storage.

Abstract: Open pit mine (OPM) structures are modified or built new for use in disposing of low-level radioactive/nuclear waste (LLW). A drainage system is added to the OPM to drain water, such as, but not limited to, rain water, out of a volume of the OPM and to a particular geologic zone located far below the OPM that is isolated away from the local water table. Cells are formed within the volume of the OPM that are configured to receive the LLW. Cells are added to the OPM from a bottom towards a top of the OPM. Void spaces around the LLW materials within the cells are filled in with a protective-medium to mitigate against radionuclide migration away from the LLW materials within the cells. The protective-medium may be a blend of carbon nanotubes and a foam cement slurry. The carbon nanotubes may be made from reacting ethylene with vermiculite.

Abstract: Open pit mine (OPM) structures are modified or built new for use in disposing of low-level radioactive/nuclear waste (LLW). A drainage system is added to the OPM to drain water, such as, but not limited to, rain water, out of a volume of the OPM and to a particular geologic zone located far below the OPM that is isolated away from the local water table. Cells are formed within the volume of the OPM that are configured to receive the LLW. Cells are added to the OPM from a bottom towards a top of the OPM. Void spaces around the LLW materials within the cells are filled in with a protective-medium to mitigate against radionuclide migration away from the LLW materials within the cells. The protective-medium may be a blend of carbon nanotubes and a foam cement slurry. The carbon nanotubes may be made from reacting ethylene with vermiculite.

Abstract: Capsule systems and methods for long-term storage and/or disposal of high-level nuclear waste in deep geologic formations are described. Such systems and methods may include waste-capsules constructed substantially from granite or similar igneous rock material into which the nuclear waste material is placed before capsule insertion into a geologically deep wellbore.

Abstract: Systems and methods for long-term disposal of high-level nuclear waste in deep geologic formations may include largely intact spent nuclear fuel rod assemblies that may be placed into waste-capsules (e.g., carrier tubes); which may then be placed into various well boreholes. Example embodiments may provide waste-capsules capable of containing and disposing of nuclear waste generated from spent nuclear fuel; including methods for harvesting the nuclear waste from cooling pools and/or surface storage; and operationally processing the waste, fuel assemblies for inclusion in the waste-capsules with various engineered barriers; along with storage in relatively large substantially horizontal well boreholes; which may be drilled into closed deep geologic formations.

Abstract: Self-loading systems and methods for disposal of waste materials in a deep underground formation may include at least one wellbore that runs from the Earth's surface to the deep underground formations, wellbore viscous fluid within that at least one wellbore, and at least one waste capsule, wherein the at least one waste capsules houses some waste and is configured to fall within both the at least one wellbore and the wellbore viscous fluid. The systems and methods may also include at least one human-made cavern located in the deep underground formation and connected to the at least one wellbore, wherein the at least one human-made cavern may be configured to receive the at least one waste capsule. The systems and methods may also include a counter for counting waste capsules and/or a robot for dropping waste capsules into a wellhead leading to the at least one wellbore.

Abstract: Systems and methods for long-term disposal of nuclear and/or radioactive waste materials, in liquid, solid, and/or other physical forms, using an array deeply located human-made caverns (caverns), wherein the array of caverns are within a deep geologic rock formation and below a grid pattern on a surface of the Earth. Each cavern is made from a substantially vertical wellbore, by drilling and under reaming operations upon a distal portion of the substantially vertical wellbore. At least some of the caverns may be connected by intersecting substantially lateral wellbores that may facilitate injection of protective materials into the caverns that are so intersected. The nuclear and/or radioactive waste may be preprocessed from original surface storage site(s), transported, temporarily surface stored, and then finally further processed at a selected wellsite before injection into a given of the subterranean deep caverns within the deep geologic rock formation.

Abstract: Self-loading systems and methods for disposal of waste materials in a deep underground formation may include at least one wellbore that runs from the Earth's surface to the deep underground formations, wellbore viscous fluid within that at least one wellbore, and at least one waste capsule, wherein the at least one waste capsules houses some waste and is configured to fall within both the at least one wellbore and the wellbore viscous fluid. The systems and methods may also include at least one human-made cavern located in the deep underground formation and connected to the at least one wellbore, wherein the at least one human-made cavern may be configured to receive the at least one waste capsule. The systems and methods may also include a counter for counting waste capsules and/or a robot for dropping waste capsules into a wellhead leading to the at least one wellbore.