Abstract: A nuclear waste-capsule may include: an outer shell; an inner tube, located in that outer shell; and one or more spent nuclear fuel (SNF) assemblies (or portions thereof), with particular structure(s) attached thereto, within that inner tube. The particular structure(s) may be one or more spring-loaded receptacles (SLRs), such that each of the one or more SNF assemblies (or portions thereof), within the given inner tube, may have circumferentially attached thereto at least one SLR. Each such SLR may act as shock absorbing suspension means and may structurally support and centralize its associated SNF assembly (or portion thereof) within the given inner tube. Additionally, the one or more SNF assemblies (or portions thereof), along with the associated SLRs, may be immersed within a protective/preventative medium, within the given inner tube. The so loaded waste-capsule may be deposited within a wellbore that is located within a repository geological formation.

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: Embodiments of the present invention center around systems and methods for long-term disposal of high-level nuclear waste that is to be placed inside of particular waste-capsules that are in turn to be placed into wellbores that are located in deep-geologic-formations. Mostly or fully intact spent nuclear fuel rod assemblies may be internally packed in the waste-capsules. A given waste-capsule may include a protective-medium around the contained nuclear waste, a corrosion protective layer around the protective-medium, and a neutron absorbing and/or slowdown layer around the corrosion protective layer. The protective-medium may be in the form of a mold or injected into the waste-capsule. The protective-medium may shield against gamma radiation and protect the waste-capsule from degradation. Further, a transporter is described for surface transportion of loaded nuclear waste-capsules so that the loaded nuclear waste-capsules may be safely transported to a drilling-rig site for insertion into the wellbore.

Abstract: In-situ vitrification of hazardous waste occurs within human-made caverns. The human-made caverns may be located at distal (terminal) ends of substantially vertical wellbores and the human-made caverns may be located within deep geological rock formations, that are located at least two thousand feet below the Earth's surface. The hazardous waste that is vitrified into glass within such human-made caverns may be radioactive. The vitrification within a given human-made cavern is accomplished by at least one heater that operates according to a predetermined heating and cooling profile. During vitrification the heater may be reciprocated up and down to introduce currents into the waste liquid for uniform temperature dispersion. The heater may be removable, reusable, single use, and/or disposable. Cold caps and/or insulating blankets may be used over a given layer of vitrified waste product within the given human-made cavern. Heater weights, mixing vanes, and/or downhole sealing packer may also be used.

Abstract: Methods for disposing of munition components may include separating propellants from heavy metal penetrators and disposing of those separated components into different types of geological formations. The initially solid form propellants may be converted into a stable liquified propellant form, by a particular disclosed process, that may be injected within salt water (injection) disposal wells, where distal portions of such salt water disposal wells may be located in a geological formation of substantially at least one salt. The separated heavy metal penetrators (with or without their associated projectile jackets) may be disposed of within human-made caverns, where such human-made caverns may be located within a deep geological formation that is often 2,000 feet or more below the Earth's surface. The heavy metal penetrators may include uranium (depleted uranium). Portions of a given munition, to be disposed of, may be radioactive.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention center around systems and methods for long-term disposal of high-level nuclear waste that is to be placed inside of particular waste-capsules that are in turn to be placed into wellbores that are located in deep-geologic-formations. Mostly or fully intact spent nuclear fuel rod assemblies may be internally packed in the waste-capsules. A given waste-capsule may include a protective-medium around the contained nuclear waste, a corrosion protective layer around the protective-medium, and a neutron absorbing and/or slowdown layer around the corrosion protective layer. The protective-medium may be in the form of a mold or injected into the waste-capsule. The protective-medium may shield against gamma radiation and protect the waste-capsule from degradation. Further, a transporter is described for surface transportion of loaded nuclear waste-capsules so that the loaded nuclear waste-capsules may be safely transported to a drilling-rig site for insertion into the wellbore.

Abstract: Waste capsules for disposal of radioactive materials, including weapons grade plutonium, are made entirely from rock, such as, but not limited to, granite; wherein a cap of such a waste capsule is seamlessly rock welded to a lower body portion of the given waste capsule, to form the given waste capsule, with the radioactive materials inside of a cavity of that waste capsule. The weld region is homogenous with both the cap and the lower body portion. A cooling system may be used during or after rock welding. The sealed and rock welded waste capsule, with the internal radioactive materials, is then loaded into a wellbore system that extends into a deep geological rock repository, thousands of feet below the Earth's surface, such that the waste capsule comes to rest in a wellbore located within the deep geological rock repository. The waste capsule may include insulating material in the cavity.

Abstract: Methods for disposing of munition components may include separating propellants from heavy metal penetrators and disposing of those separated components into different types of geological formations. The initially solid form propellants may be converted into a stable liquified propellant form, by a particular disclosed process, that may be injected within salt water (injection) disposal wells, where distal portions of such salt water disposal wells may be located in a geological formation of substantially at least one salt. The separated heavy metal penetrators (with or without their associated projectile jackets) may be disposed of within human-made caverns, where such human-made caverns may be located within a deep geological formation that is often 2,000 feet or more below the Earth's surface. The heavy metal penetrators may include uranium (depleted uranium). Portions of a given munition, to be disposed of, may be radioactive.

Abstract: The invention is of systems and methods for long-term disposal/storage of depleted uranium products and materials (such as munitions), in solid, liquid, and other physical forms in in lateral wellbores and/or in human-made caverns derived from a wellbore, located within deep geologic rock formations. Converted and/or modified depleted uranium products, materials, and/or wastes may be processed, made into slurries, chemically treated for long duration disposal, and/or implemented in waste disposal capsules and/or maintained as cementitious material or solids which are then transported and finally disposed of into lateral wellbores or human-made caverns within the deep geologic rock formations. Void space around depleted uranium products, materials, and/or wastes may be filled with a protective medium.

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: 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: Embodiments of the present invention include 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: Waste capsules for disposal of radioactive materials, including weapons grade plutonium, are made entirely from rock, such as, but not limited to, granite; wherein a cap of such a waste capsule is seamlessly rock welded to a lower body portion of the given waste capsule, to form the given waste capsule, with the radioactive materials inside of a cavity of that waste capsule. The weld region is homogenous with both the cap and the lower body portion. A cooling system may be used during or after rock welding. The sealed and rock welded waste capsule, with the internal radioactive materials, is then loaded into a wellbore system that extends into a deep geological rock repository, thousands of feet below the Earth's surface, such that the waste capsule comes to rest in a wellbore located within the deep geological rock repository. The waste capsule may include insulating material in the cavity.

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: In-situ vitrification of hazardous waste occurs within human-made caverns. The human-made caverns may be located at distal (terminal) ends of substantially vertical wellbores and the human-made caverns may be located within deep geological rock formations, that are located at least two thousand feet below the Earth's surface. The hazardous waste that is vitrified into glass within such human-made caverns may be radioactive. The vitrification within a given human-made cavern is accomplished by at least one heater that operates according to a predetermined heating and cooling profile. During vitrification the heater may be reciprocated up and down to introduce currents into the waste liquid for uniform temperature dispersion. The heater may be removable, reusable, single use, and/or disposable. Cold caps and/or insulating blankets may be used over a given layer of vitrified waste product within the given human-made cavern. Heater weights, mixing vanes, and/or downhole sealing packer may also be used.

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: Method, apparatus and system for location evaluation and selection of a site, capable of effectively implementing a deep geologic repository for the disposal and storage of high-level nuclear waste and evaluating the waste location by scientific and technical analysis incorporating human and social interaction are provided. In one aspect, engineering, drilling, geological, geographic, and demographic data associated with a plurality of prospective implementation locations and human knowledge and physical infrastructure may be utilized in determining most desirable implementation surface drilling operations.

Abstract: Method, apparatus and system for location evaluation and selection of a site, capable of effectively implementing a deep geologic repository for the disposal and storage of high-level nuclear waste and evaluating the waste location by scientific and technical analysis incorporating human and social interaction are provided. In one aspect, engineering, drilling, geological, geo-graphic, and demographic data associated with a plurality of prospective implementation locations and human knowledge and physical infrastructure may be utilized in determining most desirable implementation surface drilling operations.

Abstract: Systems and methods for long term disposal of high level nuclear waste in deep geologic formations are described. Such systems and method may include largely intact spent nuclear fuel rods in a disassembled form 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 waste generated from spent nuclear fuel, including means for harvesting the nuclear waste from cooling pools and operationally processing the waste fuel assemblies for inclusion in the waste-capsules with various engineered barriers; along with storage in horizontal well boreholes drilled into closed deep geologic formations.

Abstract: Systems and methods for long-term disposal of high-level nuclear waste in deep geologic formations are described. Such systems and methods 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 means 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.