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.

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: This invention teaches a system for measuring utility data consumption using a smartphone or similar digital device in a crowd-sourced process.

Abstract: This invention teaches a system for measuring utility data consumption using a smartphone or similar digital device in a crowd-sourced process.

Abstract: A shell structure construction method utilizing a plurality of anchored and laterally connected pre-cast reinforced concrete shells, each of these subject shells has a specific shape in which the shell walls are defined by an inverted catenary shape or alternatively by other efficient geometric shapes. An improved joint support mechanic includes a combination of fastener elements and a plurality of post tensioned cable systems disposed between and connecting contiguous shell elements. This construction method is suitable for manufacturing and implementing severe storm shelters used during tornadoes and other severe weather events.

Abstract: A method of disposing nuclear waste in underground rock formations is presented. The method includes the steps of selecting a land area having a rock formation positioned there-below of a depth able to prevent radioactive material placed therein from reaching the surface and drilling a vertical wellbore from the surface, to a depth ranging between 5,000 feet and 25,000 feet, into the underground rock formation or repository. A plurality of horizontal laterals or horizontal wellbores, ranging in length from 500 feet to 40,000 feet, are drilled from the vertical wellbore into the underground rock formation or repository. Nuclear waste to be stored within these laterals is encapsulated in a special waste canister and these nuclear waste canisters are positioned within the horizontal laterals wherein they are sealed to prevent loss and leakage.

Abstract: A method of disposing nuclear waste in underground rock formations is presented. The method includes the steps of selecting a land area having a rock formation positioned there-below of a depth able to prevent radioactive material placed therein from reaching the surface and drilling a vertical wellbore from the surface into the underground rock formation or repository. A plurality of horizontal laterals or horizontal wellbores is drilled from the vertical wellbore into the underground rock formation or repository. Nuclear waste to be stored within these laterals is encapsulated in a special waste canister and these nuclear waste canisters are positioned within the horizontal laterals wherein they are sealed to prevent loss and leakage. Means are also provided by which these canisters are adapted to allow retrievability of the canisters from the wellbore at a later date and to return the waste to the surface for use after retrieval.

Abstract: A method is described in which an automatic metering reading (AMR) method is implemented in the utility distribution system. The AMR method comprises a mesh network in which selected customers of the utility company support the network by providing collocated internet access points via the customer's existing internet connections; thus providing AMR data “backhaul”, thereby minimizing the need for the utility to build and deploy all the access points needed to populate the mesh infrastructure network. This customer access point for which the customer is remunerated, in whole or in part by the utility, allows the utility to develop and implement all the network elements to meet the utility AMR needs at a much lower cost. The customer-supported method can allow the utility to efficiently and effectively service its metering needs via the global communications network without a major investment in hardware, software and personnel.

Abstract: A thermal method and apparatus are provided for recovering hydrocarbons from hydrocarbon-containing solids such as oil shale, tar sands and other hydrocarbonaceous solids. The method includes combusting a pre-determined fraction of the hydrocarbon bearing aggregate solid in a closed reactor, thereby providing exothermic heat and gaseous combustion products which raise the temperature and pressure of the aggregate in the reactor causing the remaining solid hydrocarbon to undergo pyrolysis, phase changes and composition changes simultaneously upgrading the hydrocarbon product. The products of the operation are then produced and condensed.

Abstract: Recovery of viscous hydrocarbon by hot fluid injection into subterranean formations is assisted by using a specially designed and under-reamed vertical wellbore with multiple injection perforations separated from the production perforations by a moveable packer. In this oil recovery method the operator drills a typical vertical well, in which a cavity is developed below the pay zone by under-reaming the vertical wellbore to form a collection cavity. This under-reaming can be made up to several feet in diameter using standard reaming technology and tools. Steam is injected into the upper perforations and is prevented from bypassing the cold formation by a vertical hydraulic seal developed in an annular communication zone. Hot oil is produced into the lower perforations and is collected in the reamed out production cavity. A producing mechanism including pumping equipment lifts the produced oil from the central cavity to the surface.

Abstract: Recovery of viscous hydrocarbon by hot fluid injection from subterranean formations is assisted by using a specially designed and under-reamed vertical well to form a central production cavity; combined with a plurality of specially perforated horizontal wells drilled from the surface down to the producing formation, and then drilled laterally to intersect and be operatively connected to the central production well cavity. These continuous horizontal uniwells™ behave as single wells with two wellheads, each with multiple injection-production perforation pairs, between which the controlled flow of hot oil via a specialized annular communication zone. The production process is controlled by modulating the hot oil flow where the wellbore fluids act as a hydraulic “P-trap” seal limiting steam bypass. The hot displaced oil is allowed to drain from the lateral horizontal wells in to the central collection cavity.

Abstract: Recovery of viscous hydrocarbon from subterranean formations is assisted by using a plurality of novel U-tube type wells, each with dual wellheads, a moveable wellbore packer, a lateral section with a concentric communication zone and with sequential injection production perforations in which heat is injected into the proximal perforations and hot oil and produced fluids are produced from the distal perforations, the whole process being controlled by modulating the production flow where the wellbore fluids are controlled to act as a hydraulic seal to limit bypass of injected fluids. The injection-production displacement process moves axially along the wellbore in a sequential manner as hydrocarbon volumes are depleted by injected fluid displacement of oil and oil and water production.

Abstract: A method and a system for utilizing expensive energy management software systems via the internet by a plurality of remote client users without having the major software systems resident on the internet, but resident offline, on a separate primary desktop computer. The remote client user utilizes an intermediary website. The primary desktop uses a set of software agents to crawl the Internet to locate the client energy data. The primary desktop launches the software agents to upload and update the client websites. A status flag tells the client when the data transaction is complete. The primary user can purchase a simple single-user license which resides on his desktop in a single CPU or as the industry says on a single “seat” and provide energy management to a plurality of users.

Abstract: A technique for remote meter reading (RMR) of a plurality of meters uses visual image devices coupled to pattern recognition technologies to allow unattended meters, gages, registers, screens, and other similar display equipment to communicate their output data without human intervention to a central source and to provide this data on a global network. Historically, meters, gages and similar devices were either read by the human eye or by data-loggers and controllers which transmitted these data to a host system. With this invention the display devices can be read autonomously by the method described herein and a visual graphic of the meter face is transmitted to a host which then recognizes the data value embedded in the visual. Substantial increases in efficiency; performance and economics can be achieved with this invention which introduces the concept of “visualmetering”.

Abstract: A system for managing utility meters via internet. The system includes a central station able to communicate over the internet, and a plurality of meters. The central station includes an intelligent agent. Each meter includes a communication device connectable to the internet and is positioned at a predetermined remote location for monitoring a utility supply to the remote location. The intelligent agent is able to autonomously acquire meter data from each of the plurality of meters over the internet. The plurality of meters are at least one of power, water and gas meters. Each of the meters have a unique Universal Resource Locator and the intelligent agent is able to display data acquired from said meter in a desired format. The meters may each include a receiver for receiving data from the intelligent agent, communication between the intelligent agent and meter being bi-directional.

Abstract: A method and process provides an approach to optimizing energy costs or any similar fungible, consumable commodity in real time use by defining and utilizing a novel analytic metric based on the ratio of the actual cumulative cost of the commodity used compared to the absolute minimum cost of the commodity during the time period under consideration. The historical energy management approach uses the price of the commodity and then tries to lower the total cost of energy use during the most expensive time periods. It may not be possible with the existing energy management techniques to be able to meet all the operational requirements of the user and still have the minimum cost of use. As a result of this invention, the user can be guaranteed the optimal energy use at the absolute minimum cost, and if the minimum is not achievable the invention allows the user to quantify how efficient his operation is, compared to the theoretical optimum.