# US 12,595,718 B2 · Hazardous waste canister systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,595,718 B2 - Document ID: US12595718B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/272,295 - Filed: 2022-02-14 - Published: 2024-09-19 - Granted: 2026-04-07 - Earliest claimed: 2021-02-16 - Assignees: Deep Isolation, Inc. - Applicants: Deep Isolation, Inc. - Inventors: Richard A. Muller - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12595718B2 ## CPC - E21B 41/005: {Waste disposal systems} - G21F 5/12: Closures for containers; Sealing arrangements - G21F 5/06: Details of, or accessories to, the containers - G21F 9/34: Disposal of solid waste - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - G21F: PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT; TREATING RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED MATERIAL; DECONTAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS THEREFOR (radiation protection by pharmaceutical means A61K8/00, A61Q17/04; in cosmonautic vehicles B64G1/54; combined with a reactor G21C11/00; combined with X-ray tubes H01J35/16; combined with X-ray apparatus H05G1/02) ## Abstract 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hazardous waste canister, comprising: a housing that defines an inner volume sized to enclose a portion of hazardous waste, the inner volume comprising 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hazardous waste canister of claim 1, wherein the pressure balancing material, when inserted into the inner volume, exerts a pressure on the inner wall surface of the housing to balance a pressure exerted by an underground fluid in a subterranean formation on an outer wall surface of the housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The hazardous waste canister of claim 1, wherein the pressure balancing material, when inserted into the inner volume, exerts a pressure on the inner wall surface of the housing that is about equal to a pressure exerted by an underground fluid in a subterranean formation on an outer wall surface of the housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The hazardous waste canister of claim 1, wherein the pressure balancing material comprises a gas at a pressure of about 2200 psi. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The hazardous waste canister of claim 1, wherein the pressure balancing material comprises a liquid. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The hazardous waste canister of claim 5, wherein the liquid is: pre-heated to a desired temperature prior to being inserted into the inner volume to fill the excess space; or pre-cooled to a desired temperature prior to being inserted into the inner volume to fill the excess space. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The hazardous waste canister of claim 1, wherein the pressure balancing material comprises a solid. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The hazardous waste canister of claim 7, wherein the solid comprises a granular or particulate solid. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The hazardous waste canister of claim 1, wherein the pressure balancing material comprises a solidifiable liquid. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The hazardous waste canister of claim 9, wherein the solidifiable liquid is in a solid form when inserted into the inner volume to fill the excess space, and the solidifiable liquid is in a liquid form in the excess space based on at least one of a temperature in the inner volume or a time duration subsequent to insertion of the solid form into the inner volume to fill the excess space. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The hazardous waste canister of claim 9, wherein the solidifiable liquid comprises a fusible alloy. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The hazardous waste canister of claim 9, wherein the solidifiable liquid comprises at least one of an epoxy resin, an acrylic resins, a benzoxazines, a vinyl ester, a thermosetting resin, or gallium with a low melting point. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The hazardous waste canister of claim 1, wherein the hazardous waste comprises nuclear or radioactive waste. ### Claim 14 A method, comprising: enclosing a portion of hazardous waste in an inner volume of a housing of a hazardous waste canister, the inner volume comprising an excess space between the enclosed portion of hazardous waste and an inner wall surface of the housing; inserting a pressure balancing material into the inner volume to fill the excess space; and sealing an open end of the housing through which the portion of hazardous waste is inserted into the inner volume with a cap. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the pressure balancing material, when inserted into the inner volume, exerts a pressure on the inner wall surface of the housing to balance a pressure exerted by an underground fluid in a subterranean formation on an outer wall surface of the housing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the pressure balancing material, when inserted into the inner volume, exerts a pressure on the inner wall surface of the housing that is about equal to a pressure exerted by an underground fluid in a subterranean formation on an outer wall surface of the housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the pressure balancing material comprises a gas. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the pressure balancing material comprises a liquid. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the liquid is: pre-heated to a desired temperature prior to being inserted into the inner volume to fill the excess space; or pre-cooled to the desired temperature prior to being inserted into the inner volume to fill the excess space. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the pressure balancing material comprises a solid. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the solid comprises a granular or particulate solid. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the pressure balancing material comprises a solidifiable liquid. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the solidifiable liquid is in a solid form when inserted into the inner volume to fill the excess space, and the solidifiable liquid is in a liquid form in the excess space based on at least one of a temperature in the inner volume or a time duration subsequent to insertion of the solid form into the inner volume to fill the excess space. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the solidifiable liquid comprises a fusible alloy. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the solidifiable liquid comprises at least one of an epoxy resin, an acrylic resins, a benzoxazines, a vinyl ester, a thermosetting resin, or low temperature gallium. ### Claim 26 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the hazardous waste comprises nuclear or radioactive waste.