US 2020/0269291 A1 · SELF LOADING WASTE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS AND METHOD

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.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A waste capsule, wherein the waste capsule is configured for:

(a) receiving and housing a predetermined quantity of waste;
(b) being finally disposed of within a distal portion of a wellbore or in a human-made cavern, wherein the distal portion or the human-made cavern is located within a deep geological formation that is at least five thousand feet below the Earth's surface;
(c) falling within both a wellbore viscous fluid and the wellbore, wherein the wellbore includes the wellbore viscous fluid;
wherein the waste capsule is a substantially elongate cylindrical member, comprising a leading edge, a capsule body, and a trailing edge;
wherein the leading edge is connected to the capsule body, the capsule body is also connected to the trailing edge, such that the capsule body is disposed of between the leading edge and the trailing edge, wherein the capsule body is substantially hollow and is configured to receive and house the predetermined quantity of waste.

2 more elements

A system for disposing of waste, wherein the system comprises:

at least one wellbore that runs from the Earth's surface and into a deep geological formation, wherein the deep geological formation is located at least five thousand feet beneath the Earth's surface;
a quantity of wellbore viscous fluid that has a predetermined viscosity, wherein at least some portion of the quantity of the wellbore viscous fluid occupies at least some portion of the at least one wellbore before at least one waste capsule is dropped into the at least one wellbore;
wherein the wellbore viscous fluid is non-gaseous;
the at least one waste capsule, wherein the at least one waste capsule is configured to receive and house at least some quantity of waste;
wherein when the at least one waste capsule is dropped into the at least one wellbore, the at least some portion of the quantity of the wellbore viscous fluid controls a velocity of the at least one waste capsule such that the at least one waste capsule comes to a stop within the deep geological formation and without rupturing.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Self loading waste disposal systems and method

Life of this patent

Self loading waste disposal systems and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24