System and process for disposing of nuclear and other hazardous wastes in boreholes

A method of disposing of nuclear waste underground comprising the following steps:

• a) drilling a first portion of a borehole to a depth in an underground impermeable formation;
• b) drilling a second portion of the borehole, the second portion angularly extending away from the first portion of the borehole;
• c) lowering a quantity of nuclear wastes sealed within a liner into the second portion of the borehole;
• d) sealing off the first portion of the borehole from the second portion of the borehole containing the nuclear wastes.

A method of disposing of nuclear waste underground, the method comprising the following steps:

• a) drilling a first portion of a borehole to a depth into an impermeable formation;
• b) drilling a second portion of the borehole, the second portion angularly extending away from the first portion of the borehole;
• c) lowering a quantity of nuclear wastes on the end of a running string sealed within a liner into the second portion of the borehole;
• d) circulating a fluid between the wall of the first and second boreholes and the running string to maintain the nuclear wastes at a safe temperature down the borehole;
• e) disposing of the nuclear waste sealed within the liner in the second portion of the borehole;
• and
• f) sealing off the first portion of the borehole from the second portion of the borehole containing the disposed nuclear wastes.

A method of disposing of nuclear wastes down a borehole, comprising the following steps:

• a) drilling a principal borehole;
• b) lowering a carrier string within the principal borehole to a predetermined depth, the carrier string having an upstock properly oriented on its end;
• c) lowering a second drillstring within an annulus formed by the carrier string which angulates outward from the upstock at the end of the carrier string and forms a second radial or horizontal borehole;
• d) removing the drillstring from the annulus of the carrier string;
• e) lowering a running string within the bore of the carrier string, the running string having a sealed quantity of nuclear waste at the end of the running string for depositing into the angulated horizontal or radial boreholes;
• f) flowing a first fluid down the bore of the running string for cooling the nuclear waste at the end of the running string;
• g) flowing a second fluid down the annulus formed between the running string and the carrier string to further cool the nuclear waste;
• h) merging the first and second fluids at the end of the carrier string and returning the heated fluid up the annulus formed between the carrier string and the cased borehole;
• i) depositing the nuclear waste within the horizontal or radial borehole;
• and
• j) sealing off the horizontal or radial borehole containing the nuclear waste from the first borehole.

A method for cooling nuclear waste which is being disposed down a borehole whereby a principal borehole has been drilled;

• the principal borehole has been lined with casing, a portion of which is fiberglass casing;
• a carrier string having a retrievable upstock on its end portion has been lowered into the principal borehole at a predetermined depth and properly oriented therein;
• a second drillstring has been lowered into the bore of the carrier string and whereby a horizontal or radial borehole has been drilled through the wall of the casing lining the principal borehole at an angle from the orientation of the principal borehole;
• the second drillstring has been retrieved from the borehole, so that the borehole is ready to receive spent nuclear waste, the method of cooling the nuclear waste comprising the following steps:
• a) lowering a quantity of disposed nuclear waste within a pre-packed liner positioned at the end of a running string, of the type having a bore therethrough, the nuclear waste being lowered into the bore of the carrier string in position within the principal borehole;
• b) while the nuclear waste is being lowered down the borehole, flowing a first cooling fluid down the bore of the running string;
• c) simultaneously flowing a second cooling fluid in the annulus between the running string and the carrier string so that fluid is surrounding the nuclear waste while it is being lowered downhole;
• d) merging the first and second fluids downhole which contains heat from the nuclear waste and returning the first and second fluids up to the surface via the annulus between the carrier string and the cased borehole;
• e) placing the nuclear waste within the horizontal or radial borehole and sealing off the radial borehole with an inflatable packer;
• f) retrieving the running string and the carrier string with the upstock from the principal borehole and flowing cement within the borehole for cement off at least a portion of the principal borehole from the radial borehole.

A method of cooling nuclear waste being transported for disposal down a borehole comprising the following steps:

• a) providing a principal cased borehole;
• b) drilling a radial borehole off of the principal borehole;
• c) providing spent nuclear waste within a housing secured to the end of a running string;
• d) lowering the nuclear waste down the radial borehole at the end of the running string;
• e) flowing a fluid into the bore of the running string and allowing the fluid to flow through an annular space formed between the nuclear waste and the housing so that the fluid surrounds the nuclear waste as it is being transported downhole;
• f) providing a bore in the housing for allowing the fluid flowing in the housing to flow out of the housing and to be returned up the borehole in the annular space formed between the running string and the wall of the borehole.