A system and method for heat produced at a nuclear power plant as the energy source for carbon dioxide sequestration while simultaneously producing electricity. The system includes a nuclear power plant that differs significantly from conventional designs inasmuch as its design is tightly integrated into the carbon dioxide sequestration system. The system generates electricity and sequesters carbon dioxide at the same time. Instead of simply generating electricity from the nuclear reactor and then using that electricity to run a sequestration process, the method is designed to directly provide the requisite thermal energy to the sequestration process, and simultaneously power an electrical generator. Another feature of the system design is a method of optimizing load balancing between the electrical grid and carbon dioxide sequestration.

A nuclear reactor system includes a first drillhole extending from a terranean surface through one or more subterranean formations. A reactor core is positioned in the first drillhole, and includes at least one nuclear fuel element. A primary coolant system is configured to transport a primary fluid coolant through the reactor core. A second drillhole extends from the terranean surface through the one or more subterranean formations and is separated from the first drillhole by a portion of a rock formation. A heat exchanger is positioned in the second drillhole in thermal communication with the reactor core through the portion of the rock formation. A secondary coolant system is thermally coupled to the heat exchanger and configured to transport a secondary fluid coolant between the heat exchanger and the terranean surface.

A nuclear reactor system includes a first drillhole extending from a terranean surface through one or more subterranean formations. A reactor core is positioned in the first drillhole, and includes at least one nuclear fuel element. A primary coolant system is configured to transport a primary fluid coolant through the reactor core. A second drillhole extends from the terranean surface through the one or more subterranean formations and is separated from the first drillhole by a portion of a rock formation. A heat exchanger is positioned in the second drillhole in thermal communication with the reactor core through the portion of the rock formation. A secondary coolant system is thermally coupled to the heat exchanger and configured to transport a secondary fluid coolant between the heat exchanger and the terranean surface.

Nuclear energy integrated hydrocarbon operation systems include a well site having a subsurface hydrocarbon well configured to produce a produced water output. The system further includes a deployable nuclear reactor system configured to produce a heat output. The system may further include a deployable desalination unit configured to produce a desalinated water output using the produced water output of the subsurface hydrocarbon well and the heat output of the deployable nuclear reactor. The system may further include a deployable off-gas processing system configured to produce an industrial chemical using the off-gas output of the subsurface hydrocarbon well and the heat output of the deployable nuclear reactor.

Nuclear energy integrated hydrocarbon operation systems include a well site having a subsurface hydrocarbon well configured to produce a produced water output. The system further includes a deployable nuclear reactor system configured to produce a heat output. The system may further include a deployable desalination unit configured to produce a desalinated water output using the produced water output of the subsurface hydrocarbon well and the heat output of the deployable nuclear reactor. The system may further include a deployable off-gas processing system configured to produce an industrial chemical using the off-gas output of the subsurface hydrocarbon well and the heat output of the deployable nuclear reactor.

A nuclear reactor system includes a drillhole that extends from a terranean surface through one or more subterranean formations. The nuclear reactor system includes a reactor core positioned in the drillhole, the reactor core comprising at least one nuclear fuel element. The nuclear reactor system includes a primary coolant system configured to transport a primary fluid coolant between the reactor core and a heat exchanger. The nuclear reactor system includes a secondary coolant system thermally coupled to the primary coolant system via the heat exchanger and configured to transport a secondary fluid coolant between the heat exchanger and the terranean surface.

Nuclear energy integrated hydrocarbon operation systems include a well site having a subsurface hydrocarbon well configured to produce a produced water output. The system further includes a deployable nuclear reactor system configured to produce a heat output. The system may further include a deployable desalination unit configured to produce a desalinated water output using the produced water output of the subsurface hydrocarbon well and the heat output of the deployable nuclear reactor. The system may further include a deployable off-gas processing system configured to produce an industrial chemical using the off-gas output of the subsurface hydrocarbon well and the heat output of the deployable nuclear reactor.

Nuclear energy integrated hydrocarbon operation systems include a well site having a subsurface hydrocarbon well configured to produce a produced water output. The system further includes a deployable nuclear reactor system configured to produce a heat output. The system may further include a deployable desalination unit configured to produce a desalinated water output using the produced water output of the subsurface hydrocarbon well and the heat output of the deployable nuclear reactor. The system may further include a deployable off-gas processing system configured to produce an industrial chemical using the off-gas output of the subsurface hydrocarbon well and the heat output of the deployable nuclear reactor.

An integrated energy system comprising a power plant configured to generate steam. The power plant can include a nuclear reactor and/or an electrical power generation system. A chemical products generation system can include a first reaction chamber receiving Sodium Formate (HCOONa) that, via insertion of a first portion of the steam at a first temperature, is decomposed into Sodium Oxalate ((COO).sub.2Na.sub.2) and Hydrogen (H.sub.2), the steam including super-heated steam. The chemical products generation system can include a second reaction chamber receiving the Sodium Oxalate ((COO).sub.2Na.sub.2) that, via insertion of a second portion of the steam at a second temperature, is decomposed into Sodium Oxide (Na.sub.2O), Carbon Monoxide (CO), and Carbon Dioxide (CO.sub.2). A syngas generation system can be operably coupled to the chemical products generation system and configured to generate a combination of the Hydrogen (H.sub.2), the Carbon Monoxide (CO), and/or the Carbon Dioxide (CO.sub.2), and/or to generate syngas.

An integrated energy system comprising a power plant configured to generate steam. The power plant can include a nuclear reactor and/or an electrical power generation system. A chemical products generation system can include a first reaction chamber receiving Sodium Formate (HCOONa) that, via insertion of a first portion of the steam at a first temperature, is decomposed into Sodium Oxalate ((COO).sub.2Na.sub.2) and Hydrogen (H.sub.2), the steam including super-heated steam. The chemical products generation system can include a second reaction chamber receiving the Sodium Oxalate ((COO).sub.2Na.sub.2) that, via insertion of a second portion of the steam at a second temperature, is decomposed into Sodium Oxide (Na.sub.2O), Carbon Monoxide (CO), and Carbon Dioxide (CO.sub.2). A syngas generation system can be operably coupled to the chemical products generation system and configured to generate a combination of the Hydrogen (H.sub.2), the Carbon Monoxide (CO), and/or the Carbon Dioxide (CO.sub.2), and/or to generate syngas.