Open pit mine (OPM) structures are modified or built new for use in disposing of low-level radioactive/nuclear waste (LLW). A drainage system is added to the OPM to drain water, such as, but not limited to, rain water, out of a volume of the OPM and to a particular geologic zone located far below the OPM that is isolated away from the local water table. Cells are formed within the volume of the OPM that are configured to receive the LLW. Cells are added to the OPM from a bottom towards a top of the OPM. Void spaces around the LLW materials within the cells are filled in with a protective-medium to mitigate against radionuclide migration away from the LLW materials within the cells. The protective-medium may be a blend of carbon nanotubes and a foam cement slurry. The carbon nanotubes may be made from reacting ethylene with vermiculite.

A waste material depositing system for depositing waste material into a sub-seabed sediment of an ocean floor. There is a penetrator including a first disposal stage and a second disposal stage. The first disposal stage having an outer shell disposed about a cavity, the cavity being shaped and sized to receive a waste disposal canister. The second disposal stage being removably coupled to a top end of the first disposal stage by an automatic disengagement device, and having: an outer cylinder, a plurality of second disposal fins disposed along a length of the outer cylinder, and an arrestor system coupled to a top portion of the outer cylinder.

A waste material depositing system for depositing waste material into a sub-seabed sediment of an ocean floor. There is a penetrator including a first disposal stage and a second disposal stage. The first disposal stage having an outer shell disposed about a cavity, the cavity being shaped and sized to receive a waste disposal canister. The second disposal stage being removably coupled to a top end of the first disposal stage by an automatic disengagement device, and having: an outer cylinder, a plurality of second disposal fins disposed along a length of the outer cylinder, and an arrestor system coupled to a top portion of the outer cylinder.

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.

System for storing radioactive materials comprising: —a canister (4) containing radioactive waste; —a container (C), provided with a casing (1), a base (2) and a cover (3), and a passive helicoidal convection-based ventilation system provided with: lower air inlets (5); an area (6) of air circulation between the canister (4) and the inner surface of the container (C), and upper air outlets (7); the inlets (5) and outlets (7) have a decreasing variation of section in the direction of air circulation, are curved and facing an oblique direction with respect to the radial direction of the container, the air between said inlets (5) and outlets (7) describing an upward helicoidal path around the capsule or canister (4).

System for storing radioactive materials comprising: —a canister (4) containing radioactive waste; —a container (C), provided with a casing (1), a base (2) and a cover (3), and a passive helicoidal convection-based ventilation system provided with: lower air inlets (5); an area (6) of air circulation between the canister (4) and the inner surface of the container (C), and upper air outlets (7); the inlets (5) and outlets (7) have a decreasing variation of section in the direction of air circulation, are curved and facing an oblique direction with respect to the radial direction of the container, the air between said inlets (5) and outlets (7) describing an upward helicoidal path around the capsule or canister (4).

A system and method for drying cavities containing spent nuclear fuel is devised. The invention utilizes a non-intrusive procedure that is based on monitoring the dew point temperature of a non-reactive gas that is circulated through the cavity. In one aspect, the invention is a system for drying a cavity loaded with spent nuclear fuel comprising: a canister forming the cavity, the cavity having an inlet and an outlet; a source of non-reactive gas; means for flowing the non-reactive gas from the source of non-reactive gas through the cavity; and means for repetitively measuring the dew point temperature of the non-reactive gas exiting the cavity.

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.

Elongate capsules for housing waste are configured for disposal (placement) into wellbore(s) that are located in particular deep underground geologic formation(s). These capsules have opposing structures for physically linking multiple capsules together in an end-to-end fashion. These opposing end structures may include a stinger with pins at a top end of the capsule; and a J-slots structure at the bottom end of the capsule. The stinger with pins of a first capsule may be (removably) attached to the J-slots of a second capsule. Further, a retrieval-tool also has the J-slots structure at one end. The J-slots structure of the retrieval-tool may be configured to (removably) attach to a stinger with pins of a given capsule (which may be linked to other capsule(s)); and then the retrieval-tool may be used to retrieve the given capsule(s) from a given wellbore. Capsule retrieval systems and/or method may utilize such capsule(s) and the retrieval-tool.

Elongate capsules for housing waste are configured for disposal (placement) into wellbore(s) that are located in particular deep underground geologic formation(s). These capsules have opposing structures for physically linking multiple capsules together in an end-to-end fashion. These opposing end structures may include a stinger with pins at a top end of the capsule; and a J-slots structure at the bottom end of the capsule. The stinger with pins of a first capsule may be (removably) attached to the J-slots of a second capsule. Further, a retrieval-tool also has the J-slots structure at one end. The J-slots structure of the retrieval-tool may be configured to (removably) attach to a stinger with pins of a given capsule (which may be linked to other capsule(s)); and then the retrieval-tool may be used to retrieve the given capsule(s) from a given wellbore. Capsule retrieval systems and/or method may utilize such capsule(s) and the retrieval-tool.