Retrievable waste capsules, retrieval-tool, systems and methods thereof
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.
1 . A system for retrieving at least one retrievable-waste-capsule from a wellbore, wherein the system comprises:
the at least one retrievable-waste-capsule that comprises:
a waste-capsule-body that is a hollow cylindrical member with an internal volume for housing waste;
a top-plug for attaching to and sealing-off an upper terminal-end of the waste-capsule-body; wherein the top-plug comprises a stinger that is an elongate-member that extends upwards from a center top of the top-plug; wherein the stinger comprises first-attachment-structure; and
a bottom-plug for attaching to and sealing-off a lower terminal-end of the waste-capsule-body; wherein the bottom-plug comprises second-attachment-structure; wherein the second-attachment-structure is configured for removable attachment to first-attachment-structure of a different-waste-capsule;
a retrieval-tool with third-attachment-structure;
wherein the third-attachment-structure is removably attachable to the first-attachment-structure;
wherein the first-attachment-structure is at least one pin that extends outwardly from the stinger; wherein the third-attachment-structure is at least one predetermined-pathway;
wherein the at least one predetermined-pathway comprises a guiding-opening, a diagonal-passage-section, and a parallel-section;
wherein the guiding-opening, the diagonal-passage-section, and the parallel-section are configured for removable engagement with the at least one pin;
wherein the guiding-opening is connected to and leads to the diagonal-passage-section;
wherein the diagonal-passage-section is connected to and leads to the parallel-section;
wherein a height of the parallel-section is substantially parallel to a height of the retrieval-tool;
wherein a length of the diagonal-passage-section is not parallel nor perpendicular to the height of the retrieval-tool; and
wherein the guiding-opening is an opening to the at least one predetermined-pathway that is configured to guide the at least one pin into the diagonal-passage-section.
2 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a pulling-means, wherein the pulling-means is configured to pull the retrieval-tool when the retrieval-tool is removably attached to the at least one retrievable-waste-capsule.
3 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein the pulling-means is at least in part selected from or more of: a drill-rig, a mobile-gantry-crane, or a hoisting machine.
4 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein the pulling-means is configured to operate when the retrieval-tool and the at least one retrievable-waste-capsule are within the wellbore.
5 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one retrievable-waste-capsule is removably attached to the different-waste-capsule.
6 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the different-waste-capsule has a same shape, geometry, and structures as the at least one retrievable-waste-capsule.
7 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the system comprises at least one waste-capsule that is without the second-attachment-structure.
8 . A system for retrieving at least one retrievable-waste-capsule from a wellbore, wherein the system comprises:
the at least one retrievable-waste-capsule that comprises:
a waste-capsule-body that is a hollow cylindrical member with an internal volume for housing waste;
a top-plug for attaching to and sealing-off an upper terminal-end of the waste-capsule-body; wherein the top-plug comprises a stinger that is an elongate-member that extends upwards from a center top of the top-plug; wherein the stinger comprises first-attachment-structure; and
a bottom-plug for attaching to and sealing-off a lower terminal-end of the waste-capsule-body; wherein the bottom-plug comprises second-attachment-structure; wherein the second-attachment-structure is configured for removable attachment to first-attachment-structure of a different-waste-capsule;
a retrieval-tool with third-attachment-structure;
wherein the third-attachment-structure is removably attachable to the first-attachment-structure;
wherein the third-attachment-structure is at least one pin that extends inwardly from a bottom-skirt of the retrieval-tool; wherein the first-attachment-structure is at least one predetermined-pathway of the stinger;
wherein the at least one predetermined-pathway comprises a guiding-opening, a diagonal-passage-section, and a parallel-section;
wherein the guiding-opening, the diagonal-passage-section, and the parallel-section are configured for removable engagement with the at least one pin;
wherein the guiding-opening is connected to and leads to the diagonal-passage-section;
wherein the diagonal-passage-section is connected to and leads to the parallel-section;
wherein a height of the parallel-section is substantially parallel to a height of the stinger;
wherein a length of the diagonal-passage-section is not parallel nor perpendicular to the height of the stinger; and
wherein the guiding-opening is an opening to the at least one predetermined-pathway that is configured to guide the at least one pin into the diagonal-passage-section.
9 . The system according to claim 8 , wherein the system further comprises a pulling-means, wherein the pulling-means is configured to pull the retrieval-tool when the retrieval-tool is removably attached to the at least one retrievable-waste-capsule.
10 . The system according to claim 9 , wherein the pulling-means is at least in part selected from or more of: a drill-rig, a mobile-gantry-crane, or a hoisting machine.
11 . The system according to claim 9 , wherein the pulling-means is configured to operate when the retrieval-tool and the at least one retrievable-waste-capsule are within the wellbore.
12 . The system according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one retrievable-waste-capsule is removably attached to the different-waste-capsule.
13 . The system according to claim 8 , wherein the different-waste-capsule has a same shape, geometry, and structures as the at least one retrievable-waste-capsule.
14 . The system according to claim 8 , wherein the system comprises at least one waste-capsule that is without the second-attachment-structure.