US 12,281,533 B2
Retrievable waste capsules, retrieval-tool, systems and methods thereof
Gary Schneider, Colorado Springs, CO (US)
Assigned to NuclearSAFE Technology LLC, Norman, OK (US)
Filed by NuclearSAFE Technology LLC, Norman, OK (US)
Filed on May 10, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/741,022.
Application 17/741,022 is a continuation of application No. 17/687,557, filed on Mar. 4, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0279745 A1, Sep. 7, 2023
Int. Cl. E21B 31/12 (2006.01); E21B 41/00 (2006.01); G21F 5/005 (2006.01); G21F 5/12 (2006.01); G21F 5/14 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 31/12 (2013.01) [E21B 41/005 (2013.01); G21F 5/005 (2013.01); G21F 5/12 (2013.01); G21F 5/14 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for retrieving at least one retrievable-waste-capsule from within a wellbore; wherein all waste-capsules noted in the method are selected from the at least one retrievable-waste-capsule; wherein the method comprises steps of:
(a) removably coupling a retrieval-tool to a top-most waste-capsule; wherein the top-most waste-capsule is located in the wellbore closest to a wellhead of the wellbore;
(b) pulling the top-most waste-capsule above a landing-plate such that the top-most waste-capsule is now designated a landed waste-capsule;
(c) determining if the landed waste-capsule is connected to two or more other waste-capsules;
(d) if the landed waste-capsule is connected to the two or more other waste-capsules, then continuing pulling until a second-most-top waste-capsule is landed above the landing-plate;
(e) decoupling the landed waste-capsule from the second-most-top waste-capsule, such that the landed waste-capsule is now designated a former top-most waste-capsule;
(f) if the landed waste-capsule from the step (c) is just one waste-capsule without any other connected waste-capsules, then moving the landed waste-capsule from the step (c) away from the wellhead; and
(g) if the landed waste-capsule from the step (c) is connected to only one other waste-capsule, then the method continues with pulling the landed waste-capsule from the step (c) along with the only one other waste-capsule above the landing-plate;
wherein the at least one retrievable-waste-capsule comprises two opposing terminal ends, namely, a top-plug and a bottom-plug, wherein the top-plug and the bottom-plug are shaped differently from each other;
wherein the top-plug comprises a first-attachment-structure;
wherein the bottom-plug comprises a second-attachment-structure;
wherein the retrieval-tool comprises a third-attachment-structure;
wherein the third-attachment-structure is sized and shaped substantially the same as that of the second-attachment-structure; and
wherein the first-attachment-structure is configured for removable attachment with the third-attachment-structure and the first-attachment-structure is configured for removable attachment with the second-attachment-structure of a different-waste-capsule;
wherein the first-attachment-structure is at least one pin that extends outwardly from a stinger of the top-plug;
wherein the second-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 one or more pins of the different-waste-capsule;
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 bottom-plug;
wherein a length of the diagonal-passage-section is not parallel nor perpendicular to the height of the bottom-plug; and
wherein the guiding-opening is an opening to the at least one predetermined-pathway that is configured to guide the one or more pins into the diagonal-passage-section.