Testing subterranean water for a hazardous waste material repository
US10940512B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 22, 2020 |
| Grant date | Mar 9, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 22, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N1/08
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Techniques for determining the suitability of a subterranean formation as a hazardous waste repository include determining a neutron flux of a first isotope in a subterranean formation; calculating, based at least in part on the determined neutron flux of the first isotope, a predicted production rate of a second isotope in the subterranean formation; calculating a first ratio of the predicted production rate of the second isotope relative to a theoretical production rate of a stable form of the second isotope; measuring respective concentrations of the second isotope and the stable form of the second isotope in a subterranean water sample; calculating a second ratio of the measured concentration of the second isotope relative to the measured concentration of the stable form of the second isotope; and based on a comparison of the first and second ratios, determining that the subterranean formation is suitable as a hazardous waste repository.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.