A method, system and apparatus for plasma blasting pavement comprises an apparatus having a set of diamond cutting tools for creating a boreholes, a diamond saw, and a set of blast probes comprising a high voltage electrode and a ground electrode separated by a dielectric separator, wherein the high voltage electrode and the dielectric separator constitute an adjustable probe tip, and an adjustment unit coupled to the adjustable probe tip, wherein the adjustment unit is configured to selectively extend or retract the adjustable probe tip relative to the ground electrode and a blasting media, wherein at least a portion of the high voltage electrode and the ground electrode are submerged in the blast media. The apparatus saws the pavement at the parameter of the area to be removed, drills holes in the pavement, and inserts blast probes in the holes. The plasma blast breaks up the pavement in between the saw cuts.

One or more ram accelerator devices may be used to form one or more holes in geologic or other material. These holes may be used for drilling, tunnel boring, excavation, and so forth. The ram accelerator includes one or more baffles that are downhole. The ram accelerator devices propel projectiles which are accelerated by combustion of one or more combustible gasses in a ram effect to reach velocities exceeding 500 meters per second. An endcap may be deployed within a tube of the ram accelerator device to prevent incursion of formation pressure products such as oil, water, mud, gas, and so forth into a guide tube of the ram accelerator. The endcap may be maintained in place within the hole at least in part by the one or more baffles. During operation the projectile penetrates the endcap and at least a portion thereof impacts a working face.

A method for automated control of a drilling operation of a blast hole drilling machine using a down-the-hole drill bit mounted on a drill string is disclosed. The method may include: receiving input data from a user input including information of the drill bit, drill string weight, and desired hole settings; receiving a command from the user to initiate an automatic down-the-hole operation; identifying a location of the down-the-hole drill bit; and using the received input data and based on the location of the down-the-hole drill bit, automatically initiating the steps of: collaring a hole; drilling the hole; and retracting the drill when the hole is drilled.

A drill string comprises a mechanical drill bit and a ram accelerator with a launch tube proximate to the mechanical drill bit. A projectile accelerated by the ram accelerator exits the mechanical drill bit through an orifice and impacts a geologic formation. The impact weakens a portion of the formation, enabling the drill bit to penetrate the weakened portion more easily. An endcap may be used to prevent outside material from entering the ram accelerator. The projectile may pass through or otherwise displace the endcap during operation. The launch tube may be positioned at an angle relative to the drill bit such that projectiles impact and weaken the formation on a particular side. Contact between the drill bit and the formation may direct the drill bit toward the weakened side, enabling the ram accelerator to be used to steer the drill bit.

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, systems and methods for establishing hydraulic communication between a relief wellbore and a target wellbore during relief well applications are provided. Present embodiments include a perforating gun that uses an explosively formed penetrator (EFP) to establish hydraulic communication between a relief well and the target well for well kill operations. The EFP may be detonated downhole according to the Misznay-Schardin effect, thereby releasing a projectile toward the target well to form a relatively large hole through the casing/cement between the wellbores. The EFP may be positioned in a desired orientation with respect to the target well, in order that the projectile may be directed from the relief well directly into the target well. In some embodiments, the disclosed perforating gun may include several EFP charges positioned along one side of the gun at approximately 0 to 10 degree phasing from each other.

A hole in geologic material, such as a wellbore, may be extended by impacting the working face of the hole with high velocity projectiles. A tube may be placed within the hole, and the lower end of the tube may be sealed to prevent ingress of material from the hole into the tube. A projectile may be accelerated through the tube, such as by igniting a combustible gas mixture to impart a force to the projectile. The impact of the projectile may extend the hole. In some cases, accelerated projectiles may be used in conjunction with a drill bit to drill a wellbore or other type of hole.

A formation testing tool which performs the dual function of fracturing and in-situ proppant placement. The testing tool houses proppant slurry having proppant and fracture fluid therein, and a probe which seals against the wellbore wall. During operation, the probe seals against the wellbore wall whereby fluid communication may take place. Using a pump aboard the testing tool, the fracture fluid is forced through the probe and into the formation to produce the fractures. The testing tool, which has a pressurized compartment, then injects the proppant into the fractures.

Systems for drilling or tunneling include an assembly for accelerating a projectile through a first conduit into a region of geologic material, which generates debris. The debris may be reduced in size by moving the debris to a crushing device located in a second conduit using a conveying device, such as an auger. The reduced-size debris is then moved toward the surface using fluid movement. A third conduit may be used to provide and remove material from the bottom of the first conduit to control pressure at the end of the conduit to prevent ingress of material into the first conduit. Water jets or other types of devices may be used to cut or deform a perimeter of a region of geologic material before the projectile is accelerated to control the shape of the borehole and the manner in which debris is broken from the geologic material.

A method and apparatus for controlled charging of blasting boreholes with a flowable/pourable explosive, in particular in open-cast mining, includes: providing a radar head with at least one radar unit operated in a non-rock penetrating frequency range; arranging the radar head on a pulling element; introducing the radar head into the borehole in that the radar head is lowered into the blasting borehole in an arrangement at the pulling means from an upper aperture opening of the blasting borehole; and detecting at least one measurement value comprising a base distance of the radar head from the blasting borehole base and/or a charge level distance to determine the charge level of the explosive in the blasting borehole; and/or comprising the shape of the jacket section over at least a portion of the depth of the blasting borehole by means of the operation of at least one of the radar units.

Systems for forming or extending a tunnel or shaft within geologic material may include a ram accelerator assembly for accelerating one or more projectiles into geologic material to weaken a region of the geologic material. The projectile(s) pre-condition the geologic material, such as by forming one or more holes in a central region of the material or to define a perimeter of the region to be displaced. A cutting tool or subsequent projectile impacts may then be used to remove the weakened material. The voids formed by the first projectile(s) cause compressive forces from subsequent impacts or cutting operations to be converted to tension forces that more efficiently break geologic material, which may fall into the voids created by the first projectile(s). The voids created by the projectile impacts may also control the material that is removed and the shape of a resulting section of the tunnel or shaft.