Systems to bore or tunnel through various geologies in an autonomous or substantially autonomous manner can include one or more non-contact boring elements that direct energy at the bore face to remove material from the bore face through fracture, spallation, and removal of the material. The systems can automatically execute methods to control a set of boring parameters that affect the flux of energy directed at the bore face. Systems can further automatically execute the methods to trigger an optical sensor to capture images at the bore face, generate temperature profiles, identify spall fragments and hot zones and/or adjust a set of boring controls. For example, the system can execute methods to adjust a standoff distance between the system and the bore face, and adjust power and/or gas supply to the non-contact boring element.

A method of using a hybrid tool to perforate a formation comprising the steps of deploying a hybrid tool into a wellbore positioned in the formation; activating a laser beam from the swivel laser head of the hybrid tool; and drilling a tunnel with the laser beam, Followed by, reducing a power of the laser; operating the laser beam at the heating power such that a first spherical heat zone expands from the first point; and drilling a second span of tunnel extending from the first point to a second point. Finally, reducing the power of the laser beam to the heating power; operating the laser beam at the heating power to increase the temperature at the second point such that a second spherical heat zone expands from the second point; and detonating the shaped charged aligned with a targeted perforation path with detonating cord.

A method of using a hybrid tool to perforate a formation comprising the steps of deploying a hybrid tool into a wellbore positioned in the formation; activating a laser beam from the swivel laser head of the hybrid tool; and drilling a tunnel with the laser beam, Followed by, reducing a power of the laser; operating the laser beam at the heating power such that a first spherical heat zone expands from the first point; and drilling a second span of tunnel extending from the first point to a second point. Finally, reducing the power of the laser beam to the heating power; operating the laser beam at the heating power to increase the temperature at the second point such that a second spherical heat zone expands from the second point; and detonating the shaped charged aligned with a targeted perforation path with detonating cord.

The invention relates to a melting head (1) for an ice melting apparatus (1, 8) comprising a rear, in relation to the propagation direction, attachment region (4) for attaching to a drilling apparatus (8) or a drilling rod assembly, and a forward, in relation to the propagation direction, heatable front region (1c), wherein the front region (1c) has a radially outer face region (1a) in which the front region (1c) has an outer cross section that tapers in the propagation direction (3) up to the forward axial melting head end (1d), in particular with a tapering outer diameter, and the radially outer face region (1a) surrounds an inner cavity (5), the free inner cross section of which reduces from the axial melting head end (1d) counter to the propagation direction (3). The invention also relates to an ice melting apparatus (1, 8) formed with the melting head (1).

A spallation drilling apparatus is also disclosed that uses jets of hot fluid for drilling. This is compatible with drilling wells in high temperature zones, such as a lava dome. A simplified pyrolysis reactor for use in a lava dome is also disclosed, in which the dome functions to contain the reaction, and the apparatus to facilitate pyrolysis is far more compact.

A spallation drilling apparatus is also disclosed that uses jets of hot fluid for drilling. This is compatible with drilling wells in high temperature zones, such as a lava dome. A simplified pyrolysis reactor for use in a lava dome is also disclosed, in which the dome functions to contain the reaction, and the apparatus to facilitate pyrolysis is far more compact.

A system for monitoring and controlling downhole pressure of a well borehole relative to a lithostatic pressure of rock surrounding the borehole is provided. The system can include a millimeter wave drilling apparatus including a gyrotron configured to inject millimeter wave radiation energy into a borehole of a well via a waveguide configured for insertion into the borehole. The borehole can be formed via the millimeter wave drilling apparatus and having a downhole pressure monitored at a bottom of the well. The system can also include a compressor fluidically coupled to the borehole and configured to control the downhole pressure via a gas supplied into and/or received from the borehole. The compressor can be configured to control the downhole pressure relative to a lithostatic pressure determined for rock surrounding the well at the bottom of the well.

A plasma drilling machine comprising a cutting head, a plurality of plasma torches on the cutting head, a plurality of nozzles on the cutting head to provide a stream to cool an area of the earth while the plasma torches are active, a plurality of vacuum inlets, and a metal tube to combine vacuum streams from the vacuum inlets to create a stream of spoils.

A plasma drilling machine comprising a cutting head, a plurality of plasma torches on the cutting head, a plurality of nozzles on the cutting head to provide a stream to cool an area of the earth while the plasma torches are active, a plurality of vacuum inlets, and a metal tube to combine vacuum streams from the vacuum inlets to create a stream of spoils.

A system includes a drill pipe, a fiber optic housing, a laser housing, a conduit, and a fiber optic cable. The drill pipe extends from a surface location into the wellbore. The fiber optic housing is connected to the drill pipe. The laser housing is connected to the fiber optic housing and houses a laser. The drill bit, the laser housing, the fiber optic housing, and the drill pipe are configured to rotate. The conduit extends through the drill pipe, the fiber optic housing, the laser housing, and the drill bit. The fiber optic cable is housed in the fiber optic housing, is disposed within the conduit, and extends from the surface location to the laser located in the laser housing. The laser emits a laser beam into the wellbore. Rotation of the laser housing rotates the laser beam in a circular plane perpendicular to the wellbore.