Apparatus and methods of drilling using a bitless drilling assembly can include a propellant chamber configured to store a liquid propellant for drilling. The bitless drilling assembly can include a burner nozzle connected to the propellant chamber via one or more passages to route the liquid propellant from the propellant chamber to the burner nozzle. The bitless drilling assembly can include an ignitor configured to ignite the liquid propellant as the liquid propellant escapes the burner nozzle. The bitless drilling assembly can include a diverter cage placed in a path of the inside passage to divert one or more propellant capsules from the inside passage to a capsule blade. The capsule blade can be configured to puncture the one or more propellant capsules to allow the propellant to flow into a reservoir and route the propellant to the propellant chamber. The bitless drilling assembly can be controlled automatically during drilling.

Apparatus and methods of drilling using a bitless drilling assembly can include a propellant chamber configured to store a liquid propellant for drilling. The bitless drilling assembly can include a burner nozzle connected to the propellant chamber via one or more passages to route the liquid propellant from the propellant chamber to the burner nozzle. The bitless drilling assembly can include an ignitor configured to ignite the liquid propellant as the liquid propellant escapes the burner nozzle. The bitless drilling assembly can include a diverter cage placed in a path of the inside passage to divert one or more propellant capsules from the inside passage to a capsule blade. The capsule blade can be configured to puncture the one or more propellant capsules to allow the propellant to flow into a reservoir and route the propellant to the propellant chamber. The bitless drilling assembly can be controlled automatically during drilling.

A boring method is provided and can include directing a laser beam at an exposed face of a bulk target in a longitudinal direction. The laser beam can be configured to liquefy and/or gasify the target within the laser beam. The method can also include removing, by the laser beam, a channel of predetermined length and width within the target. The method can further include moving the laser beam in a closed loop of predetermined diameter to define a cut portion of the target laterally bounded by the closed loop. A ligament of the cut portion can remain attached to the target. The method can additionally include separating the ligament from the target. The method can also include removing the cut portion from the target after separating the ligament to form a bore.

An example laser tool is configured to operate within a casing or liner in wellbore of a hydrocarbon-bearing rock formation. The tool is configured to cut sections into the casing or liner material. The cut sections may break off or may be broken off using a breaking tool. The sections may be cut in a region of the casing or liner that includes a kick-off point for sidetracking operations.

A resource collection device of a resource collection system has a resource collection pipe, a protection pipe, and a coiled tubing device. The protection pipe is disposed around the resource collection pipe and protects the resource collection pipe. The coiled tubing device is fed from a winding reel disposed on the sea surface or inside the protection pipe by way of a feeding device and penetrates a side wall of the protection pipe to extend from the interior to the exterior. The resource collection system cracks the sea floor layer by way of: supplying undiluted solutions of foaming material, fuel gas, and air containing oxygen into the sea floor layer through the coiled tubing device; mixing the undiluted solutions of foaming material together to expand in an atmosphere that includes fuel gas and air; and causing the fuel gas accumulated in the hollows of the foaming material to explosively combust.

A wellbore is drilled in a formation using a drill string assembly that includes a drill string. A drill bit is connected to a downhole end of the drill string. A notching tool is connected to the drill string. After drilling the wellbore to a depth from a surface in the formation, the drilling is paused. The notching tool is rotated. a notch is formed with the rotating notching tool. In subsequent operations, DSA is removed from the well and the fracturing fluid pumped from the surface can create fractures at the locations of notches. These fractures would improve wellbore connectivity with the reservoir for better oil and gas recovery.

A wellbore is drilled in a formation using a drill string assembly that includes a drill string. A drill bit is connected to a downhole end of the drill string. A notching tool is connected to the drill string. After drilling the wellbore to a depth from a surface in the formation, the drilling is paused. The notching tool is rotated. a notch is formed with the rotating notching tool. In subsequent operations, DSA is removed from the well and the fracturing fluid pumped from the surface can create fractures at the locations of notches. These fractures would improve wellbore connectivity with the reservoir for better oil and gas recovery.

This application relates to systems and methods for stimulating hydrocarbon bearing formations using a downhole laser tool. An example laser perforation tool is for perforating a wellbore in a downhole environment within a hydrocarbon bearing formation. The laser perforation tool includes a plurality of perforation units disposed within an elongated body of the laser perforation tool. Each of the plurality of perforation units includes a laser beam redirection tool coupled to a laser head. The beam redirection tool alters a direction of an output laser beam.

A tunnel boring machine including a propulsion system, an enclosure carried by the propulsion system, and a torch support structure carried by the enclosure. The torch support structure can include a primary disc mounted on a rotatable shaft carried by the enclosure, a first plurality of plasma torches mounted to the primary disc, and a power supply cable coupled to the enclosure and adapted to supply power to the boring machine from one or more power sources.

A tunnel boring machine including a propulsion system, an enclosure carried by the propulsion system, and a torch support structure carried by the enclosure. The torch support structure can include a primary disc mounted on a rotatable shaft carried by the enclosure, a first plurality of plasma torches mounted to the primary disc, and a power supply cable coupled to the enclosure and adapted to supply power to the boring machine from one or more power sources.