A PDC drill bit for use in downhole air drilling includes a body with a face for engaging a bottom of a hole being drilled and a gauge for engaging a side of the hole being drilled. The face includes a cone, a nose outward of the cone, a shoulder outward of the nose. The bit further includes channels formed in the face of the bit that extend from within the cone to the gauge. The channels define a plurality of blades separated by the channels. Each of the plurality of blades has a leading edge with PDC cutters mounted thereon. One or more of the channels are defined by two side walls and a bottom wall and has a length, width and depth. The width or depth remains substantially constant from a first point on its length within the cone to a second point within the shoulder.

A PDC drill bit for use in downhole air drilling includes a body with a face for engaging a bottom of a hole being drilled and a gauge for engaging a side of the hole being drilled. The face includes a cone, a nose outward of the cone, a shoulder outward of the nose. The bit further includes channels formed in the face of the bit that extend from within the cone to the gauge. The channels define a plurality of blades separated by the channels. Each of the plurality of blades has a leading edge with PDC cutters mounted thereon. One or more of the channels are defined by two side walls and a bottom wall and has a length, width and depth. The width or depth remains substantially constant from a first point on its length within the cone to a second point within the shoulder.

A method of drilling a wellbore that traverses a formation, the method comprising the steps of inserting a one-stage drilling tool into the wellbore, the one-stage drilling tool comprising a laser head configured to produce a drilling beam, a completion sheath configured to line the wellbore, and a centralizer configured to support the completion sheath within the wellbore, operating the laser head to produce the drilling beam, wherein the drilling beam comprises a laser, wherein the drilling beam has a divergent shape comprising a base at a distance from a front end of the laser head and an apex proximate to the front end of the laser head, wherein a diameter of the base of the drilling beam is greater than a diameter of the one-stage drilling tool, and drilling the formation with the drilling beam, wherein the laser of the drilling beam is operable to sublimate the formation.

For clearing of the bore liners of geothermal wells, disclosed is a clearing tool that can be used without a drive motor, but with a drive hammer, to clear mineral deposits from the inside of the bore liners of geothermal wells. A forward end clears unwanted material from a live well. An aft end engages with a hammer device. The tool also has working surfaces to bear against and to cut through or to break up the unwanted material, at least one bypass passage conveying fluid from the live well through the clearing tool, and at least one exhaust passage communicating with the hammer device and conveying exhaust gases from the hammer to exhaust exit ports. The location of at least one exhaust exit port is a location that is situated aft of a forward face of the forward end of the clearing tool.

The invention relates to a drilling tool and a method for producing a bore in the ground, in which method ground material is carried away by a removal device on the underside of a main body of the drilling tool, flushing air is supplied by a feeding device into the bore, which is filled with drilling fluid, in the area of the removal device and ground material carried away by means of the flushing air is transported away through a discharge line. According to the invention, the ground material is transported to a receiving area in an upper section of the main body. A collecting hood is provided above the receiving area, which closes off the receiving area at the top, forming an air collecting space in which air collects. An outlet valve by means of which air is discharged from the air collecting space is arranged on the collecting hood.

The invention relates to a drilling tool and a method for producing a bore in the ground, in which method ground material is carried away by a removal device on the underside of a main body of the drilling tool, flushing air is supplied by a feeding device into the bore, which is filled with drilling fluid, in the area of the removal device and ground material carried away by means of the flushing air is transported away through a discharge line. According to the invention, the ground material is transported to a receiving area in an upper section of the main body. A collecting hood is provided above the receiving area, which closes off the receiving area at the top, forming an air collecting space in which air collects. An outlet valve by means of which air is discharged from the air collecting space is arranged on the collecting hood.

This disclosure relates generally to apparatus, systems, and methods for boring in earth or other environments, both manmade and natural. More specifically, but not exclusively, the disclosure relates to devices and methods for inspecting the path of a bore (e.g., including horizontal, angular, vertical bores in 3-dimensional space) to detect any damage caused by the boring activity to infrastructure in the path of the bore. Such infrastructure may include, but not by way of limitation, gas lines, sewer lines, communication lines (e.g., fiber optic lines), electric lines, and other infrastructure. The disclosure further relates to devices and methods for mapping locations of underground objects, geological compositions, and other detectable underground features.

A method of drilling a wellbore that traverses a formation, the method comprising the steps of inserting a one-stage drilling tool into the wellbore. The one-stage drilling tool comprising a laser head configured to produce a drilling beam, a completion sheath configured to line the wellbore, and a centralizer configured to support the completion sheath within the wellbore. Operating the laser head to produce the drilling beam that comprises a laser. The drilling beam has a divergent shape comprising a base at a distance from a front end of the laser head and an apex proximate to the front end of the laser head, wherein a diameter of the base of the drilling beam is greater than a diameter of the one-stage drilling tool. And drilling the formation with the drilling beam, wherein the laser of the drilling beam is operable to sublimate the formation.

A monitoring system operable to monitor an oilfield additive system having multiple components. The oilfield additive system is operable to transfer an additive-containing substance for injection into a wellbore. The monitoring system includes sensors each associated with, and operable to generate information related to an operational parameter of, a corresponding one of the oilfield additive system components. The monitoring system also includes a monitoring device in communication with the sensors and operable to record the information generated by the sensors to generate a database. The database includes information indicative of maintenance aspects of the oilfield additive system and/or the oilfield additive system components.

An example laser tool that operates within a wellbore is configured to combine a purging medium and a laser beam. The laser tool includes an integrator configured to receive the laser beam from a laser head and to combine the laser beam and the purging medium. A conduit is configured to generate a laminar flow from the purging medium and to produce an output that includes the laminar flow and the laser beam. The output is directed by the conduit towards a target within the wellbore. At least part of the laser tool is configured for rotation to cause the output to rotate during application of the output to the target.