A system for tracking and guiding a downhole tool underground along a desired borepath. GPS measurements are taken by a GPS unit at desired waypoints on the ground surface that overlays the desired borepath. A planned route for the downhole tool to follow underground is generated from the GPS measurements of the waypoints. A tracker is used to track the location of the downhole tool underground while drilling a borepath. GPS measurements of a series of above-ground locations that overlay the borepath created by the moving downhole tool are taken and sent to the processor. The processor checks for deviation between the GPS measurements of the above-ground locations and the planned route and provides directions to correct the borepath of the downhole tool in response to the deviation.

A horizontal directional drilling rig is described. The rig can be entirely electrically powered. The performance (or “health”) and/or the life cycle of individual components of the rig can be electronically monitored. This permits identification of specific individual components that are performing in a substandard manner or are not performing properly or have reached the end of their life cycle. Individual improperly performing components or components at the end of their life cycle can thus be specifically identified. The improperly performing component(s) or components at the end of their life cycle can then be replaced. In some embodiments, when a component is identified as performing improperly, the operation of other, properly functioning components of the rig can be modified accordingly to account for the improperly performing component.

An electrical generator that is configured to simultaneously output different types of electrical power so that electrically powered components that require different types of electrical power can be simultaneously powered by the electrical generator. The electrical generator can be used at any location where electrically powered components that require different types of electrical power are utilized. Instead of or in addition to outputting different types of electrical power, the electrical generator can also be configured to output at least one type of electrical power as well as a cooling liquid for use in cooling an external heat generating component.

Systems and methods for generating candidate designs and selecting a fracturing position design scheme for a horizontal well to be fractured based on fracturing potential are disclosed. A fracturing potential value of each designed fracturing point or each fracturing point is calculated using obtained values of various indexes of various depth points. A first corresponding relation between fracture conductivity value and the fracturing potential value and a second corresponding relation between a fracture half length and the fracturing potential value is determined. Corresponding first simulated production data for each candidate design is generated, and the candidate design with a highest predicted net present value is selected as the fracturing position design scheme which provides higher rationality and practicability to better guide development.

A calibration method for calibrating an underground beacon and tracker system for use with horizontal directional drilling. The beacon emits a magnetic field, which is received at an above-ground receiving antenna. The antenna is used to locate front and rear null points in the emitted field. The vertical and horizontal offset between the null points is determined to locate the beacon. Then, the magnetic field strength is determined at one of the null points. This value may be used to calculate or update a calibration constant. The calibration constant is then used in subsequent locating step while the characteristics of the underground environment surrounding the beacon remain similar.

Systems, methods, processes, and/or steps for the long-term disposal of high-level nuclear and radioactive waste, along with other radioactive waste forms, is done within deep salt formation(s) of predetermined characteristics. Waste may be emplaced within a given deep salt formation and after emplacement, creep of that deep salt formation around the deposited waste may entirely entomb that emplaced waste safely for geologic time periods. To emplace the waste, wellbore(s) may be drilled from the Earth's terrestrial surface into the given deep salt formation and then either a mostly horizontal wellbore may be formed within the given deep salt formation and/or a human-made cavern may be formed down and within the given deep salt formation. After emplacement, creep of the deep salt formation will destroy the initial boundaries of the horizontal wellbore and/or of the human-made cavern. This creep sealing process may occur over relatively short time periods.

A drilling device for surveying front rock-mass intactness of a tunnel face for a tunnel constructed by a TBM and a method using the same are provided. The drilling device includes a drilling assembly, a drill-attitude control assembly, a data monitoring assembly and a TBM-platform fixing seat. The drilling assembly is connected to a TBM hydraulic system to obtain power, to drill the rock mass by an alloy bit through rotation and translation thereof. The drill-attitude control assembly controls an angle, a direction and a position of a drill rod and maintains drilling accuracy and stability. The data monitoring assembly acquires and stores a drilling dynamic-response signal by a high-accuracy sensor and a data recorder, to analyze an intactness characteristic of the rock mass. The TBM-platform fixing seat mounts the drilling device on the TBM.

A hydraulic propulsion horizontal directional coring device includes a casing pipe, a coring tube assembly and a conversion adapter. Both the casing pipe and the coring tube assembly coaxially set within the casing pipe are tubular. The conversion adapter, having a cylindrical structure fitted with the casing pipe, is coaxially set at a back side of the coring tube assembly and is slidably connected with an inner wall of the casing pipe. Under an action of an external force, the conversion adapter pushes the coring tube assembly to move along an axial direction of the casing pipe till a front end of the coring tube assembly extends out of or retracts into the casing pipe. The conversion adapter and the coring tube assembly have a first channel and a second channel axially provided therein, respectively. The first channel is connected with the second channel.

A pull head assembly for quick attachment to a flexible pipe is provided. The pull head assembly has three subsections. A collet assembly is mounted to the end of a flexible pipe. A mandrel assembly is adapted to go over the collet assembly. A lead screw assembly positions the mandrel assembly over the collet assembly and acts as an attachment point for pulling the flexible pipe and pull head assembly from one location to another. After pulling the flexible pipe and pull head assembly from one location to another, the mandrel assembly and lead screw assembly can be removed, and the collet assembly can act as a temporary fitting for the flexible pipe.

A system for tracking a below-ground transmitter from an aerial receiver. The receiver has an antenna assembly, a processor, and a propulsion system. The antenna assembly detects the magnetic field from an underground transmitter and generates an antenna signal. The processor is programmed to receive the antenna signal and generate a command signal, which moves the receiver to a position above the transmitter. Once in the desired position, which may be a reference plane at a fixed elevation, the antenna assembly measures the magnetic field to determine the location of the drill bit along borepath.