The systems and techniques described herein may allow for optimized boring through a variety of geologies. A plurality of different boring techniques may be utilized for boring through a geological formation, in order to suit the characteristics of various portions of the geological formation. The systems and techniques described herein includes determining geological features and adjusting operation of boring based on the geological features. In certain such embodiments, boring systems may include a bore head that includes a plurality of boring elements. Such boring elements may be contact and/or non-contact boring elements.

A configuration for cooling capacitors comprises a flow tube within a tool body of a pulse power drilling assembly. The flow tube is configured provide a flow path for drilling fluid through one or more sub-assemblies of the pulse power drilling assembly. One or more capacitors are positioned between the flow tube and the tool body. Each of the one or more capacitors comprises a cooling tube embedded within the capacitor to provide a thermally conductive path for removal of heat associated with the one or more capacitors. Cooling capacitors comprises providing a flow of cooling fluid to a cooling tube embedded in a capacitor in the pulse power drilling assembly.

Some implementations of the present disclosure provide a laser drilling tool assembly comprising: (i) a body that includes: a first segment configured to receive an input beam from a laser source and couple the input beam to provide an irradiation beam to irradiate a downhole target, and a second segment housing one or more purging pipes; and (ii) a tool head that includes: a retractable nozzle; and one or more optical sensing elements mounted on the retractable nozzle, wherein when the downhole target is being irradiated by the irradiation beam, the retractable nozzle is extended towards the downhole target such that the one or more optical sensing elements are positioned closer to the downhole target.

Some implementations of the present disclosure provide a laser drilling tool assembly comprising: (i) a body that includes: a first segment configured to receive an input beam from a laser source and couple the input beam to provide an irradiation beam to irradiate a downhole target, and a second segment housing one or more purging pipes; and (ii) a tool head that includes: a retractable nozzle; and one or more optical sensing elements mounted on the retractable nozzle, wherein when the downhole target is being irradiated by the irradiation beam, the retractable nozzle is extended towards the downhole target such that the one or more optical sensing elements are positioned closer to the downhole target.

A plasma tunnel boring machine including a plurality of plasma torches on the cutting head, and a plurality of nozzles on the cutting head to provide a stream to cool an area while the plasma torches are active, and a tractor providing propulsion to the cutting head, the tractor to move the cutting head to cut a tunnel.

There are provided high power laser and laser mechanical earth removing equipment, and operations using laser cutting tools having stand off distances. These equipment provide high power laser beams, greater than 1 kW to cut and volumetrically remove targeted materials and to remove laser affected material with gravity assistance, mechanical cutters, fluid jets, scrapers and wheels. There is also provided a method of using this equipment in mining, road resurfacing and other earth removing or working activities.

There are provided high power laser and laser mechanical earth removing equipment, and operations using laser cutting tools having stand off distances. These equipment provide high power laser beams, greater than 1 kW to cut and volumetrically remove targeted materials and to remove laser affected material with gravity assistance, mechanical cutters, fluid jets, scrapers and wheels. There is also provided a method of using this equipment in mining, road resurfacing and other earth removing or working activities.

The invention relates to a low-power microwave coring machine suitable for lunar rocks and a use method. The low-power microwave coring machine suitable for lunar rocks comprises an equipment platform, wherein the support framework front plate and the support framework rear plate are mounted on the equipment platform in a sliding manner, a rear end surface of the support framework rear plate is connected with a front end of the microwave generator mounted on the equipment platform, a rear end of the microwave generator is sequentially connected with the fixed waveguide, the rotary waveguide, the power divider and the drill drum, the high-precision slip ring structure is mounted on the drill drum, the gear ferrules are arranged on an outer wall of the rotary waveguide and an outer wall of the drill drum.

The disclosure provides a pulsed-power drill bit including a bit body, an electrode, and a ground ring coupled to the bit body proximate to the electrode and having a first portion and a second portion located between the first portion and the bit body, the first portion including first composite material including a reinforcement material and an abrasive material infiltrated through at least one region of the reinforcement material, the second portion including a second composite material including the reinforcement material and a binder material infiltrated through the reinforcement material, the second composite material having a different composition than the first composite material. The disclosure further provides a pulsed-power drilling system containing such a bit and a method of pulsed-power drilling using such a bit.

The disclosure provides a pulsed-power drill bit including a bit body, an electrode, and a ground ring coupled to the bit body proximate to the electrode and having a first portion and a second portion located between the first portion and the bit body, the first portion including first composite material including a reinforcement material and an abrasive material infiltrated through at least one region of the reinforcement material, the second portion including a second composite material including the reinforcement material and a binder material infiltrated through the reinforcement material, the second composite material having a different composition than the first composite material. The disclosure further provides a pulsed-power drilling system containing such a bit and a method of pulsed-power drilling using such a bit.