Systems and methods are disclosed for using downhole plasma discharge effects to determine porosity and/or permeability of formation material. In some embodiments, a method includes determining a concentration of at least one chemical reaction product in a drilling fluid that has interacted with a plasma discharge proximate formation material. A relation between arc and spark of the plasma discharge is determined based, at least in part, on the at least one chemical reaction product, and at least one of porosity and permeability of the formation material is determined based, at least in part, on the relation between arc and spark.

Systems and methods are disclosed for using downhole plasma discharge effects to determine porosity and/or permeability of formation material. In some embodiments, a method includes determining a concentration of at least one chemical reaction product in a drilling fluid that has interacted with a plasma discharge proximate formation material. A relation between arc and spark of the plasma discharge is determined based, at least in part, on the at least one chemical reaction product, and at least one of porosity and permeability of the formation material is determined based, at least in part, on the relation between arc and spark.

A direct high voltage flow-through water heater system transmits high voltage power to a remote ice penetrating robot, converts the power to heat in a very small space, and then uses the heat to melt the ice, providing a path ahead of the robot allowing penetration deeper into a remote ice-covered location, such ice of substantial (e.g., kilometers) thickness, such as, for example, glacial ice caps. High voltage, low current, AC power is passed through a moving conducting fluid, inducing resistive heating in the fluid with 100% efficiency. The exiting fluid is stripped of common mode voltage before exiting. Energy transfer from the electrical source to the fluid is instantaneous and occurs at 100% efficiency. In an alternative embodiment, the fluid heater system operates at standard residential/industrial mains voltages and runs from 220 VAC as other applications of the present invention include the traditional water heater industry as well.

A direct high voltage flow-through water heater system transmits high voltage power to a remote ice penetrating robot, converts the power to heat in a very small space, and then uses the heat to melt the ice, providing a path ahead of the robot allowing penetration deeper into a remote ice-covered location, such ice of substantial (e.g., kilometers) thickness, such as, for example, glacial ice caps. High voltage, low current, AC power is passed through a moving conducting fluid, inducing resistive heating in the fluid with 100% efficiency. The exiting fluid is stripped of common mode voltage before exiting. Energy transfer from the electrical source to the fluid is instantaneous and occurs at 100% efficiency. In an alternative embodiment, the fluid heater system operates at standard residential/industrial mains voltages and runs from 220 VAC as other applications of the present invention include the traditional water heater industry as well.

An apparatus includes a tube including an inner surface, an inner diameter, and a length. The apparatus also includes a coil spring. The coil spring includes an outer surface, an outer diameter, and a plurality of coil elements arranged along a length of the coil spring. The coil spring can be positioned within the tube and the outer diameter of the coil spring can be less than the inner diameter of the tube. The coil spring can form a waveguide. Related methods of manufacture and systems are also described herein.

An apparatus includes a tube including an inner surface, an inner diameter, and a length. The apparatus also includes a coil spring. The coil spring includes an outer surface, an outer diameter, and a plurality of coil elements arranged along a length of the coil spring. The coil spring can be positioned within the tube and the outer diameter of the coil spring can be less than the inner diameter of the tube. The coil spring can form a waveguide. Related methods of manufacture and systems are also described herein.

The downhole tool may include an electrical power source, a positive and a negative electrode, and at least one sensor. The positive and negative electrodes may be configured to generate an electric field between the positive and the negative electrode with an electrical charge from the electrical power source and discharge the electric charge through a downhole formation. The at least one sensor may be configured to detect quantum particles dislocated by at least one of the electric field and the discharged electrical charge to determine downhole information from at least one of a travel time of the quantum particles, a composition of the quantum particles, a quantity of the quantum particles, and a charge of the quantum particles.

The downhole tool may include an electrical power source, a positive and a negative electrode, and at least one sensor. The positive and negative electrodes may be configured to generate an electric field between the positive and the negative electrode with an electrical charge from the electrical power source and discharge the electric charge through a downhole formation. The at least one sensor may be configured to detect quantum particles dislocated by at least one of the electric field and the discharged electrical charge to determine downhole information from at least one of a travel time of the quantum particles, a composition of the quantum particles, a quantity of the quantum particles, and a charge of the quantum particles.

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.

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.