A downhole drilling system is disclosed. The system may include a drill bit including first and second electrodes electrically coupled to a pulse-generating circuit to receive pulse drilling signals, a reference sensor in proximity to the drill bit, an additional sensor uphole from the reference sensor, and a sensor analysis system communicatively coupled to the reference sensor and to the additional sensor. The sensor analysis system may be configured to obtain measurements representing responses recorded simultaneously by the reference sensor and by the additional sensor during a pulsed drilling operation in a wellbore, generate modified measurements in which effects of variations in the pulse drilling signal on the measurements representing responses recorded by the additional sensor are reduced based on the measurements representing responses recorded by the reference sensor and determine, based on the modified measurements, a characteristic of a formation downhole from the drill bit.

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 comprises a sub-section of a pulse power drilling assembly including a transformer encircling a center flow tube. The transformer comprises at least one primary winding that encircles the center flow tube and a core that encircles the at least one primary winding. The core comprises an insulative material and an electrically conductive material, wherein the insulative material is positioned relative to the electrically conductive material to create at least one break to prevent an electrical path for current within the electrically conductive material during operation of the transformer. The transformer comprises a secondary winding that encircles the core.

An apparatus comprises a sub-section of a pulse power drilling assembly including a transformer encircling a center flow tube. The transformer comprises at least one primary winding that encircles the center flow tube and a core that encircles the at least one primary winding. The core comprises an insulative material and an electrically conductive material, wherein the insulative material is positioned relative to the electrically conductive material to create at least one break to prevent an electrical path for current within the electrically conductive material during operation of the transformer. The transformer comprises a secondary winding that encircles the core.

Systems and methods for cutting objects within a subterranean well include a laser system having a laser drilling head located at a terminal downhole end of a laser tool body directing a head laser beam in a direction downhole. A laser scanner assembly located within the laser tool body has a scanner head directing a scanner laser beam and can move both axially along a length of the laser tool body and rotate around a central axis of the laser tool body. A laser cutter assembly located within the laser tool body has a cutter head directing a cutter laser beam and can rotate around the central axis of the laser tool body. A cable bundle formed of a plurality of fiber optic cables extends from an uphole end of the laser tool body to each of the laser drilling head, the laser scanner assembly, and the laser cutter assembly.

Systems and methods for cutting objects within a subterranean well include a laser system having a laser drilling head located at a terminal downhole end of a laser tool body directing a head laser beam in a direction downhole. A laser scanner assembly located within the laser tool body has a scanner head directing a scanner laser beam and can move both axially along a length of the laser tool body and rotate around a central axis of the laser tool body. A laser cutter assembly located within the laser tool body has a cutter head directing a cutter laser beam and can rotate around the central axis of the laser tool body. A cable bundle formed of a plurality of fiber optic cables extends from an uphole end of the laser tool body to each of the laser drilling head, the laser scanner assembly, and the laser cutter assembly.

The invention relates to a method for processing submerged material at the bottom of a body of water, like the bottom of the sea, by application of electric energy, comprising providing electrodes in a process zone proximate the material for providing an electric current through the material for crushing the material, and displacing of fluid of the body of water away from the process zone to outside the process zone before application of the electric energy.

The invention relates to a method for processing submerged material at the bottom of a body of water, like the bottom of the sea, by application of electric energy, comprising providing electrodes in a process zone proximate the material for providing an electric current through the material for crushing the material, and displacing of fluid of the body of water away from the process zone to outside the process zone before application of the electric energy.

A plasma drilling machine comprising a cutting head, a plurality of plasma torches on the cutting head, a plurality of nozzles on the cutting head to provide a stream to cool an area of the earth while the plasma torches are active, a plurality of vacuum inlets, and a metal tube to combine vacuum streams from the vacuum inlets to create a stream of spoils.