A downhole drilling apparatus, passing through a subterranean borehole, may mark an inner wall of the borehole with a marking element. A sensor, spaced axially from the marking element on the drilling apparatus, may subsequently sense the marking as it passes. A rate of penetration of the drilling apparatus may be calculated by dividing an axial distance, between the marking element and the sensor, by a time interval, between when the marking element marks the inner wall and when the marking is sensed by the sensor. Alternately, a second sensor, spaced axially from the first, may also sense the marking. A rate of penetration may then be calculated by dividing an axial distance, between the two sensors, by a time interval, between when the two sensors sense the marking.

A crossbore detection system. The system is located in a downhole tool proximate a drill bit. The system comprises circuitry sensitive to a subsurface environment and a sensor that detects changes in the circuitry. The sensor detects changes in the circuitry that indicates that the drill bit has struck an underground pipe. The sensor may detect a series of electromagnetic signals indicative of the strike or may detect changes to an impedance bridge at a capacitive sensor.

A detection system includes a drill bit where electro-acoustic transducers operate as a transmitter and/or receiver, are integrated; electronic circuits; a control unit associated with a data storage unit and is powered by an electrical supply system, the processing and control unit for generating driving signals sent to the electro-acoustic transducer acting as a transmitter by the analogue driving electronic circuits, for acquiring signals received from the transducer and for processing the received signals to determine discontinuity interfaces and/or anomalies in pore pressures in geological formations; wherein each of the electro-acoustic transducers is in contact with a pressurised fluid and includes: a tubular body with two end portions opposed to each other longitudinally, internally a first chamber with the first end portion and a second chamber on one side adjacent and in fluid communication with the first chamber and, on the other side ending with the second end portion.

A detection system includes a drill bit where electro-acoustic transducers operate as a transmitter and/or receiver, are integrated; electronic circuits; a control unit associated with a data storage unit and is powered by an electrical supply system, the processing and control unit for generating driving signals sent to the electro-acoustic transducer acting as a transmitter by the analogue driving electronic circuits, for acquiring signals received from the transducer and for processing the received signals to determine discontinuity interfaces and/or anomalies in pore pressures in geological formations; wherein each of the electro-acoustic transducers is in contact with a pressurised fluid and includes: a tubular body with two end portions opposed to each other longitudinally, internally a first chamber with the first end portion and a second chamber on one side adjacent and in fluid communication with the first chamber and, on the other side ending with the second end portion.

A system for optimizing a geothermal heating and cooling system operation comprises a drill rig and a processor. The drill rig is configured to construct a geothermal borehole according to operational parameters and deploy a coiled tubing or joint drill pipes enabled drill bit. The processor is configured to receive user specification of (i) one or input parameters and (ii) a first coefficient of performance (COP) of a heat pump for constructing the geothermal borehole. The processor is configured to apply a model to determine the set of operational parameters for constructing the first geothermal borehole. The processor is configured to collect, in real time during the construction, sensor data from sensors positioned on the drill bit, update the model according to the sensor data, update the operational parameters according to the updated model, and control the construction of the first geothermal borehole according to the updated operational parameters.

In a drill bit which has hard-faced cutting or gauge protection elements positioned to be in direct contact with subterranean formation as the bit is rotated, at least one of these elements includes a window positioned to be in direct contact with the formation or cuttings from the formation as the bit rotates and moves forward to drill into the formation. Electromagnetic radiation with wavelength in the range from 100 nm to 2600 nm is transmitted through the window to the formation in contact with the window. Electromagnetic radiation such as fluorescence that returns through the same window is received by a spectrometer. The source and receiver of electromagnetic radiation are both accommodated within the downhole drilling equipment but spaced from the windowed element. The electromagnetic radiation travels along light guides from the source to the window and from the window to the receiver.

In a drill bit which has hard-faced cutting or gauge protection elements positioned to be in direct contact with subterranean formation as the bit is rotated, at least one of these elements includes a window positioned to be in direct contact with the formation or cuttings from the formation as the bit rotates and moves forward to drill into the formation. Electromagnetic radiation with wavelength in the range from 100 nm to 2600 nm is transmitted through the window to the formation in contact with the window. Electromagnetic radiation such as fluorescence that returns through the same window is received by a spectrometer. The source and receiver of electromagnetic radiation are both accommodated within the downhole drilling equipment but spaced from the windowed element. The electromagnetic radiation travels along light guides from the source to the window and from the window to the receiver.

A crash avoidance system or crowding avoidance sub (CAS) may be a dedicated or adapted subassembly (sub) in a bottom hole assembly (BHA), such as somewhere above the motor and bit, or between a drill string and BHA. With data lines in a modified housing and flex lines for relative, linear, axial motion between movable parts of a single sub, sensors are contemplated to put a CAS ahead of a cushion, jar, or shock sub, even a motor. However, sensors are best connected to an Intellisys™ data connection system providing a data stream to a computer on the surface. Certain preprocessing may be done down hole, but need not be. Control of the drive system of the hook feed rate is directly controlled in real time by a data station receiving, and operating based on, certain information received from the down hole sensors of the CAS.

A crash avoidance system or crowding avoidance sub (CAS) may be a dedicated or adapted subassembly (sub) in a bottom hole assembly (BHA), such as somewhere above the motor and bit, or between a drill string and BHA. With data lines in a modified housing and flex lines for relative, linear, axial motion between movable parts of a single sub, sensors are contemplated to put a CAS ahead of a cushion, jar, or shock sub, even a motor. However, sensors are best connected to an Intellisys™ data connection system providing a data stream to a computer on the surface. Certain preprocessing may be done down hole, but need not be. Control of the drive system of the hook feed rate is directly controlled in real time by a data station receiving, and operating based on, certain information received from the down hole sensors of the CAS.

An example method for monitoring drilling includes releasing a wireless data retrieval device within a drill string in a wellbore, forcing fluid downhole through the drill string such that the data retrieval device travels in the fluid through a fluid outlet in a drill bit connected to the drill string, receiving data in the data retrieval device from a wireless sensor disposed on or in a body of the drill bit, and transferring the data from the data retrieval device after the data retrieval device travels in the fluid through the fluid outlet. An example wellbore drilling system includes a drill bit that includes a body, a fluid outlet, one or more wireless sensors disposed on or in the body, and a waterproof data retrieval device configured to receive data wirelessly from the wireless sensor(s), the data retrieval device having a size smaller than an opening in the fluid outlet.