Based on measurements of forces and rotational velocity experienced by a drill bit during drilling, drilling behavior is detected and identified. Measurements of forces on a drill bit including torque on bit (TOB), weight on bit (WOB), etc. and measurements of rotational velocity (rotations per minute or RPM) are acquired in real time at the drill bit. Various measurements are correlated to produce related combinations of measurements, such as WOB-RPM, TOB-RPM, and RPM-time. Based on fitting between the combinations of measurements and curves corresponding to predetermined torsional behavior trends, torsional, axial, and rotational behaviors are classified as functional or dysfunctional. A dysfunction identifier then identifies drill bit dysfunctions, such as high-frequency torsional noise, cutting-induced stick-slip, friction-inducted stick-slip, pipe-induced stick-slip, three-dimensional (3D) coupled vibrations (including subsets high-frequency torsional oscillations and low-frequency torsional oscillations), low-frequency torsional vibration, high-frequency torsional vibration, etc.) based on the functionality of the torsional, axial, and rotational behaviors. Based on drill bit dysfunction identification, dysfunctional drilling behavior can be mitigated.

A rock-piercing flexible rock drilling robot and a rock breaking method therefor are disclosed. The robot includes a control system, a head, and at least one tail. The head includes a head housing, a propulsion turntable, a drilling mechanism, a hydraulic propulsion system, a first driving mechanism, and a second driving mechanism. The propulsion turntable includes a drill bit located at a center thereof and a cutting turntable arranged around the drill bit. The first driving mechanism is connected to the drill bit, and the second driving mechanism is connected to the cutting turntable. The tail includes a tail housing, an advancing and retreating power system, and a fixed support system. The head and the tail are connected through a flexible component, and the tails are connected through flexible components.

An unmanned vehicle capable of tunneling into soft materials, such as sand, comprises a hollow, bullet-shaped forward outer body with a first drive screw thread integrated into its exterior, a hollow cylindrical rear outer body with a second drive screw thread integrated into its exterior but threaded in the opposed direction of the first drive screw thread, and an inner body that is rotatably coupled to the inside of the forward and rear outer bodies via mechanical gears, and including directional control fins mounted on a housing at the rear end of the inner body.

An unmanned vehicle capable of tunneling into soft materials, such as sand, comprises a hollow, bullet-shaped forward outer body with a first drive screw thread integrated into its exterior, a hollow cylindrical rear outer body with a second drive screw thread integrated into its exterior but threaded in the opposed direction of the first drive screw thread, and an inner body that is rotatably coupled to the inside of the forward and rear outer bodies via mechanical gears, and including directional control fins mounted on a housing at the rear end of the inner body.

A soft robot includes a main body configured as a tube inverted back inside itself to define a pressure channel, such that when the channel is pressurized, the main body everts, and inverted material everts and passes out of a tip at a distal end of the main body. A fluidization tube for passing air or other fluid through a core of the main body in the fluidization tube, wherein the fluidization tube engages the main body such that the fluidization tube is ejected as the distal end as the main body everts and joins part of the side of the main body as the main body everts and extends its distal tip.

A soft robot includes a main body configured as a tube inverted back inside itself to define a pressure channel, such that when the channel is pressurized, the main body everts, and inverted material everts and passes out of a tip at a distal end of the main body. A fluidization tube for passing air or other fluid through a core of the main body in the fluidization tube, wherein the fluidization tube engages the main body such that the fluidization tube is ejected as the distal end as the main body everts and joins part of the side of the main body as the main body everts and extends its distal tip.

A method for expanding a mature brine well cavern includes determining the position and depth of an insoluble deposit and the volume and depth of a salt formation in the well. An outer drill casing is used to penetrate the soluble deposit and the salt underneath the insoluble deposit. The method further includes drilling continuously through the insoluble deposit and drilling into the salt formation.

A method for expanding a mature brine well cavern includes determining the position and depth of an insoluble deposit and the volume and depth of a salt formation in the well. An outer drill casing is used to penetrate the soluble deposit and the salt underneath the insoluble deposit. The method further includes drilling continuously through the insoluble deposit and drilling into the salt formation.

A fracbot for fracturing a formation, comprising: a drill bit; a rotary swivel configured to rotate the drill bit; a motor configured to induce vibrations that create a spiral movement of the fracbot, wherein the spiral movement of the fracbot allows the fracbot to traverse existing fractures in the formation comprising a first fracture and a second fracture; a battery configured to power the fracbot; and a coating encompassing the fracbot configured to dissolve at a predefined temperature, wherein the fracbot is configured to create a channel that connects the first fracture and the second fracture.

A fracbot for fracturing a formation, comprising: a drill bit; a rotary swivel configured to rotate the drill bit; a motor configured to induce vibrations that create a spiral movement of the fracbot, wherein the spiral movement of the fracbot allows the fracbot to traverse existing fractures in the formation comprising a first fracture and a second fracture; a battery configured to power the fracbot; and a coating encompassing the fracbot configured to dissolve at a predefined temperature, wherein the fracbot is configured to create a channel that connects the first fracture and the second fracture.