Abstract: In some implementations, a plurality of thermoelectric devices may be arranged to cool one or more components of a downhole drilling component during drilling operations. A current can be applied to one or more thermoelectric devices to generate a cooling effect. The thermoelectric devices can be located and arranged so that they cool some or all of a bottom hole assembly or components thereof, such as one or more sensors, batteries, processors, electrics, and the like. The thermoelectric devices also may be located and arranged to cool sensors, batteries, other downhole components, and/or drilling mud in a wellbore during drilling operations. A plurality of thermoelectric devices may be used to generate electric power downhole from a temperature difference. The electric power may be used to power sensors, processors, charge batteries, and be used by one or more downhole electric components, such as those in a bottom hold assembly.

Abstract: A drilling control system may access a drilling plan for a borehole comprising one or more of planned path for the borehole, drill string information, mud properties, drill bit properties, formation properties, and drill rig properties. The system may receive a plurality of operating parameters from a rig for the borehole including one or more of an observed toolface, a spindle setting, a rate of penetration, a differential pressure, and a weight-on-bit. The system may receive one or more propagation functions for the borehole determined by a model of the drill string. The system may determine one or more spindle changes or block speed changes based at least in part on the propagation functions and the plurality of operating parameters. The system may generate one or more predicted drill properties from a simulator using the one or more spindle changes or the one or more block speed changes.

Abstract: In some implementations, a plurality of thermoelectric devices may be arranged to cool one or more components of a downhole drilling component during drilling operations. A current can be applied to one or more thermoelectric devices to generate a cooling effect. The thermoelectric devices can be located and arranged so that they cool some or all of a bottom hole assembly or components thereof, such as one or more sensors, batteries, processors, electrics, and the like. The thermoelectric devices also may be located and arranged to cool sensors, batteries, other downhole components, and/or drilling mud in a wellbore during drilling operations. A plurality of thermoelectric devices may be used to generate electric power downhole from a temperature difference. The electric power may be used to power sensors, processors, charge batteries, and be used by one or more downhole electric components, such as those in a bottom hold assembly.

Abstract: Systems and methods of controlling drilling operations including Sliding With Indexing For Toolface (SWIFT) and Variable Weight Drilling (VWD) techniques. The methods and systems may include systems and devices for controlling the drilling operations, including systems and devices capable of automatically determining drilling parameters and setting operating parameters for drilling in a wellbore. The systems and methods may also determine a change in weight on bit, toolface, and/or differential pressure, determine a timeframe for a weight on bit to be delivered to the bit, and/or determine a spindle change to modify the toolface, and/or determine a change in differential pressure to be applied to modify toolface. The systems and methods may also send control signals to apply the spindle change and/or block velocity change and/or differential pressure change to correct any detected or anticipated toolface error.

Abstract: Described is a system for connecting a lifting device to a load to be lifted. The system includes a first connector member and a second connector member. The first connector member includes at least one pin. The second connector member includes an indexer mechanism defining a track that includes at least one track opening. At least a portion of the second connector is receivable in at least a portion of the first connector. At least a portion of the at least one pin is receivable in the track via the at least one track opening. The first connector member is reversibly coupleable to the second connector member via the pin and the indexer mechanism in response to a first series of longitudinal movements of the first or second connector members.

Abstract: A drilling control system may access a drilling plan for a borehole comprising one or more of planned path for the borehole, drill string information, mud properties, drill bit properties, formation properties, and drill rig properties. The system may receive a plurality of operating parameters from a rig for the borehole including one or more of an observed toolface, a spindle setting, a rate of penetration, a differential pressure, and a weight-on-bit. The system may receive one or more propagation functions for the borehole determined by a model of the drill string. The system may determine one or more spindle changes or block speed changes based at least in part on the propagation functions and the plurality of operating parameters. The system may generate one or more predicted drill properties from a simulator using the one or more spindle changes or the one or more block speed changes.

Abstract: Systems and methods of controlling drilling operations including Sliding With Indexing For Toolface (SWIFT) and Variable Weight Drilling (VWD) techniques. The methods and systems may include systems and devices for controlling the drilling operations, including systems and devices capable of automatically determining drilling parameters and setting operating parameters for drilling in a wellbore. The systems and methods may also determine a change in weight on bit, toolface, and/or differential pressure, determine a timeframe for a weight on bit to be delivered to the bit, and/or determine a spindle change to modify the toolface, and/or determine a change in differential pressure to be applied to modify toolface. The systems and methods may also send control signals to apply the spindle change and/or block velocity change and/or differential pressure change to correct any detected or anticipated toolface error.

Abstract: Systems and methods of controlling drilling operations including Sliding With Indexing For Toolface (SWIFT) and Variable Weight Drilling (VWD) techniques. The methods and systems may include systems and devices for controlling the drilling operations, including systems and devices capable of automatically determining drilling parameters and setting operating parameters for drilling in a wellbore. The systems and methods may also determine a change in weight on bit and/or toolface, determine a timeframe for a weight on bit to be delivered to the bit, and/or determine a spindle change to modify the toolface. The systems and methods may also send control signals to apply the spindle change and/or block velocity change to correct any detected or anticipated toolface error.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of drilling using a bitless drilling assembly can include a propellant chamber configured to store a liquid propellant for drilling. The bitless drilling assembly can include a burner nozzle connected to the propellant chamber via one or more passages to route the liquid propellant from the propellant chamber to the burner nozzle. The bitless drilling assembly can include an ignitor configured to ignite the liquid propellant as the liquid propellant escapes the burner nozzle. The bitless drilling assembly can include a diverter cage placed in a path of the inside passage to divert one or more propellant capsules from the inside passage to a capsule blade. The capsule blade can be configured to puncture the one or more propellant capsules to allow the propellant to flow into a reservoir and route the propellant to the propellant chamber. The bitless drilling assembly can be controlled automatically during drilling.

Abstract: Systems and methods of controlling drilling operations including Sliding With Indexing For Toolface (SWIFT) and Variable Weight Drilling (VWD) techniques. The methods and systems may include systems and devices for controlling the drilling operations, including systems and devices capable of automatically determining drilling parameters and setting operating parameters for drilling in a wellbore. The systems and methods may also determine a change in weight on bit and/or toolface, determine a timeframe for a weight on bit to be delivered to the bit, and/or determine a spindle change to modify the toolface. The systems and methods may also send control signals to apply the spindle change and/or block velocity change to correct any detected or anticipated toolface error.

Abstract: Described is a system for connecting a lifting device to a load to be lifted. The system includes a first connector member and a second connector member. The first connector member includes at least one pin. The second connector member includes an indexer mechanism defining a track that includes at least one track opening. At least a portion of the second connector is receivable in at least a portion of the first connector. At least a portion of the at least one pin is receivable in the track via the at least one track opening. The first connector member is reversibly coupleable to the second connector member via the pin and the indexer mechanism in response to a first series of longitudinal movements of the first or second connector members.

Abstract: Described is a system for connecting a lifting device to a load to be lifted. The system includes a first connector member and a second connector member. The first connector member includes at least one pin. The second connector member includes an indexer mechanism defining a track that includes at least one track opening. At least a portion of the second connector is receivable in at least a portion of the first connector. At least a portion of the at least one pin is receivable in the track via the at least one track opening. The first connector member is reversibly coupleable to the second connector member via the pin and the indexer mechanism in response to a first series of longitudinal movements of the first or second connector members.

Abstract: Systems and methods for drilling a geothermal well can include drilling a vertical borehole to a target location, drilling a plurality of lateral boreholes, each of which is connected to the vertical borehole, and can include generating a plurality of chambers in at least one of the plurality of lateral boreholes. The techniques can include drilling a plurality of passageways that each provide fluid communication between one of the plurality of chambers in a first lateral borehole and a second lateral borehole of the plurality of lateral boreholes. The techniques can form a fluid circuit for injecting a heating fluid such as water or brine and recovering hot water and steam using a single vertical borehole. The hot water and/or steam can be used to generate electrical power with a geothermal power facility.

Abstract: A drilling control system may access a drilling plan for a borehole comprising one or more of planned path for the borehole, drill string information, mud properties, drill bit properties, formation properties, and drill rig properties. The system may receive a plurality of operating parameters from a rig for the borehole including one or more of an observed toolface, a spindle setting, a rate of penetration, a differential pressure, and a weight-on-bit. The system may receive one or more propagation functions for the borehole determined by a model of the drill string. The system may determine one or more spindle changes or block speed changes based at least in part on the propagation functions and the plurality of operating parameters. The system may generate one or more predicted drill properties from a simulator using the one or more spindle changes or the one or more block speed changes.

Abstract: Described is a system for connecting a lifting device to a load to be lifted. The system includes a first connector member and a second connector member. The first connector member includes at least one pin. The second connector member includes an indexer mechanism defining a track that includes at least one track opening. At least a portion of the second connector is receivable in at least a portion of the first connector. At least a portion of the at least one pin is receivable in the track via the at least one track opening. The first connector member is reversibly coupleable to the second connector member via the pin and the indexer mechanism in response to a first series of longitudinal movements of the first or second connector members.

Abstract: Systems and methods of surface steering control of drilling may be used together with systems and methods for planning one or more wells before drilling, planning a well path during drilling and/or updating that well plan and/or other well plans during the drilling of a well. The methods and systems may include planning a field, comprising a plurality of wells to be drilled and/or a plurality of pads from which a plurality of wells are to be drilled, planning a pad from which a plurality of wells are to be drilled, and planning a well both before and during drilling of the well.

Abstract: Described is a system for connecting a lifting device to a load to be lifted. The system includes a first connector member and a second connector member. The first connector member includes at least one pin. The second connector member includes an indexer mechanism defining a track that includes at least one track opening. At least a portion of the second connector is receivable in at least a portion of the first connector. At least a portion of the at least one pin is receivable in the track via the at least one track opening. The first connector member is reversibly coupleable to the second connector member via the pin and the indexer mechanism in response to a first series of longitudinal movements of the first or second connector members.

Abstract: Systems and methods of controlling drilling operations including Sliding With Indexing For Toolface (SWIFT) and Variable Weight Drilling (VWD) techniques. The methods and systems may include systems and devices for controlling the drilling operations, including systems and devices capable of automatically determining drilling parameters and setting operating parameters for drilling in a wellbore. The systems and methods may also determine a change in weight on bit, toolface, and/or differential pressure, determine a timeframe for a weight on bit to be delivered to the bit, and/or determine a spindle change to modify the toolface, and/or determine a change in differential pressure to be applied to modify toolface. The systems and methods may also send control signals to apply the spindle change and/or block velocity change and/or differential pressure change to correct any detected or anticipated toolface error.

Abstract: Systems and methods of surface steering control of drilling may be used together with systems and methods for planning one or more wells before drilling, planning a well path during drilling and/or updating that well plan and/or other well plans during the drilling of a well. The methods and systems may include planning a field, comprising a plurality of wells to be drilled and/or a plurality of pads from which a plurality of wells are to be drilled, planning a pad from which a plurality of wells are to be drilled, and planning a well both before and during drilling of the well.

Abstract: Systems and methods of controlling drilling operations including Sliding With Indexing For Toolface (SWIFT) and Variable Weight Drilling (VWD) techniques. The methods and systems may include systems and devices for controlling the drilling operations, including systems and devices capable of automatically determining drilling parameters and setting operating parameters for drilling in a wellbore. The systems and methods may also determine a change in weight on bit and/or toolface, determine a timeframe for a weight on bit to be delivered to the bit, and/or determine a spindle change to modify the toolface. The systems and methods may also send control signals to apply the spindle change and/or block velocity change to correct any detected or anticipated toolface error.