Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method for monitoring and controlling a downhole pressure of a well during formation of a borehole of a well is provided. The method can include monitoring a downhole pressure of a well during formation of a borehole of the well using a millimeter wave drilling apparatus including a waveguide configured for insertion into the borehole. The monitoring can include determining the downhole pressure. The downhole pressure can include an amount of pressure present at a bottom of the well. The method can also include determining a lithostatic pressure of rock surrounding the well at the bottom of the well. The method can further include controlling the downhole pressure relative to the lithostatic pressure of the rock surrounding the well at the bottom of the well. Related systems performing the methods are also provided.

Abstract: A safety valve includes a housing having a bore, a flow tube, and a valve closure member. The flow tube resides in the bore, is configured to move telescopically within the bore, and is adapted to shift the valve closure member between a closed position and an open position. The safety valve also includes an annular section between an inner surface of the housing and an outer surface of the flow tube, and means for preventing fluid flowing through the bore from entering the annular section.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A well completion including an electric safety valve and a female inductive coupler is provided. A corresponding male inductive coupler is aligned with the female inductive coupler to provide for the transfer of power and/or telemetry during deployment. The male inductive coupler can be removed for normal operation. In the event of safety valve failure during operation, a service male inductive coupler and contingency safety valve can be deployed such that the service male inductive coupler is aligned with the female inductive coupler.

Abstract: A method for monitoring and controlling a downhole pressure of a well during formation of a borehole of a well is provided. The method can include monitoring a downhole pressure of a well during formation of a borehole of the well using a millimeter wave drilling apparatus including a waveguide configured for insertion into the borehole. The monitoring can include determining the downhole pressure. The downhole pressure can include an amount of pressure present at a bottom of the well. The method can also include determining a lithostatic pressure of rock surrounding the well at the bottom of the well. The method can further include controlling the downhole pressure relative to the lithostatic pressure of the rock surrounding the well at the bottom of the well. Related systems performing the methods are also provided.

Abstract: A system for monitoring borehole parameters and switching to millimeter wave drilling based on the borehole parameters is provided. The system can include a mechanical drilling apparatus for forming a first portion of a borehole of a well. The first portion of the borehole can be formed based on a permeability of the first portion of the borehole and a temperature within the first portion of the borehole. The system can also include a millimeter wave drilling apparatus configured to inject millimeter wave radiation energy into a second portion of the borehole of the well via a waveguide. The second portion of the borehole can be formed via the millimeter wave drilling apparatus in response to determining the permeability of the first portion of the borehole is below a permeability threshold value and the temperature within the first portion of the borehole exceeds a temperature threshold value.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and controlling downhole pressure of a well borehole relative to a lithostatic pressure of rock surrounding the borehole is provided. The system can include a millimeter wave drilling apparatus including a gyrotron configured to inject millimeter wave radiation energy into a borehole of a well via a waveguide configured for insertion into the borehole. The borehole can be formed via the millimeter wave drilling apparatus and having a downhole pressure monitored at a bottom of the well. The system can also include a compressor fluidically coupled to the borehole and configured to control the downhole pressure via a gas supplied into and/or received from the borehole. The compressor can be configured to control the downhole pressure relative to a lithostatic pressure determined for rock surrounding the well at the bottom of the well.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and controlling downhole pressure of a well borehole relative to a lithostatic pressure of rock surrounding the borehole is provided. The system can include a millimeter wave drilling apparatus including a gyrotron configured to inject millimeter wave radiation energy into a borehole of a well via a waveguide configured for insertion into the borehole. The borehole can be formed via the millimeter wave drilling apparatus and having a downhole pressure monitored at a bottom of the well. The system can also include a compressor fluidically coupled to the borehole and configured to control the downhole pressure via a gas supplied into and/or received from the borehole. The compressor can be configured to control the downhole pressure relative to a lithostatic pressure determined for rock surrounding the well at the bottom of the well.

Abstract: A method for monitoring and controlling a downhole pressure of a well during formation of a borehole of a well is provided. The method can include monitoring a downhole pressure of a well during formation of a borehole of the well using a millimeter wave drilling apparatus including a waveguide configured for insertion into the borehole. The monitoring can include determining the downhole pressure. The downhole pressure can include an amount of pressure present at a bottom of the well. The method can also include determining a lithostatic pressure of rock surrounding the well at the bottom of the well. The method can further include controlling the downhole pressure relative to the lithostatic pressure of the rock surrounding the well at the bottom of the well. Related systems performing the methods are also provided.

Abstract: A system for monitoring borehole parameters and switching to millimeter wave drilling based on the borehole parameters is provided. The system can include a mechanical drilling apparatus for forming a first portion of a borehole of a well. The first portion of the borehole can be formed based on a permeability of the first portion of the borehole and a temperature within the first portion of the borehole. The system can also include a millimeter wave drilling apparatus configured to inject millimeter wave radiation energy into a second portion of the borehole of the well via a waveguide. The second portion of the borehole can be formed via the millimeter wave drilling apparatus in response to determining the permeability of the first portion of the borehole is below a permeability threshold value and the temperature within the first portion of the borehole exceeds a temperature threshold value.

Abstract: A method for utilizing a millimeter wave drilling apparatus is provided. The method can include monitoring a permeability of a first portion of a borehole of a well while forming the borehole using a drilling apparatus including a drill bit for mechanical removal of material from within the borehole. The method can also include determining to utilize a millimeter wave drilling apparatus including a wave guide configured for insertion into the borehole based at least on the permeability of the borehole falling below a permeability threshold value. The method can further include forming a second portion of the borehole utilizing the millimeter wave drilling apparatus in response to the determining. A method for controlling the downhole pressure of a well is also provided. Related systems performing the methods are also provided.

Abstract: A technique facilitates verification of the integrity of a lower completion prior to deployment of a corresponding upper completion. A lower completion is initially deployed downhole into a wellbore and comprises a plurality of functional components, such as a sensor, a communication system, a flow control system, and/or other functional components. A service tool system is removably deployed into the wellbore and comprises a service tool with an interface which interacts with the lower completion. The interface enables verification of the integrity, e.g. functionality, of various functional components of the lower completion without the use of an additional communication line, e.g. power cable, routed separately to the lower completion.

Abstract: A self-cleaning filter includes a housing disposing a filter media having a permeable sidewall and an axial bore connected with the inlet conduit, a sleeve connected in-line with the axial bore and downstream of the inlet conduit, and a shuttle having a piston moveably disposed in the sleeve and an upstream element carrying a scraper disposed with the axial bore, whereby the hydraulic fluid flows from the inlet conduit through the permeable sidewall into the housing annulus and the hydraulic pressure in the axial bore applies a downward force on the shuttle. The scraper is moved downstream within axial bore to clean the filter media when the downward force due to the increased differential pressure across the filter media exceeds an upstream shuttle force.

Abstract: A flow control valve assembly with a plunger continuously movable between closed, intermediate, and open positions. The plunger has an uphole side and a downhole side opposite the uphole side, and both uphole and downhole sides are exposed to the same hydrostatic pressure in the well, resulting in a flow control device that can be operated with minimal power consumption and still withstanding high pressure loads.

Abstract: A self-cleaning filter includes a housing disposing a filter media having a permeable sidewall and an axial bore connected with the inlet conduit, a sleeve connected in-line with the axial bore and downstream of the inlet conduit, and a shuttle having a piston moveably disposed in the sleeve and an upstream element carrying a scraper disposed with the axial bore, whereby the hydraulic fluid flows from the inlet conduit through the permeable sidewall into the housing annulus and the hydraulic pressure in the axial bore applies a downward force on the shuttle. The scraper is moved downstream within axial bore to clean the filter media when the downward force due to the increased differential pressure across the filter media exceeds an upstream shuttle force.

Abstract: A technique facilitates verification of the integrity of a lower completion prior to deployment of a corresponding upper completion. A lower completion is initially deployed downhole into a wellbore and comprises a plurality of functional components, such as a sensor, a communication system, a flow control system, and/or other functional components. A service tool system is removably deployed into the wellbore and comprises a service tool with an interface which interacts with the lower completion. The interface enables verification of the integrity, e.g. functionality, of various functional components of the lower completion without the use of an additional communication line, e.g. power cable, routed separately to the lower completion.

Abstract: A flow control valve assembly with a plunger continuously movable between closed, intermediate, and open positions. The plunger has an uphole side and a downhole side opposite the uphole side, and both uphole and downhole sides are exposed to the same hydrostatic pressure in the well, resulting in a flow control device that can be operated with minimal power consumption and still withstanding high pressure loads.