Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for managing a processing load of a processing module and thermal energy produced by the processing load. In one example, a method includes identifying a hot water profile that contains usage information of hot water from a hot water tank that serves as a heat sink for the thermal energy. A determination may be made as to whether it is economically desirable to increase or decrease the processing load based on factors such as an economic value generated by the processing load, a cost of energy needed to support the processing load, and an economic value of the thermal energy transferred to the hot water tank based on the hot water profile. The processing load may be dynamically modulated by a local or remote controller in response to the economic desirability of increasing or decreasing the processing load as well as other possible parameters.

Abstract: System and method for controlling the drilling of a second wellbore in close proximity to a first well bore. A computer system obtains information regarding a previously drilled wellbore, as well as information regarding a second wellbore being drilled. Using information obtained from one or more magnetic sensors, the computer system determines an optimal target path for continued drilling of the second wellbore and may issue one or more control signals to one or more control systems coupled to a drilling rig to automatically drill in accordance with the selected path. The computer system can generate a plurality of potential paths using one or more cost curves and/or value curves to determine the optimal path for the second wellbore.

Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for managing a processing load of a processing module and thermal energy produced by the processing load. In one example, a method includes identifying a hot water profile that contains usage information of hot water from a hot water tank that serves as a heat sink for the thermal energy. A determination may be made as to whether it is economically desirable to increase or decrease the processing load based on factors such as an economic value generated by the processing load, a cost of energy needed to support the processing load, and an economic value of the thermal energy transferred to the hot water tank based on the hot water profile. The processing load may be dynamically modulated by a local or remote controller in response to the economic desirability of increasing or decreasing the processing load as well as other possible parameters.

Abstract: A system and method for surface steerable drilling are provided. In one example, the method includes monitoring operating parameters for drilling rig equipment and bottom hole assembly (BHA) equipment for a BHA, where the operating parameters control the drilling rig equipment and BHA equipment. The method includes receiving current inputs corresponding to performance data of the drilling rig equipment and BHA equipment during a drilling operation and determining that an amount of change between the current inputs and corresponding previously received inputs exceeds a defined threshold. The method further includes determining whether a modification to the operating parameters has occurred that would result in the amount of change exceeding the defined threshold and identifying that a problem exists in at least one of the drilling rig equipment and BA equipment if no modification has occurred to the operating parameters. The method includes performing a defined action if a problem exists.

Abstract: Provided are a system and method for actively recovering thermal energy, hydrocarbons, and other energy resources from a formation. In one example, multiple fluid conduits are inserted into a borehole. Combustion fluid is injected into the formation via one of the conduits. The combustion fluid is used to ignite and maintain a combustion zone by burning fuel in the formation. To extract thermal energy, cool fluid is circulated through the borehole via another conduit and heated by the thermal energy in the combustion zone. Thermal energy may be recovered from the heated fluid or other processing may be performed for various types of energy recovery. A fluid flow and composition of the combustion fluid and a fluid flow rate of the cool fluid may be individually controlled for purposes such as regulating heat transfer, balancing thermal energy recovery with enhanced oil recovery (EOR), and regulating temperature and pressure for safety.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the frequency or amplitude of vibrations during drilling of a well. A system for generating mechanical vibrations may generate a control signal to cause two plates to impact one another with a first frequency or amplitude. The frequency or amplitude may be selected to steer the direction of drilling. In addition, a second control signal may be generated to cause the two plates to impact with a second frequency or amplitude to steer the direction of drilling, such as when the wellbore has deviated from the target path of a well plan. The control signals may be associated with one or more geological formations.

Abstract: Provided is a method for selecting one of a plurality of convergence paths that may be drilled by a bottom hole assembly (BHA) comprising identifying, by a computer system, a plurality of geometric convergence paths, wherein each of the geometric convergence paths provides a convergence solution from a defined bottom hole assembly (BHA) location to a target drilling path of a well plan. An offset distance is calculated for drilling by the BHA each of the geometric convergence paths connecting the BHA location to the target drilling path. A drill path curvature associated with drilling each of the geometric convergence paths by the BHA is determined by the computer system. A time required for drilling each of the geometric convergence paths by the BHA is determined by the computer system.

Abstract: A system and method for surface steerable drilling are provided. In one example, the method includes monitoring operating parameters for drilling rig equipment and bottom hole assembly (BHA) equipment for a BHA, where the operating parameters control the drilling rig equipment and BHA equipment. The method includes receiving current inputs corresponding to performance data of the drilling rig equipment and BHA equipment during a drilling operation and determining that an amount of change between the current inputs and corresponding previously received inputs exceeds a defined threshold. The method further includes determining whether a modification to the operating parameters has occurred that would result in the amount of change exceeding the defined threshold and identifying that a problem exists in at least one of the drilling rig equipment and BA equipment if no modification has occurred to the operating parameters. The method includes performing a defined action if a problem exists.

Abstract: Provided are a system and method for actively recovering thermal energy, hydrocarbons, and other energy resources from a formation. In one example, multiple fluid conduits are inserted into a borehole. Combustion fluid is injected into the formation via one of the conduits. The combustion fluid is used to ignite and maintain a combustion zone by burning fuel in the formation. To extract thermal energy, cool fluid is circulated through the borehole via another conduit and heated by the thermal energy in the combustion zone. Thermal energy may be recovered from the heated fluid or other processing may be performed for various types of energy recovery. A fluid flow and composition of the combustion fluid and a fluid flow rate of the cool fluid may be individually controlled for purposes such as regulating heat transfer, balancing thermal energy recovery with enhanced oil recovery (EOR), and regulating temperature and pressure for safety.

Abstract: Provided are a system and method for actively recovering thermal energy, hydrocarbons, and other energy resources from a formation. In one example, multiple fluid conduits are inserted into a borehole. Combustion fluid is injected into the formation via one of the conduits. The combustion fluid is used to ignite and maintain a combustion zone by burning fuel in the formation. To extract thermal energy, cool fluid is circulated through the borehole via another conduit and heated by the thermal energy in the combustion zone. Thermal energy may be recovered from the heated fluid or other processing may be performed for various types of energy recovery. A fluid flow and composition of the combustion fluid and a fluid flow rate of the cool fluid may be individually controlled for purposes such as regulating heat transfer, balancing thermal energy recovery with enhanced oil recovery (EOR), and regulating temperature and pressure for safety.

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: An automated slide drilling system (ASDS) may be used with a drilling rig system to control slide drilling. The ASDS may autonomously control slide drilling without user input during the slide drilling. The ASDS may further support a transition from rotary drilling to slide drilling to rotary drilling without user input during the transitions. The ASDS may also support user input and user notifications for various steps to enable manual or semi-manual control of slide drilling by a driller or an operator.

Abstract: Analysis and logging of drilling mud using a mud analysis system and controlling drilling operations responsive to the mud analysis and logging. The system and methods may automatically sample and analyze drilling mud and control the drilling of a well responsive to the mud analysis. The mud analysis system may acquire measurements on a sample of the drilling mud during drilling and may send signals indicative of the drilling mud to a steering control system enabled to control the drilling.

Abstract: Analysis and control of drilling mud and additives is disclosed using a mud analysis system and a mud additive system that may automatically monitor and control the drilling mud during drilling of a well. The mud analysis system may acquire measurements on a sample of the drilling mud during drilling, and may send signals indicative of the drilling mud to a steering control system enabled to control the drilling. The steering control system may receive user input or may make decisions regarding additives to be added to the drilling mud and the timing thereof. The mud additive system may be enabled to receive commands from the steering control system and mix and add additives to the drilling mud.

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: Systems and methods for producing controlled vibrations within a borehole. In one example, the system includes a movement mechanism and a controller. The movement mechanism is configured to enable translational movement of a first surface relative to a second surface to allow the first surface to impact the second surface to produce a plurality of beats. The frequency and amplitude of the beats may be selectively controlled by suppressing or dampening the beats. The controller is configured to selectively control an amplitude or frequency of the beats to encode information therein, where the amplitude of a beat may be selectively controlled by dampening or suppressing the impact of the first surface and the second surface.

Abstract: Computer vision drilling systems and methods may be used with a drilling rig. The computer vision systems and methods may be used during drilling of a well to monitor the drilling equipment and personnel on the drilling site to provide safer drilling operations. The results from the computer vision drilling system may be used to cause corrective actions to be performed if a safety condition arises. In addition, computer vision systems and methods are provided to automatically monitor the drilling site and drilling operations, such as by tallying pipe in the drill string and by monitoring equipment for anomalous drilling conditions, and automatically taking corrective action as may be needed.

Abstract: A system for drilling a well may be adapted to process signals received from a fiber optic cable located in the casing of a previously drilled well or wells. The fiber optic cable may act as a distributed sensor receiving acoustic signals generated during the drilling of the well, and the system may be programmed to process the signals from the fiber optic cable to locate the borehole of the well being drilled, including its location relative to the previously drilled well or well. The system may be used to automatically update a well plan for the well being drilled responsive to information about the location of the borehole and also may be used to automatically adjust one or more drilling parameters or drilling operations responsive to the location of the second well borehole.

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: A system for drilling a well may be adapted to process signals received from a fiber optic cable located in the casing of a previously drilled well or wells. The fiber optic cable may act as a distributed sensor receiving acoustic signals generated during the drilling of the well, and the system may be programmed to process the signals from the fiber optic cable to locate the borehole of the well being drilled, including its location relative to the previously drilled well or well. The system may be used to automatically update a well plan for the well being drilled responsive to information about the location of the borehole and also may be used to automatically adjust one or more drilling parameters or drilling operations responsive to the location of the second well borehole.