Method and apparatus for delivering high power laser energy over long distances

• US 8,511,401 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2009
• Issued: 08/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Foro Energy, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Foro Energy, Inc.
• Inventors: Zediker, Mark S., Rinzler, Charles C., Faircloth, Brian O., Koblick, Yeshaya, Moxley, Joel F.
• Primary Examiner(s): GAY, JENNIFER HAWKINS
• Application Number:
  US12/544,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20100044106A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,462 Days
• Field of Search: 175/57, 175/11, 175/15, 175/16, 166/65.1, 219/121.7, 219/121.72, 385/100, 372/4
• US Class Current: 175/57
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 10/60 characterised by conduits or nozzles for drilling fluids for roller bits E21B10/18; for percussion drill bits E21B10/38
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/103 Down-hole by-pass valve arrangements, i.e. between the inside of the drill string and the annulus valves specifically for maintaining circulation of drilling fluid while connecting or disconnecting tubular joints E21B21/019
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 29/00 Cutting or destroying pipes, packers, plugs or wire lines, located in boreholes or wells, e.g. cutting of damaged pipes, of windows; Deforming of pipes in boreholes or wells; Reconditioning of well casings while in the ground
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/11 Perforators; Permeators
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/14 Drilling by use of heat, e.g. flame drilling
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/15 of electrically generated heat

Abstract

Systems, devices and methods for the transmission of 1 kW or more of laser energy deep into the earth and for the suppression of associated nonlinear phenomena. Systems, devices and methods for the laser drilling of a borehole in the earth. These systems can deliver high power laser energy down a deep borehole, while maintaining the high power to advance such boreholes deep into the earth and at highly efficient advancement rates.

Claims

1. A system for providing high power laser energy to the bottom of deep boreholes, the system comprising:

a. a source for high powered laser energy capable of providing a high power laser beam having a power greater than about 1 kW;

b. an optical fiber for transmitting the laser beam from the high power laser to the bottom of a deep borehole; and

,

c. the optical fiber having a means to suppress SBS arising from the transmission of the greater than about 1 kW laser beam;

d. whereby substantially all power of the high power laser beam is delivered to the bottom of the borehole.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the deep borehole is at least 1,000 feet.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the source is at least 10 kW.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the deep borehole is at least 5,000 feet.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the source is at least 10 kW.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the deep borehole is at least 10,000 feet.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the source is at least 10 kW.

8. A system for providing high power laser energy to the bottom of deep boreholes, the system comprising:

a. a high powered laser source capable of providing a high power laser beam having a power of at least about 10 kW;

b. a means for transmitting the laser beam from the high power laser source to the bottom of a deep borehole; and

,

c. the transmitting means having a means for suppressing nonlinear scattering phenomena arising from the transmission of the laser beam having a power of at least about 10 kW; and

,

d. whereby, the high power laser beam is delivered to the bottom of the borehole with sufficient power to form the borehole.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the laser source comprises a single laser and the transmitting means having a length of at least about 3,000 feet.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the laser source comprises two lasers and the transmitting means having a length of at least about 3,000 feet.

11. A method of advancing a borehole using a laser, the method comprising:

a. advancing a high power laser beam transmission fiber into a borehole;

i. the borehole having a bottom surface, a top opening, and a length extending between the bottom surface and the top opening of at least about 1000 feet;

ii. the transmission fiber comprising a distal end, a proximal end, and a length extending between the distal and proximal ends, the distal end being advanced down the borehole;

iii. the transmission fiber comprising a means for suppressing nonlinear scattering phenomena arising from the transmission of at least about a 1 kW laser beam within the transmission fiber;

b. providing a high power laser beam having a power of at least about 1 kW to the proximal end of the transmission fiber;

c. transmitting the power of the laser beam down the length of the transmission fiber so that the beam exits the distal end; and

,

d. directing the laser beam to the bottom surface of the borehole whereby the length of the borehole is increased, in part, based upon the interaction of the laser beam with the bottom of the borehole.

12. A system for providing high power laser energy of 1 kW power or more over a long distance to a borehole, the system comprising:

a. a high powered laser source, capable of providing a high power laser beam, having at least about 1 kW of power;

b. a means for suppressing nonlinear scattering phenomena from the high power laser beam; and

,

c. a means for transmitting the laser beam from the high power laser source to a location in the borehole;

d. whereby, the high power laser beam is delivered to the borehole.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the nonlinear scattering phenomena is Stimulated Brillouin Scattering and the means for transmitting the laser beam has a length of at least about 1,000 feet.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for suppressing comprises a means for spoiling the coherence of the Stimulated Brillouin Scattering.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for suppressing comprises a means for varying a linewidth of the laser source, whereby a Brillouin gain factor is decreased.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for suppressing comprises a means for increasing a Brillouin linewidth.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for suppressing comprises a thin film heating element associated with the means for transmitting.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for suppressing comprises a filter.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for suppressing comprises a Faraday isolator.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for suppressing comprises a Bragg Grating reflector.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the nonlinear scattering phenomena is Stimulated Raman Scattering and the means for transmitting the laser beam has a length of at least about 1,000 feet.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for suppressing comprises a means for spoiling the coherence of the nonlinear scattering phenomena and the means for transmitting the laser beam has a length of at least about 1,000 feet.

23. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for suppressing comprises a means for varying a linewidth of the laser source, whereby a Brillouin gain factor is decreased and the means for transmitting the laser beam has a length of at least about 1,000 feet.

24. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for suppressing comprises a means for increasing a Brillouin linewidth and the means for transmitting the laser beam has a length of at least about 1,000 feet.

25. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for suppressing comprises a means for suppressing Stimulated Brillouin Scattering and a means for suppressing Stimulated Raman Scattering.

26. The system of claim 12, wherein the high power laser source is a solid-state laser, capable of providing a high power laser beam characterized by a power of at least about 15 kW.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the laser beam is characterized by a varying linewidth, wherein a gain function is suppressed, and whereby a nonlinear phenomena is suppressed.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the nonlinear phenomena is Stimulated Brillouin Scattering.

29. The system of claim 12, wherein the high power laser source is a solid-state laser, capable of providing a high power laser beam characterized by a power of at least about 15 kW and a continuous wave mode.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the laser source is characterized by a varying linewidth, wherein a gain function is suppressed, and whereby a nonlinear phenomena is suppressed.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the nonlinear phenomena is Stimulated Brillouin Scattering.

32. The system of claim 12, wherein the high power laser source is a solid-state laser, capable of providing a high power laser beam characterized by a power of at least about 20 kW and a continuous wave mode and the means for transmitting the laser beam has a length of at least about 1,000 feet.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the laser beam is characterized by a varying linewidth, wherein a gain function is suppressed, and whereby a nonlinear phenomena is suppressed.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the nonlinear phenomena is Stimulated Brillouin Scattering.

35. The system of claim 12, wherein the high power laser source is a solid-state laser, capable of providing a high power laser beam characterized by a power of at least about 50 kW and a continuous wave mode and the means for transmitting the laser beam has a length of at least about 3,000 feet.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the laser beam is characterized by a varying linewidth, wherein a gain function is suppressed, and whereby a nonlinear phenomena is suppressed.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the nonlinear phenomena is Stimulated Brillouin Scattering.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the high power laser source is a low order mode source.

39. The system of claim 37, wherein the high power laser source is a low order mode source characterized by an M²<

2.

40. The system of claim 12, wherein the high power laser source is a solid-state laser, capable of providing a high power laser beam characterized by a power of at least about 15 kW and a pulsed mode.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the laser beam is characterized by a varying linewidth, wherein a gain function is suppressed, and whereby a nonlinear phenomena is suppressed.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the nonlinear phenomena is Stimulated Brillouin Scattering.

43. The system of claim 12, wherein the high power laser source comprises a combination of a plurality of laser sources, wherein each laser source of the combination is capable of providing a high power laser beam characterized by a power of at least about 15 kW and a linewidth, wherein the means for suppressing comprises a combination of the laser beams from the plurality of laser sources, and a combined laser beam characterized by an effective linewidth greater than the linewidth of a laser beam from a laser source from the plurality of laser sources.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein a laser source from the plurality of laser sources is characterized by a continuous wave mode.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein a laser source from the plurality of laser sources is characterized by a pulsed mode.

46. The system of claim 43, wherein a laser source from the plurality of laser sources is a solid-state laser.

47. The system of claim 43, wherein a laser source from the combination of a plurality of laser sources is a low order mode source.

48. The system of claim 43, wherein a laser source from the combination of a plurality of laser sources is a low order mode source characterized by an M²<

2.

49. The system of claim 43, wherein the means for transmitting comprises an optical fiber and an armored casing.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the armored casing comprises a metal tube having a diameter of about ¼

″

, and the fiber having a core having a diameter of at least about 500 microns.

51. The system of claim 43, wherein the means for transmitting has a means for break detection.

52. The system of claim 43, wherein the means for transmitting comprises a plurality of optical fibers.

53. The system of claim 43, wherein the means for transmitting comprises an optical fiber, the optical fiber having a core having a core diameter of at least about 100 microns, a first protective member and a second protective member, wherein the protective members are selected from the group consisting of a steel tube, a polymer coating, a Teflon coating, a polyimide, an acrylate, a carbon polyamide, and a carbon coating.

54. The system of claim 43, wherein the means for transmitting comprises a single mode optical fiber.

55. The system of claim 43, wherein the means for transmitting comprises a multimode optical fiber.

56. The system of claim 12, wherein the high power laser source comprises a combination of a plurality of solid-state laser sources, wherein each laser source of the combination is capable of providing a high power laser beam characterized by a power of at least about 20 kW and a linewidth, wherein the means for suppressing comprises a combination of the laser beams from the plurality of laser sources, and a combined laser beam characterized by an effective linewidth greater than the linewidth of a laser beam from a laser source from the plurality of laser sources.

57. The system of claim 12, wherein the high power laser source comprises a combination of a plurality of laser sources, wherein each laser source of the combination is capable of providing a high power laser beam characterized by a linewidth;

wherein the means for suppressing comprises a combination of the laser beams from the plurality of laser sources, and a combined laser beam characterized by an effective linewidth greater than the linewidth of a laser beam from a laser source from the plurality of laser sources; and

wherein the combined beam is characterized by having a power of at least about 40 kW.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein a laser source from the plurality of laser sources is a solid-state laser.

59. The system of claim 58, wherein the solid state laser is a low order mode source.

60. The system of claim 58, wherein the solid state laser a low order mode source characterized by an M²<

2.

61. The system of claim 58, wherein the solid state laser is a bandwidth broadened laser source.

62. The system of claim 57, wherein each laser source from the plurality of laser sources is a solid-state laser.

63. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for suppressing comprises a thin film heating element associated with the means for transmitting and the means for transmitting the laser beam has a length of at least about 2,000 feet.

64. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for suppressing comprises a filter.

65. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for suppressing comprises a Faraday isolator.

66. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for suppressing comprises a Bragg Grating reflector and the means for transmitting the laser beam has a length of at least about 1,000 feet.

67. The system of claim 12, wherein the high power laser source comprises a combination of a plurality of laser sources capable of providing a combined high power laser beam characterized by a combined wavelength having a wavelength range;

wherein each laser source from the plurality of laser sources is capable of providing a high power laser beam characterized by a source wavelength, having a source wavelength range, wherein a source wavelength is a different wavelength from another source wavelength; and

wherein the means for suppressing comprises the combined wavelength range being broader than a source wavelength range and the means for transmitting the laser beam has a length of at least about 1.000 feet.

68. The system of claim 12, wherein the high power laser source comprises a combination of a plurality of laser sources capable of providing a combined high power laser beam characterized by a combined wavelength having a wavelength range;

wherein each laser source from the plurality of laser sources is capable of providing a high power laser beam characterized by a source wavelength, having a source wavelength range; and

wherein the means for suppressing comprises the combined wavelength range being broader than a source wavelength and the means for transmitting the laser beam has a length of at least about 1,000 feet.

69. The system of claim 68, wherein the means for transmitting comprises an optical fiber and an armored casing.

70. The system of claim 69, wherein the armored casing comprises a metal tube having a diameter of about ¼

″

, and the fiber having a core having a diameter of at least about 500 microns.

71. The system of claim 68, wherein the means for transmitting has a means for break detection.

72. The system of claim 68, wherein the means for transmitting comprises a plurality of optical fibers.

73. The system of claim 68, wherein the means for transmitting comprises an optical fiber, the optical fiber having a core having a core diameter of at least about 100 microns, a first protective member and a second protective member, wherein the protective members are selected from the group consisting of a steel tube, a polymer coating, a Teflon coating, a polyimide, an acrylate, a carbon polyamide, and a carbon coating.

74. The system of claim 68, wherein the means for transmitting comprises a single mode optical fiber.

75. The system of claim 68, wherein the means for transmitting comprises a multimode optical fiber.

76. The system of claim 12, wherein the high power laser source is a low order mode source.

77. The system of claim 12, wherein the high power laser source is a low order mode source characterized by an M²<

2.

78. The system of claim 12, wherein the laser source is a bandwidth broadened laser source.

79. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for transmitting comprises an optical fiber and an armored casing.

80. The system of claim 79, wherein the armored casing comprises a metal tube having a diameter of about ¼

″

, and the fiber having a core having a diameter of at least about 500 microns.

81. The system of claim 79, wherein the armored casing comprises a metal tube having a diameter of about ¼

″

, and the fiber having a core having a diameter of at least about 500 microns.

82. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for transmitting has a means for break detection.

83. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for transmitting comprises a plurality of optical fibers.

84. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for transmitting comprises an optical fiber, the optical fiber having a core having a core diameter of at least about 100 microns, a first protective member and a second protective member, wherein the protective members are selected from the group consisting of a steel tube, a polymer coating, a Teflon coating, a polyimide, an acrylate, a carbon polyamide, and a carbon coating.

85. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for transmitting comprises a single mode optical fiber.

86. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for transmitting comprises a multimode optical fiber.

87. The system of claim 12, wherein the laser source has a linewidth of from 3 nm to 6 nm.

88. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for transmitting comprises an optical fiber and an armored casing.

89. The system of claim 12, wherein the high power laser source comprises a combination of a plurality of laser sources, wherein each laser source of the combination is capable of providing a high power laser beam characterized by a power of at least about 1 kW and a linewidth, wherein the means for suppressing comprises a combination of the laser beams from the plurality of laser sources, and a combined laser beam characterized by an effective linewidth greater than the linewidth of a laser beam from a laser source from the plurality of laser sources;

and wherein the means for transmitting comprises an optical fiber and an armored casing.

90. The system of claim 12, wherein the high power laser source comprises a combination of a plurality of laser sources, wherein each laser source of the combination is capable of providing a high power laser beam characterized by a power of at least about 1 kW and a linewidth, wherein the means for suppressing comprises a combination of the laser beams from the plurality of laser sources, and a combined laser beam characterized by an effective linewidth greater than the linewidth of a laser beam from a laser source from the plurality of laser sources;

wherein the means for transmitting comprises an optical fiber and an armored casing;

and wherein the armored casing comprises a metal tube, and the fiber having a core having a diameter of at least about 500 microns.

91. The system of claim 12, wherein the high power laser source comprises a combination of a plurality of laser sources, wherein each laser source of the combination is capable of providing a high power laser beam characterized by a power of at least about 1 kW and a linewidth, wherein the means for suppressing comprises a combination of the laser beams from the plurality of laser sources, and a combined laser beam characterized by an effective linewidth greater than the linewidth of a laser beam from a laser source from the plurality of laser sources;

and wherein the means for transmitting has a means for break detection.

92. The system of claim 12, wherein the high power laser source comprises a combination of a plurality of laser sources, wherein each laser source of the combination is capable of providing a high power laser beam characterized by a power of at least about 1 kW and a linewidth, wherein the means for suppressing comprises a combination of the laser beams from the plurality of laser sources, and a combined laser beam characterized by an effective linewidth greater than the linewidth of a laser beam from a laser source from the plurality of laser sources;

and wherein the means for transmitting comprises an optical fiber, the optical fiber having a core having a core diameter of at least about 100 microns, a first protective member and a second protective member, wherein the protective members are selected from the group consisting of a steel tube, a polymer coating, a Teflon coating, a polyimide, an acrylate, a carbon polyamide, and a carbon coating.

93. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for suppressing comprises having different temperatures along a length of the means for transmission.

94. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for suppressing comprises the means for transmission comprising an optical fiber and a means for providing a strain in the optical fiber.

95. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for suppressing comprises an acoustic generator.

96. The system of claim 12, wherein the nonlinear scattering phenomena is Stimulated Brillouin Scattering, the means for suppressing nonlinear scattering phenomena comprises a laser beam having a broad laser linewidth and a laser power;

wherein the broad laser linewidth and the laser power in combination with the means for transmitting prevent the onset of Stimulated Brillouin Scattering.

97. The system of claim 12, wherein the nonlinear scattering phenomena is Stimulated Brillouin Scattering, the means for suppressing nonlinear scattering phenomena comprises a laser beam having a broad laser linewidth and a laser power;

wherein the broad laser linewidth and the laser power in combination with the means for transmitting reduces Stimulated Brillouin Scattering.

98. A system for providing high power laser energy to a borehole, the system comprising:

a. a high powered laser, capable of providing a high power laser beam having at least about 1 kW of power;

b. a first means for suppressing nonlinear scattering phenomena arising from the transmission of the high power laser beam, in association with the high powered laser;

c. a means for transmitting the laser beam from the high power laser to a position in the borehole; and

,

d. a second means for suppressing nonlinear scattering phenomena arising from the transmission of the high power laser beam, in association with the means for transmitting;

e. whereby, the high power laser energy is delivered to the borehole.

99. The system of claim 98, wherein the first means nonlinear scattering phenomena is Stimulated Brillouin Scattering.

100. The system of claim 98, wherein the second means nonlinear scattering phenomena is Stimulated Raman Scattering.

101. The system of claim 98, wherein the first or second means for suppressing comprises a means for spoiling the coherence of the nonlinear scattering phenomena.

102. The system of claim 98, wherein the high power laser is a solid-state laser, capable of providing a high power laser beam characterized by a power of at least about 15 kW and a continuous wave mode.

103. The system of claim 102, wherein the first means for suppression comprises a varying linewidth, wherein a gain function is suppressed, and whereby a nonlinear phenomena is suppressed.

104. The system of claim 103, wherein the first means nonlinear phenomena is Stimulated Brillouin Scattering.

105. The system of claim 98, wherein the high power laser source comprises a combination of a plurality of laser sources capable of providing a combined high power laser beam characterized by a combined wavelength having a wavelength range;

wherein each laser source from the plurality of laser sources is capable of providing a high power laser beam characterized by a source wavelength, having a source wavelength range, wherein a source wavelength is a different wavelength from another source wavelength; and

wherein the first means for suppressing comprises the combined wavelength range being broader than a source wavelength range.

106. The system of claim 98, wherein the high power laser source comprises a combination of a plurality of laser sources capable of providing a combined high power laser beam characterized by a combined wavelength having a wavelength range;

wherein each laser source from the plurality of laser sources is capable of providing a high power laser beam characterized by a source wavelength, having a source wavelength range; and

wherein the first means for suppressing comprises the combined wavelength range being broader than a source wavelength.

107. The system of claim 98, wherein the high power laser source comprises a combination of a plurality of laser sources, wherein each laser source of the combination is capable of providing a high power laser beam characterized by a linewidth;

wherein the first means for suppressing comprises a combination of the laser beams from the plurality of laser sources, and a combined laser beam characterized by an effective linewidth greater than the linewidth of a laser beam from a laser source from the plurality of laser sources; and

wherein the combined beam is characterized by having a power of at least about 40 kW.

108. The system of claim 107, wherein a laser source from the plurality of laser sources is a solid-state laser.

109. The system of claim 107, wherein each laser source from the plurality of laser sources is a solid-state laser.

110. The system of claim 98, wherein the first and the second nonlinear scattering phenomena are Stimulated Brillouin Scattering, the first and second means for suppressing nonlinear scattering phenomena comprises the laser beam having a broad laser linewidth and a laser power;

wherein the broad laser linewidth and the laser power in combination with the means for transmitting prevent the onset of Stimulated Brillouin Scattering.

111. The system of claim 98, wherein the first and the second nonlinear scattering phenomena are Stimulated Brillouin Scattering, the first and second means for suppressing nonlinear scattering phenomena comprises the laser beam having a broad laser linewidth and a laser power;

wherein the broad laser linewidth and the laser power in combination with the means for transmitting reduces Stimulated Brillouin Scattering.

112. A system for providing high power laser energy to a borehole, the system comprising:

a. a source of high power laser energy, the laser source capable of providing a laser beam having at least about 20 kW of power;

b. a tubing assembly, the tubing assembly having at least 1000 feet of tubing, having a distal end and a proximal;

c. a source of a fluid for use in the borehole;

d. the proximal end of the tubing being in fluid communication with the source of fluid;

e. the proximal end of the tubing being in optical communication with the laser source;

f. the tubing comprising a high power laser transmission cable, the transmission cable having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end being in optical communication with the laser source, whereby the laser beam is transmitted by the cable from the proximal end to the distal end of the cable for delivery of the laser beam energy to the borehole;

g. a means for suppressing nonlinear scattering phenomena from the laser beam in associations with at least one of elements a, b, e, or f; and

,

h. the power of the laser energy at the distal end of the cable when the cable is within the borehole being at least about 5 kW.

113. The system of claim 112, wherein the high power laser source comprises a combination of a plurality of laser sources, wherein each laser source of the combination is capable of providing a high power laser beam characterized by a linewidth;

wherein the means for suppressing comprises a combination of the laser beams from the plurality of laser sources, and a combined laser beam characterized by an effective linewidth greater than the linewidth of a laser beam from a laser source from the plurality of laser sources; and

wherein the combined beam is characterized by having a power of at least about 40 kW.

114. The system of claim 113, wherein a laser source from the plurality of laser sources is a solid-state laser.

115. The system of claim 113, wherein each laser source from the plurality of laser sources is a solid-state laser.

116. The system of claim 112, wherein the laser source has a linewidth of from 3 nm to 6 nm.

117. A method of providing high power laser energy to a borehole, the method comprising:

a. advancing a high power laser beam transmission fiber into a borehole having a depth of at least about 1,000 feet, the transmission fiber comprising a distal end, a proximal end, and a length extending between the distal and proximal ends, wherein the distal end is advanced into the borehole;

b. propagating a high power laser beam, having a power of at least about 1 kW, into the proximal end of the transmission fiber;

c. transmitting the laser beam down the length of the transmission fiber so that the beam exits the distal end;

d. a step for suppressing nonlinear scattering phenomena arising from the transmission of the high power laser beam; and

,

e. directing the laser beam to a surface in the borehole.

118. The method of claim 117, wherein the nonlinear scattering phenomena is Stimulated Brillouin Scattering.

119. The method of claim 118, wherein the step for suppressing comprises spoiling the coherence of the Stimulated Brillouin Scattering.

120. The method of claim 118, wherein the step for suppressing comprises increasing a Brillouin linewidth.

121. The method of claim 117, wherein the nonlinear scattering phenomena is Stimulated Raman Scattering.

122. The method of claim 117, wherein the step for suppressing comprises spoiling the coherence of the nonlinear scattering phenomena.

123. The method of claim 117, wherein the step for suppressing comprises varying a linewidth of the laser source, and decreasing a Brillouin gain factor.

124. The method of claim 117, wherein the step for suppressing comprises suppressing Stimulated Brillouin Scattering and suppressing Stimulated Raman Scattering.

125. The method of claim 117, wherein the high power laser source is a solid-state laser, and the high power laser beam has a power of at least about 15 kW and a linewidth.

126. The method of claim 125, comprising varying the linewidth, suppressing a gain function, whereby a nonlinear phenomena is suppressed.

127. The method of claim 126, wherein the nonlinear phenomena is Stimulated Brillouin Scattering.

128. The method of claim 117, wherein the high power laser source is a solid-state laser, and the high power laser beam has a power of at least about 15 kW, and is propagated as a continuous wave.

129. The method of claim 128, wherein the nonlinear phenomena is Stimulated Brillouin Scattering.

130. The method of claim 117, wherein the high power laser source comprises a combination of a plurality of solid-state laser sources, wherein each source from the plurality of sources provides a high power laser beam having a power of at least about 15 kW and a linewidth, wherein the step for suppressing comprises combining the laser beams from the plurality of sources to provide a combined laser beam having an effective linewidth greater than the linewidth of a source from the plurality of sources.

131. The method of claim 117, wherein the transmission fiber has a means for break detection.

132. The method of claim 117, wherein the transmission fiber comprises a plurality of optical fibers.

133. The method of claim 117, wherein the transmission fiber comprises an optical fiber, the optical fiber having a core having a core diameter of at least about 100 microns, a first protective member and a second protective member, wherein the protective members are selected from the group consisting of a steel tube, a polymer coating, a Teflon coating, a polyimide, an acrylate, a carbon polyamide, and a carbon coating.

134. The method of claim 117, wherein the transmission fiber comprises a single mode optical fiber.

135. The method of claim 117, wherein the transmission fiber comprises a multimode optical fiber.

136. A method for providing high power laser energy to a borehole, the method comprising:

a. associating a high power optical fiber with a borehole;

b. propagating a high powered laser beam, having a power of at least about 5 kW, from a high power laser source into the high power optical fiber;

c. transmitting the laser beam through the high power optical fiber to a location associated with the borehole; and

,

d. a step for suppressing nonlinear scattering phenomena arising from the transmission of the high powered laser beam.

137. The method of claim 136, wherein the nonlinear scattering phenomena is Stimulated Brillouin Scattering, wherein the borehole has a depth of at least about 1,000 feet and a location associated with the borehole is at a depth of at least about 1,000 feet.

138. The method of claim 137, wherein the step for suppressing comprises spoiling the coherence of the Stimulated Brillouin Scattering.

139. The method of claim 137, wherein the step for suppressing comprises varying a linewidth of the laser source, whereby a Brillouin gain factor is decreased.

140. The method of claim 137, wherein the step for suppressing comprises increasing a Brillouin linewidth.

141. The method of claim 137, wherein the step for suppressing comprises providing heat to the optical fiber from a heating element associated with the optical fiber.

142. The method of claim 137, wherein the step for suppressing comprises a filtering.

143. The method of claim 137, wherein the step for suppressing comprises propagating the laser beam through a Faraday isolator.

144. The method of claim 137, wherein the step for suppressing comprises propagating the laser beam through a Bragg Grating reflector.

145. The method of claim 136, wherein the nonlinear scattering phenomena is Stimulated Raman Scattering, wherein the borehole has a depth of at least about 1,000 feet and a location associated with the borehole is at a depth of at least about 1,000 feet.

146. The method of claim 136, wherein the step for suppressing comprises spoiling the coherence of the nonlinear scattering phenomena, wherein the borehole has a depth of at least about 1,000 feet and a location associated with the borehole is at a depth of at least about 1,000 feet.

147. The method of claim 136, wherein the step for suppressing comprises varying a linewidth of the laser source, whereby a Brillouin gain factor is decreased.

148. The method of claim 136, wherein the step for suppressing comprises increasing a Brillouin linewidth.

149. The method of claim 136, wherein the step for suppressing comprises suppressing Stimulated Brillouin Scattering and suppressing Stimulated Raman Scattering, wherein the borehole has a depth of at least about 1,000 feet and a location associated with the borehole is at a depth of at least about 1,000 feet.

150. The method of claim 136, wherein the high power laser source is a solid-state laser, and the high power laser beam has a power of at least about 15 kW and a linewidth, wherein the borehole has a depth of at least about 1,000 feet and a location associated with the borehole is at a depth of at least about 1,000 feet.

151. The method of claim 150, comprising varying the linewidth, suppressing a gain function, and whereby a nonlinear phenomena is suppressed.

152. The method of claim 151, wherein the nonlinear phenomena is Stimulated Brillouin Scattering.

153. The method of claim 136, wherein the high power laser source is a solid-state laser, and the high power laser beam has a power of at least about 15 kW, and is propagated as a continuous wave and has a linewidth, wherein the borehole has a depth of at least about 1,000 feet and a location associated with the borehole is at a depth of at least about 1,000 feet.

154. The method of claim 153, wherein the step for suppressing comprises varying the linewidth, suppressing a gain function, and whereby a nonlinear phenomena is suppressed.

155. The method of claim 154, wherein the nonlinear phenomena is Stimulated Brillouin Scattering.

156. The method of claim 136, wherein the high power laser source is a solid-state laser, and the high power laser beam has a power of at least about 15 kW, and is propagated in a pulsed mode, wherein the borehole has a depth of at least about 1,000 feet and a location associated with the borehole is at a depth of at least about 1,000 feet.

157. The method of claim 136, wherein the high power laser source comprises a combination of a plurality of solid-state laser sources, wherein each laser source from the plurality of sources provides a high power laser beam having a power of at least about 15 kW and a linewidth, wherein the step for suppressing comprises combining the laser beams from the plurality of sources to provide a combined laser beam into the fiber, the combined laser beam having an effective linewidth greater than the linewidth of a source from the plurality of sources, wherein the borehole has a depth of at least about 1,000 feet and a location associated with the borehole is at a depth of at least about 1,000 feet.

158. The method of claim 157, wherein the combined laser beam has an effective linewidth greater than the linewidth of each source from the plurality of sources.

159. The method of claim 157, wherein a laser beam from a source of the plurality of sources is propagated in a continuous wave mode.

160. The method of claim 157, wherein a laser beam from a source of the plurality of sources is propagated in a pulsed mode.

161. The method of claim 136, wherein the high power laser source comprises a combination of a plurality of laser sources, wherein each laser source from the plurality of sources is capable of providing a high power laser beam characterized by a power of at least about 20 kW and a linewidth, wherein the step for suppressing comprises combining the laser beams from the plurality of sources to provide a combined laser beam having an effective linewidth broader than the linewidth of a laser beam for a source from the plurality of sources, wherein the borehole has a depth of at least about 1,000 feet and a location associated with the borehole is at a depth of at least about 1,000 feet.

162. The method of claim 161, wherein a laser source from the plurality of laser sources is a solid-state laser.

163. The method of claim 162, wherein a laser source from the plurality of laser sources is a fiber laser.

164. The method of claim 162, wherein each of the laser sources from the plurality of laser sources is a solid state laser.

165. The method of claim 161, wherein the combined laser beam has an effective linewidth broader than the linewidth of each laser beam from each laser source from the plurality of sources.

166. The method of claim 136, wherein the high power laser source comprises a combination of a plurality of solid-state laser sources, wherein each laser source of the combination is capable of providing a high power laser beam characterized by a linewidth, wherein the step for suppressing comprises combining the laser beams from each source of the combination to provide a combined laser beam having an effective linewidth greater than the linewidth of each source of the combination;

and wherein the combined beam is characterized by having a power of at least about 40 kW, wherein the borehole has a depth of at least about 1,000 feet and a location associated with the borehole is at a depth of at least about 1,000 feet.

167. The method of claim 136, wherein the step for suppressing comprises providing heat to the optical fiber from a thin film heating element associated with the optical fiber, wherein the borehole has a depth of at least about 1,000 feet and a location associated with the borehole is at a depth of at least about 1,000 feet.

168. The method of claim 136, wherein the step for suppressing comprises filtering, wherein the borehole has a depth of at least about 1,000 feet and a location associated with the borehole is at a depth of at least about 1,000 feet.

169. The method of claim 136, wherein the step for suppressing comprises propagating the laser beam through a Faraday isolator, wherein the borehole has a depth of at least about 1,000 feet and a location associated with the borehole is at a depth of at least about 1,000 feet.

170. The method of claim 136, wherein the step for suppressing comprises propagating the laser beam through a Bragg Grating reflector, wherein the borehole has a depth of at least about 1,000 feet and a location associated with the borehole is at a depth of at least about 1,000 feet.

171. The method of claim 136, wherein the high power laser source comprises a combination of a plurality of laser sources, wherein each source from the plurality of sources provides a high power laser beam characterized by a source linewidth;

wherein the step for suppressing comprises combining the laser beams from the plurality of sources to provide a combined laser beam having a combined linewidth greater than a source linewidth; and

wherein the combined beam is characterized by having a power of at least about 40 kW, wherein the borehole has a depth of at least about 1,000 feet and a location associated with the borehole is at a depth of at least about 1,000 feet.

172. The method of claim 136, wherein the high power laser source comprises a combination of a plurality of laser sources capable of providing a high power laser beam characterized by a combined wavelength, having a combined wavelength range, wherein each laser source of the combination is capable of providing a high power laser beam characterized by a source wavelength, having a source wavelength range;

wherein each source wavelength is different from the others; and

wherein the step for suppressing comprises combining the laser beams into a combined beam having a combined wavelength range greater than a source wavelength range, wherein the borehole has a depth of at least about 1,000 feet and a location associated with the borehole is at a depth of at least about 1,000 feet.

173. The method of claim 136, wherein the step for suppressing nonlinear scattering phenomena comprises the laser beam having a broad laser linewidth and a laser power;

wherein the broad laser linewidth and the laser power in combination with the optical fiber substantially prevents the onset of Stimulated Brillouin Scattering.

174. A system for providing high power laser energy over a long distance to a borehole, the system comprising:

a. a high powered laser source, capable of providing a high power combined laser beam, the high power laser source comprising a combination of a plurality of laser sources, wherein each laser source of the combination is capable of providing a high power laser beam characterized by a power of at least about 1 kW and a linewidth;

b. a means for suppressing nonlinear scattering phenomena arising from transmission of the high power laser beam, comprising the high power combined laser beam characterized by an effective linewidth greater than the linewidth of a laser beam from a laser source from the plurality of laser sources; and

,

c. a means for transmitting the laser beam from the high power laser source to a location in the borehole;

d. whereby, the high power combined laser beam is delivered within the borehole and, whereby the combined laser beam has a power of at least about 15 kW.

175. A method for providing high power laser energy to a borehole, the method comprising:

a. associating a high power optical fiber with a borehole;

b. propagating a high powered laser beam, having a power of at least about 1 kW, from a high power laser source into the high power optical fiber;

c. transmitting the laser beam through the high power optical fiber to a location associated with the borehole; and

,

d. suppressing a nonlinear scattering phenomena arising from the transmission of the high powered laser beam.

176. The method of claim 175, wherein the nonlinear scattering phenomena is Stimulated Brillouin Scattering.

177. The method of claim 175, wherein the nonlinear scattering phenomena is Stimulated Raman Scattering.

178. The method of claim 175, wherein the step for suppressing comprises spoiling the coherence of the nonlinear scattering phenomena.

179. A system for providing high power laser energy, having at least about 1 kW of power, over a long distance to a borehole, the system comprising:

a. a high powered laser source, capable of providing a high power laser beam having a power of at least about 1 kW and characterized by a linewidth;

b. a means for transmitting the laser beam from the high power laser source to a location in the borehole comprising an optical fiber; and

,

c. a means for suppressing nonlinear scattering phenomena arising from the transmission of the high power laser beam, comprising a broad laser beam linewidth and a large diameter fiber core, whereby the linewidth in combination with the fiber prevent a Stimulated Brillouin Scattering threshold from being reached.