Methods for enhancing the efficiency of creating a borehole using high power laser systems
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is provided a system, apparatus and methods for the laser drilling of a borehole in the earth. There is further provided with in the systems a means for delivering 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.
34 Citations
105 Claims
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1-86. -86. (canceled)
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87. A method of enhancing the efficiency of forming a borehole using a high power laser having at least about 10 kW of power, the method comprising:
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a. a plurality of steps defining a critical path to complete a borehole, b. advancing a high power laser beam transmission fiber into a borehole; i. the transmission fiber comprising a distal end, a proximal end, and a length of at least about 1000 feet extending between the distal and proximal ends, the distal end being advanced down the borehole; ii. the transmission fiber comprising a means for suppressing nonlinear scattering phenomena arising from the transmission of at least about a 10 kW laser beam within the transmission fiber; c. providing a high power laser beam having a power of at least about 10 kW to the proximal end of the transmission fiber; d. transmitting the laser beam down the length of the transmission fiber so that the beam exits the distal end; and
,e. directing the laser beam to a location associated with the borehole and thereby performing a step; f. wherein, the laser performed step, in part, shortens the critical path to complete the borehole. - View Dependent Claims (88, 89, 90, 91)
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92. A method of enhancing the efficiency of forming a borehole using a high power laser having at least about 10 kW of power, the method comprising:
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a. a plurality of steps defining a critical path to complete a borehole, b. advancing a high power laser beam transmission cable into a borehole having a depth of at least about 1,000 feet, the transmission cable 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; c. propagating a high power laser beam, having a power of at least about 10 kW, into the proximal end of the transmission cable; d. transmitting the laser beam down the length of the transmission cable so that the beam exits the distal end; e. suppressing nonlinear scattering phenomena arising from the transmission of the high power laser beam; f. directing the laser beam to a surface in the borehole; g. directing the laser beam to a location associated with the borehole and thereby performing a step; and
,h. wherein, the laser performed step, in part, shortens the critical path to complete the borehole. - View Dependent Claims (93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101)
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102. A method for reducing the critical path for forming a borehole by using a high power laser to perform laser operations in the borehole, the method comprising:
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a. a plurality of steps on a critical path to complete a borehole, b. associating a high power optical fiber with a borehole; c. propagating a high powered laser beam from a high power laser source into the high power optical fiber; d. transmitting the laser beam through the high power optical fiber to a location associated with a step on the critical path; e. suppressing a nonlinear scattering phenomena arising from the transmission of the high powered laser beam; and
,f. delivering at least 10 kW of laser power to the location associated with the step on the critical path;
thereby performing the step;
wherein the critical path to complete the borehole is reduced. - View Dependent Claims (103, 104, 105)
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Specification