Glossary

Closed-loop wellbore heat exchangers extracting heat without hydraulic stimulation. Eliminates induced seismicity and water management issues.

Real-time parameter optimization using advanced control systems. Increases ROP 15-30% while reducing human error and dysfunction.

Self-governing systems making real-time drilling decisions. Field trials show 25-48% ROP gains over manual operations (SPE/IADC 223649).

Automatic optimal force maintenance through real-time downhole adjustments. Eliminates manual weight management in hard rock and directional wells.

Bit bounce oscillations creating 10-20x normal WOB impact forces. Severely damages equipment and reduces ROP by 15-40%.

Baseload power delivers 24/7 electricity regardless of weather. Geothermal achieves 90%+ capacity factor—far exceeding solar and wind.

Total footage drilled before bit replacement. One-bit runs eliminate trip time—critical metric for geothermal where trips cost $50K+ in deep wells.

Round-trip operation to replace worn bit. Each trip costs $50K-150K in deep wells—avoided trips are a primary value driver for drilling automation.

Primary well control equipment sealing the wellbore during kicks. Working pressures to 20,000 psi with 30-second closure requirements per API standards.

BHA components: drill bit, motor, stabilizers, MWD. Torsional dampers reduce HFTO 100% vs offset runs (SPE-223747-MS, 2025).

Steel pipe providing structural integrity and zone isolation. Represents 30-40% of tangible well costs with API design safety factors governing selection.

Self-correcting system using output feedback to adjust inputs. Enables millisecond-response autonomous drilling optimization.

Recycling system that removes cuttings, eliminates reserve pits, reduces environmental impact by 80%, and maintains consistent mud properties.

Continuous steel pipe eliminating connections. Sakhalin-1 achieved record CT runs to 11,680m MD (SPE-92783, 2005).

Difference between wellbore and formation pressure. Excessive differential causes stuck pipe—25% of drilling NPT at $250M+ annual industry cost.

Non-vertical wellbores accessing remote reserves. RSS reduces drilling time 50% vs motors; autonomous systems add 25-48% ROP gains (SPE-223649-MS).

Rate of wellbore direction change (°/100ft). Industry limits 3-5°/100ft conventional; modern RSS achieve 15°/100ft (SPE-124498-MS).

Wellbore gripping system generating thrust locally at bit. Eliminates friction losses and enables extended reach drilling.

Autonomous bit-location control with millisecond response. Improves ROP while extending equipment life in hard rock drilling.

Real-time bit force measurement and adjustment at source. Eliminates surface control delays and maintains precise operating conditions.

Hydraulic motor near bit converting fluid flow to rotation. Enables directional drilling with precise trajectory control.

Rock-cutting tool determining drilling efficiency. PDC bits achieve 2-3× higher ROP than roller cone—FORGE program showed 400%+ improvement in hard rock.

Drill pipe, collars, and BHA transmitting power to bit. API 5DP grades E-75 to S-135; optimized designs enabled 11,943m runs (SPE-150959).

SPE/IADC studies show 25-48% ROP gains, $750M annual savings from vibration mitigation. Autonomous drilling cuts costs 20-50% vs manual operations.

Inefficient energy transfer, accelerated wear, and reduced ROP. Includes stick-slip, whirl, and bit bounce conditions.

Engineered fluid system: 5-10% of well cost ($425K-$850K for $8.5M well). Balances hole cleaning, stability, and environmental compliance.

Systematic process maximizing efficiency through parameter optimization. Leverages real-time analytics and automated systems.

Real-time analytics and automated control optimizing WOB, RPM, and flow rate. Achieves higher ROP while extending bit life and reducing NPT.

Physics-based training systems replicating drilling scenarios. Improves crew competency, safety awareness, and decision-making skills.

Enhanced Geothermal Systems create reservoirs in hot dry rock via stimulation. Drilling costs (40-60% of capex) determine EGS viability.

High horizontal-to-vertical displacement. World record: 15,000m MD with 14,129m stepout at Sakhalin-1 (Rosneft, 2020). DDI >7.0 indicates supercomplex wells.

Pore pressure exerted by formation fluids. Prediction accuracy critical—Bowers method achieves less than 5% error vs. direct measurements.

Cost reduction through automated control and real-time optimization. Key to making enhanced geothermal systems economically viable.

Specialized techniques for extreme temperatures (175°C+), hard formations, and corrosive environments. Key enabler for EGS viability.

Learn how geothermal gradient (25-30°C/km) affects drilling fluid, equipment, and well design. Essential for geothermal operations.

Cost analysis framework for geothermal wells. Drilling represents 40-60% of project capex—technology reducing drilling time directly improves viability.

Hard rock drilling for granite, basalt, and formations above 30,000 psi. Advanced technologies enabling economic geothermal and deep drilling.

Wellbore running parallel to formation maximizing reservoir contact. Dramatically increases production vs. vertical wells.

Angle between wellbore and vertical. MWD accuracy ±0.1-0.2° after calibration—survey intervals should not exceed 100 ft for position accuracy.

Thermally insulated pipe protecting drilling fluid and electronics in geothermal wells. Enables operations above 200°C with 90% thermal isolation.

Uncontrolled formation fluid influx into wellbore. 70% occur during connections—early detection systems reduce response threshold by 50%.

Measured depth where wellbore deviates from vertical and begins building angle. Critical for trajectory planning.

Average cost per unit of electricity over plant lifetime. Key metric for comparing geothermal vs. other power generation technologies.

Real-time formation evaluation sensors capturing resistivity, porosity, gamma ray. Optimizes well placement during drilling.

Real-time trajectory, drilling mechanics, and formation data via mud pulse telemetry. Enables precise wellbore placement.

Energy per unit volume of rock removed. Introduced by Teale (1965), MSE enables real-time drilling dysfunction detection.

Standalone automation components integrating with existing BHA and rigs. Lower barrier to entry without full platform replacement.

Pressure drop across mud motor correlating to torque output. Critical parameter for optimizing motor performance and preventing stalling.

PDM converting mud flow to rotation. Lobe configurations 1:2 (high speed) to 9:10 (high torque); bent housing 1.83-2.12° achieves 15-20°/100ft build rates.

Campaign-level performance improvement across sequential wells. Captures ROP gains, extended bit life, and NPT reductions as teams optimize drilling approach.

Time lost to failures, stuck pipe, or unplanned events. Accounts for 20-30% of drilling time, costing $250M+ annually.

Drilling rate while bit actively cutting rock, excluding connections and trips. True measure of drilling system efficiency—key metric for technology comparison.

Pulsed plasma torch at 6,000°C breaking rock via thermal shock. Contactless operation eliminates bit wear in hard formations.

Contactless drilling using plasma pulses for thermal-mechanical rock disintegration. Eliminates bit wear in hard formations.

Drilling speed in ft/hr or m/hr. SPE/IADC studies show autonomous systems achieve 25-48% ROP gains over manual operations.

Millisecond-response parameter adjustment at bit location. Eliminates 2-4 second surface control delays for immediate dysfunction prevention.

Continuous streaming of drilling parameters for immediate analysis. Enables proactive problem detection and remote expert support.

Drill string rotation modulation transmitting commands to downhole tools. Enables autonomous system control without physical connections.

Continuous drill string rotation with trajectory control. Eliminates sliding operations for faster drilling and better hole quality.

BHA component controlling trajectory and reducing vibration. Expandable designs achieve 35% MSE reduction with proper placement 30-60 ft from bit.

Bit stops/accelerates cyclically at 0.1-2 Hz. Velocity reaches 2× surface RPM during slip; causes $750M annual industry cost (SPE 127413).

Geothermal systems above 374°C delivering 5-10x more power per well. Requires advanced drilling for extreme temperatures and hard rock.

Rock-breaking mechanism using rapid thermal stress to cause surface spalling. Key physics behind contactless plasma drilling technology.

Active downhole force management delivering up to 30,000 lbs. Overcomes friction limitations and enables optimal bit loading control.

Rotational force transmitted to bit, measured in ft-lbs. Readings indicate bit performance, drag, and potential drilling problems.

Cyclical rotational speed variation causing tool failures. Exceeds MWD reliability at 25g, causes 20-30% of failures (SPE 127413).

Drilling with wellbore pressure below formation pressure. Achieves 3-4× ROP improvement and eliminates differential sticking in suitable applications.

Tool absorbing drillstring vibrations to protect BHA. 25 g lateral threshold for MWD—20-30% of tool failures attributed to drilling dynamics.

Downward force on drill bit (klbs/kN). Friction consumes 50-70% of surface weight in directional wells (SPE 173024).

Mechanical integrity of borehole. Stability issues cause 10% of drilling NPT. Autonomous systems maintain ECD within stability windows.