OPTICAL FEEDBACK TO MONITOR AND CONTROL LASER ROCK REMOVAL

摘要

Methods, systems, and devices related to downhole wellbore operations such as drilling and completing wells in an earth formation that include a laser device. The method includes lasing a rock and detecting an optical response of the lased rock. It can be determined from the optical response whether the lased rock is responding as specified (e.g. spalling, melting, etc.) If the lased rock is not responding as specified, one or more laser parameters are adjusted to achieve the specified response. Spalling is determined by the detection of sparks, or other light that erratically changes in intensity over time, by an optical detector. The detection of steady light may indicate other types of rock removal mechanisms, such as melt or dissociation.