Patent ID: 11867059
Assignee: THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
Field: Civil engineering (Other fields)
Classification: CPC E | IPC E

Claim 8:
9. A system for drilling a borehole in a subterranean formation, the system comprising:
a tubular string;
a bottom hole assembly coupled to the tubular string, the bottom hole assembly comprising:
a downhole motor comprising a stator and a rotor;
a power conversion assembly configured to generate electric current from operation of the downhole motor;
a drill bit having a central axis and comprising a bit body having a bit face positioned along the bit body, wherein the drill bit is rotatable about the central axis in response to relative rotation between the rotor and the stator of the downhole motor; and
an electrode assembly coupled to a downhole end of the drill bit, wherein the electrode assembly is configured to generate plasma when energized with electric current from the power conversion assembly;
wherein the drill bit comprises a cutting structure positioned along the bit face and comprising a plurality of cutter elements configured to cut into the subterranean formation as the subterranean formation is weakened by the plasma generated by the electrode assembly.