Patent ID: 8757292

Claim:
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: 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.