Abstract: A drill bit includes a plurality of continuous segments impregnated with diamond that are each mounted to form a corresponding blade. The regions between the blades define a plurality of fluid passages on the bit face. The blades extend radially outwardly to the gage. The continuous segments may be either straight or spiral in design. Furthermore, the design of the segments supports varying one or more of: diamond content, width, back rake angle and/or relief angle along a length of the segment.

Abstract: A drill bit has cutting elements with multiple cutting surface geometries that are positioned so that their cutting profiles overlap, but do not completely contain or engulf one another. The different cutting surface geometries and the specific overlap create a zone of high density in the middle regions of the cutting profiles and low density in the periphery, resulting in a cutting profile that becomes sharper with increasing wear. Such an arrangement is more effective and stable as the drill bit encounters hard and abrasive formation materials. Moreover, cutting elements with larger axial volumes may be combined with cutting elements having smaller axial volumes.

Abstract: Surface texturing is employed to modify the topography of one or more surfaces (radial or cylindrical) of the sealing system for a roller cone rock bit. The surface texturing produces a regular or repeated patterned dimpled surface which retains additional lubricant helpful in reducing friction in the boundary and mixed lubrication regimes.

Abstract: A cutting table includes a lattice structure and a catalyst material deposited within voids formed within the lattice. The catalyst material is deposited in the voids during a sintering process that forms the lattice. The catalyst material has a coefficient of thermal expansion that is less than that of cobalt. The catalyst material is any one of chromium, tantalum, ruthenium, an alloy of cobalt, an alloy of a Group VIII metal and at least one non-catalyst metal, an alloy of two or more Group VIII metals, or a eutectic alloy. In certain embodiments, the catalyst material has a thermal conductivity that is greater than that of cobalt. In certain embodiments, the cutting table is bonded to a substrate, which is formed from a substrate material and a binder material. In some embodiments, the binder material and the catalyst material are the same; while in others, they are different.

Abstract: A method of identifying one or more rock properties and/or one or more abnormalities occurring within a subterranean formation. The method includes obtaining a plurality of drilling parameters, which include at least the rate of penetration, the weight on bit, and the bit revolutions per minute, and then normalizing these plurality of drilling parameters by calculating a depth of cut and an intrinsic drilling impedance. Typically, the intrinsic drilling impedance is specific to the type of bit used to drill the wellbore and includes using a plurality of drill bit constants. From this intrinsic drilling impedance, the porosity and/or the rock strength may be determined which is then compared to the actual values to identify the specific type of the one or more abnormalities occurring. Additionally, the intrinsic drilling impedance may be compared to other logging parameters to also identify the specific type of the one or more abnormalities occurring.

Abstract: A drill tool includes a bit body, at least one bearing shaft extending from the bit body and a cone mounted for rotation on the bearing shaft. A mechanical seal is disposed between the bearing shaft and the cone in a seal gland. The mechanical seal includes a rigid seal ring having a dynamic sealing surface with the cone and another non-sealing surface exposed to an aperture in the seal gland. The mechanical seal further includes at least one cooling channel formed in the another non-sealing surface of the rigid seal ring, the cooling channel having an open end in fluid communication with the aperture in the seal gland.

Abstract: A drill bit includes a plurality of continuous segments impregnated with diamond that are each mounted to form a corresponding blade. The regions between the blades define a plurality of fluid passages on the bit face. The blades extend radially outwardly to the gage. The continuous segments may be either straight or spiral in design. Furthermore, the design of the segments supports varying one or more of: diamond content, width, back rake angle and/or relief angle along a length of the segment.

Abstract: Surface texturing is employed to modify the topography of one or more surfaces (radial or cylindrical) of the sealing system for a roller cone rock bit. The surface texturing results in a dimpled surface which retains additional lubricant helpful in reducing friction in the boundary and mixed lubrication regimes. Shot peening is disclosed as one method for texturing the desired surface.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for testing properties of a hard component. The apparatus includes a holder, a component, an indenter, a sensor holder, and an acoustic sensor. The holder includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end defines a first cavity extending towards the second end. The component is positioned in the first cavity. The indenter is positioned adjacent to a portion of the component and applies a load onto the component. The sensor holder includes an upper portion, a lower portion, and a second cavity therein. The upper portion is coupled to the second end. The sensor is positioned within the second cavity. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a rod coupled to the lower portion. The rod has a lower acoustic impedance than the sensor holder, thereby allowing sound waves to pass through the sensor holder and not be reflected back into the sensor.

Abstract: A drill bit includes a plurality of continuous segments impregnated with diamond that are each mounted to form a corresponding blade. The regions between the blades define a plurality of fluid passages on the bit face. The blades extend radially outwardly to the gage. The continuous segments may be either straight or spiral in design. Furthermore, the design of the segments supports varying one or more of: diamond content, width, back rake angle and/or relief angle along a length of the segment.

Abstract: A block of dense material is made up of hard particles, of the same or different nature, dispersed in a binder phase. The material has a solidus temperature Ts above which the binder phase is liquid. There is deposited on at least a portion of the surface of the block of dense material an active coating composed of a material capable of reacting chemically with the dense material when the assembly is heated to beyond a minimum reaction temperature Tr. The block coated with the active coating is subjected to a heat treatment comprising heating, then maintenance for a time tm at a maintenance temperature Tm greater than or equal to the minimum reaction temperature Tr, followed by cooling to ambient temperature.

Abstract: A rock bit includes a shaft and a cone mounted for rotation about the shaft at a journal bearing. A seal gland for the rock bit is defined at least by the shaft and the cone. A compressible seal ring is positioned within the seal gland. A thermal insulating ring is installed within the seal gland and positioned between the compressible seal ring itself and the journal bearing to insulate the compressible seal ring from heat radiating from the journal bearing.

Abstract: A rock bit includes a shaft and a cone mounted for rotation about the shaft at a journal bearing. A seal gland for the rock bit is defined at least by the shaft and the cone. A compressible seal ring is positioned within the seal gland. A thermal insulating ring is installed within the seal gland and positioned between the compressible seal ring itself and the journal bearing to insulate the compressible seal ring from heat radiating from the journal bearing.

Abstract: A PDC cutter includes a diamond table layer and an underlying substrate layer. A cap structure for the PDC cutter includes a first portion overlying, but not attached to, a front face of the diamond table layer and a second portion extending perpendicularly from the first portion which is overlying and attached to an outer peripheral surface of the underlying substrate layer.

Abstract: An assembly is provided to attach a whipstock to a mill/drill bit. The assembly includes an upper collar adapted for installation around a shank of the mill/drill bit. At least one connecting member is mounted at a first end to the upper collar. The connecting member extends downwardly from the upper collar and is adapted to fit within a junkslot of the mill/drill bit to which the upper collar is attached. A whipstock attachment structure is mounted to a second end of the at least one connecting member.

Abstract: A casing end tool has a bowl-like (or cup-like) body defined by a wall having an outer convex surface and an inner concave surface opposite of the outer convex surface. The bowl-like body has a center axis. The inner concave surface is non-axisymmetric with respect to the center axis, while the outer convex surface is axisymmetric with respect to the center axis. The non-axisymmetric configuration is provided in one implementation through the presence of a set of raised boss or land structures formed on the inner concave surface.

Abstract: A rock bit includes a shaft and a cone mounted for rotation about the shaft at a journal bearing. A seal gland for the rock bit is defined at least by the shaft and the cone. A compressible seal ring is positioned within the seal gland. A thermal insulating ring is installed within the seal gland and positioned between the compressible seal ring itself and the journal bearing to insulate the compressible seal ring from heat radiating from the journal bearing.

Abstract: A self positioning cutter element and cutter pocket for use in a downhole tool having one or more cutting elements. The self positioning cutter element includes a substrate and a wear resistant layer coupled to the substrate. The cutter element includes a cutting surface, a coupling surface, and a longitudinal side surface forming the circumferential perimeter of the cutter element and extending from the cutting surface to the coupling surface. The cutter element has one or more indexes formed on at least a portion of the coupling surface. In some embodiments, the index also is formed on at least a portion of the longitudinal side surface. Hence, the coupling surface is not substantially planar. Additionally, at least a portion of the longitudinal side surface does not form a substantially uniform perimeter. The cutter pocket also is indexed to correspond and couple with the indexing of the cutter element.

Abstract: A front face of a diamond table mounted to a substrate is processed to introduce a material which comingles with or semi-alloys with or partially displaces interstitial catalyst binder in a thermal channel to a desired depth. The material is selected to be less thermally expandable than the catalyst binder and/or more thermally conductive than the catalyst binder and/or having a lower heat capacity than the catalyst binder.

Abstract: A cutter is configured with a diamond table made from a thin hard facing material layer of polycrystalline diamond bonded to a backing layer made from cemented tungsten carbide. The face of the diamond table includes a concavity formed with a curved shape wherein at least a portion of the face in a center of the cutter is recessed with respect to at least some portion of the face about the perimeter of the cutter. This concave curved shape is formed in the diamond table itself such that the diamond table has a varying thickness depending on the implemented concavity.