Abstract: A downhole cutting tool may include a tool body; a plurality of blades extending azimuthally from the tool body; and a plurality of cutting elements disposed on the plurality of blades, the plurality of cutting elements comprising: at least two conical cutting elements comprising a substrate and a diamond layer having a conical cutting end, wherein at least one of the at least two conical cutting elements has a positive back rake angle, and at least one of the at least two conical cutting elements has a negative back rake angle.

Abstract: A drill bit for obtaining core sample fragments from a subterranean formation includes a bit body having a bit centerline and a bit face, a plurality of blades extending radially along the bit face, including a coring blade, a plurality of cutting elements on the blades, and a non-planar insert embedded in the bit body proximate the bit centerline. One of the cutting elements is a first cutting element on the coring blade at a first radial position from the bit centerline, and at least a portion of the coring blade is radially outward from a most radially interior cutting part of the first cutting element.

Abstract: A downhole cutting tool includes a tool body, a plurality of blades extending a height from the tool body to an outermost surface, and a plurality of cutting elements on at least one of the plurality of blades, each cutting element having a longitudinal axis oriented substantially radially outward from the outermost surface of the blade, and at least two adjacent cutting elements of the plurality of cutting elements having different axial lengths.

Abstract: A drill bit for drilling a borehole in earth formations may include a bit body having a bit axis and a bit face; a plurality of blades extending radially along the bit face; and a plurality of cutting elements disposed on the plurality of blades. The plurality of cutting elements may include: at least one cutter including a substrate and a diamond table having a substantially planar cutting face; and at least two conical cutting elements including a substrate and a diamond layer having a conical cutting end. In a rotated view of the plurality of cutting elements into a single plane, the at least one cutter may be located a radial position from the bit axis that is intermediate the radial positions of the at least two conical cutting elements.

Abstract: A drill bit has a plurality of blades that include a coring blade, a plurality of flow courses that include an evacuation slot disposed between the plurality of blades, and a conical insert disposed on or proximate a bit centerline of the drill bit. Coring blade includes a first cutting element disposed at a first radial position from the bit centerline. Also, coring blade includes a substantially vertical surface and an angled surface. During drilling, first cutting element cuts formation to generate a core sample fragment at bit centerline. Core sample fragment is then broken away from formation using angled surface or conical insert after core sample fragment reaches a certain length. Core sample fragment then exits drill bit via an evacuation slot, from where core sample fragment is transported via an annulus to the surface of formation for testing and analysis.

Abstract: A downhole cutting tool may include tool body; a first blade extending from the tool body; a plurality of cutting elements attached to the first blade, the plurality of cutting elements comprising at least two types of cutting elements, wherein the first blade extends from the tool body to a first height adjacent a first type of cutting element and a second height, different from the first height, adjacent a second type of cutting element.

Abstract: A cutting tool has a tool body and at least one non-planar cutting element oriented at a forward rake angle on the top surface of the cutting tool, the at least one non-planar cutting element having a grip region and a non-planar cutting end, and a support extending around at least a portion of a circumference of the grip region.

Abstract: A cutting tool includes a tool body having a longitudinal axis and a cutting face, a plurality of blades spaced azimuthally about the cutting face and extending at least laterally through a gage region, and a plurality of cutters disposed along the blades. At least two different types of back reaming elements may be disposed on a transitional surface between the gage region of at least one blade and a connection end of the cutting tool. Alternatively, at least one back reaming element may be disposed on a transitional surface between the gage region of at least one blade and a connection end of the cutting tool, and a wear resistant material provided on or in the transitional surface.

Abstract: A cutting element may include a substrate, an upper surface of the substrate including a crest, the crest transitioning into a depressed region, and an ultrahard layer on the upper surface, thereby forming a non-planar interface between the ultrahard layer and the substrate. A top surface of the ultrahard layer includes a cutting crest extending along at least a portion of a diameter of the cutting element, the top surface having a portion extending laterally away from the cutting crest having a lesser height than a peak of the cutting crest.

Abstract: A secondary cutting structure for use in a drilling assembly includes a tubular body, and a block, extendable from the tubular body, the block including a first arrangement of cutting elements disposed on a first blade, a first stabilization section disposed proximate the first arrangement of cutting elements, a second arrangement of cutting elements disposed on the first blade, and a second stabilization section disposed proximate the second arrangement of cutting elements. A method of drilling includes disposing a drilling assembly in a wellbore, the drilling assembly including a secondary cutting structure having a tubular body and a block, extendable from the body, the block including at least three blades, actuating the secondary cutting structure, wherein the actuating includes extending the block from the tubular body, and drilling formation with the extended block.

Abstract: A cutting tool cutting tool may include a tool body having a plurality of blades extending radially therefrom; and a plurality of rotatable cutting elements mounted on at least one of the plurality of blades, wherein the plurality of rotatable cutting elements are mounted on the at least one blade in a nose and/or shoulder region of the cutting tool at a side rake angle ranging from about 10 to about 30 degrees or ?10 to about ?30 degrees.

Abstract: A drill bit for drilling a borehole in earthen formations comprises a bit body including a cone region, a shoulder region, and a gage region. In addition the bit comprises a first primary blade and a second primary blade. Further, the bit comprises a plurality of primary cutter elements mounted to the first primary blade in different radial positions. Still further, the bit comprises a plurality of primary cutter elements mounted to the second primary blade in different radial positions. Moreover, a first primary cutter element of the plurality of primary cutter elements on the first primary blade and a first primary cutter element of the plurality of primary cutter elements on the second primary blade are each positioned in the cone region and are redundant. The shoulder region has a total cutter redundancy percentage that is less than a total cutter redundancy percentage in the cone region.

Abstract: In one aspect, an impregnated drill bit is provided having at least one insert positioned within at least one of the plurality of blades such that the insert spans more than 75% of the height of the blade and at least a portion of the blade has a blade height of at least 40 mm. In another aspect, an impregnated drill bit is provided having a plurality of blades with at least a portion of at least one blade having a blade height of at least 60 mm. Also provided are methods of manufacturing such impregnated drill bits.

Abstract: A system and method to facilitate the drilling of one or more lateral wellbores while eliminating one or more trips downhole. The system utilizes a drilling assembly comprising an impregnated drill bit or other suitable drill bit. The impregnated drill bit is coupled to a whipstock by a connector for deployment downhole in a single trip. The connector comprises a separation device which facilitates disconnection of the impregnated drill bit from the whipstock once the whipstock is anchored at a desired downhole location.

Abstract: A fixed cutter drill bit may include a bit body having a bit centerline; a plurality of blades extending radially from the bit body and separated by a plurality of flow courses therebetween, each of the plurality of blades being spaced a radial distance from the bit centerline to define a core-forming region; a plurality of cutting elements disposed on the plurality of blades, the plurality of cutting elements comprising at least two coring cutting elements disposed on the plurality of blades, the at least two coring cutting elements being the radially innermost cutting elements on the plurality of blades.

Abstract: A downhole cutting tool may include a tool body; a plurality of blades extending azimuthally from the tool body; and a plurality of cutting elements disposed on the plurality of blades, the plurality of cutting elements comprising: at least two non-planar cutting elements comprising a substrate and a diamond layer having a non-planar cutting end, wherein at least one of the at least two conical cutting elements has a positive back rake angle or positive side rake angle, and at least one of the at least two non-planar cutting elements has a negative back rake angle or a negative side rake angle.

Abstract: A downhole cutting tool may include a cutting element support, structure having a plurality of cutter pockets formed therein; and a plurality of rotatable cutters disposed in the plurality of cutter pockets, wherein at least one rotatable cutter is spaced from another rotatable cutter on the cutting element support structure by at least one-quarter of the diameter of the at least one rotatable cutter.

Abstract: A downhole cutting tool may include a tool body; a plurality of blades extending azimuthally from the tool body; and a plurality of cutting elements disposed on the plurality of blades, the plurality of cutting elements comprising: at least two non-planar cutting elements comprising a substrate and a diamond layer having a non-planar cutting end, wherein at least one of the at least two conical cutting elements has a positive back rake angle or positive side rake angle, and at least one of the at least two non-planar cutting elements has a negative back rake angle or a negative side rake angle.

Abstract: A cutting tool may includes a tool body; a plurality of blades extending from the tool body; and a plurality of non-planar cutting elements disposed along each of the plurality of blades, the plurality of non-planar cutting elements form a cutting profile, in a rotated view of the plurality of non-planar cutting elements into a single plane, the cutting profile including a cone region, a nose region, a shoulder region, and a gage region. The plurality of non-planar cutting elements include a first shape in at least one of the cone region, nose region, shoulder region, and gage region, and a second, different shape in at least one other region.

Abstract: A cutting tool may include a tool body; a plurality of blades extending from the tool body; and a plurality of primary cutting elements and a plurality of backup cutting elements are on each of the plurality of blades, the backup cutting elements being behind and at approximately the same radial distance from the axis of the tool body as a corresponding primary cutting element, where the plurality of primary cutting elements include cutting elements having a first non-planar shape and the plurality of backup cutting elements include cutting elements having a second, different non-planar shape.