Abstract: A drill string having a drill bit with a bit body located between a shank and a working face. The working face has at least one cutting element and a jack element disposed partially within the drill bit body and partially protruding from the working face. The jack element is adapted to be rotated with respect to the bit body by a driving mechanism disposed within a bore of the drill string. A generator or motor with a rotor is incorporated into a torque transmitting mechanism that links the driving mechanism to the jack element, and configured so that at least one waveform is produced in the generator or motor when the jack element is rotated. The waveform is processed by an electronic processing device to determine the rotational position of the jack element.

Abstract: An apparatus for engaging a subterranean borehole includes a bi-center bit having backup cutting elements thereon. The bi-center bit includes a pilot bit section and a reamer bit section adjacent to the pilot bit section. The pilot bit section includes at least one primary cutting element and at least one backup cutting element rotationally trailing and laterally offset from the at least one primary cutting element. Methods of drilling a subterranean borehole include engaging a first portion of a borehole with a reamer bit section of a drill bit and simultaneously engaging a second, opposing portion of the borehole with a pilot bit section adjacent to the reamer bit section.

Abstract: An apparatus for reaming or enlarging a borehole comprising a bi-center drill bit having backup cutters thereon.

Abstract: A bottom hole assembly to directionally drill a subterranean formation includes a drill bit, a stabilizer assembly located proximate to and behind the drill bit, a drilling assembly comprising a drive mechanism and a directional mechanism, and a flex member. Optionally, the flex member may be located between the drilling assembly and the stabilizer assembly or an integral to a housing of the drilling assembly. A method to drill a formation includes positioning a stabilizer assembly behind a drill bit and positioning a flex member between an output shaft of a drilling assembly and the stabilizer assembly. The method preferably includes rotating the drill bit, stabilizer assembly, and flex member with a drilling assembly and directing the trajectory of the drill bit and stabilizer assembly with a directional mechanism of the drilling assembly.

Abstract: An improved hole opener assembly for horizontal drilling is disclosed that is less prone to failure as a result of cone arm break out or pocket side wall fracture. The interface between the cone arm and the pocket employs a key and slot configuration with a tighter fit than between the arm and the pocket to reduce the stress on the pocket side wall during drilling.

Abstract: A compression enlarging driller comprises a vehicle body; a pole; an outer drilling rod; an inner drilling rod disposed within the outer drilling rod and moveable in a longitudinal direction; a windlass; a connecting lever having an upper end connected with a lower end of the inner drilling rod; a rotary digging bucket connected with a lower end of the connecting lever; a rotary enlarging device; a driving device; and a first hydraulic cylinder. When the driller bores a hoe, it can bore and enlarge the hole without changing a drill bit. A pile constructed by the driller has a high bearing capacity, the number of required piles is decreased, costs lower, and efficiency is improved.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drilling a subterranean formation or material utilizing a drilling apparatus which includes a drill string having a leading end and a trailing end and having a bottom hole assembly connected with the leading end. The bottom hole assembly includes a drill bit and an externally threaded screw section. In operation, the drill bit is rotated, forming material cuttings and an opening in the subterranean formation, and the threaded screw section is rotated within the opening, forming a helical groove in the subterranean formation.

Abstract: The invention includes a pair of swivels for use with an auger boring machine. One of the swivels allows for rotation of a first auger of a first auger assembly connected to the trailing end of a pilot tube without rotating the pilot tube. The other swivel allows for rotation of a larger diameter second auger connected to the trailing end of the first auger assembly without rotating the first auger. Each of the swivels includes a thrust bearing.

Abstract: An apparatus for a drilling tool includes a pilot drilling bit, a reamer, and a pilot body which is disposed to support the reamer and the pilot drilling bit at the end of a casing tube. The reamer includes a closed position in which the parts of the tool are concentric with one another and displaceable through the casing tube, and an open position in which at least a part of the reamer is located radially outside the casing tube. The pilot body includes a male portion which extends through the reamer, the male portion of the pilot body forming a cam surface for transferring rotation energy to the reamer and for switching the reamer between the closed and open positions, and the male portion of the pilot body being insertable in a recess in the pilot drilling bit.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and tool assemblies for distributing weight between a bit and a reamer device are disclosed. For example, at least one of the drill bit and the reamer may be configured to selectively distribute a weight-on-bit between the drill bit and the reamer, such as within a predetermined range. Additionally, methods of drilling wellbores may include selectively distributing a weight-on-bit applied to a bottom hole assembly between a drill bit and a reamer of the bottom hole assembly. Also, a reamer may be configured to exhibit a first maximum rate-of-penetration into a relatively hard formation, and a drill bit may be configured to exhibit a second maximum rate-of-penetration into a relatively soft formation that is less than the first maximum rate-of-penetration.

Abstract: A drill bit and a single pass drilling apparatus are disclosed. The one-piece drill bit is rotatable about a drilling axis and has a connection portion, adapted to be rigidly connected to a drill steel, a pilot part and a reamer part. The reamer part has a leading and at least one trailing first rock machining means disposed on one side of the pilot part within a sector defined by sector angle ?. At least one of the trailing first rock machining means is axially spaced from the leading first rock machining means in the direction toward the trailing end of the drill bit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drilling a subterranean formation or material utilizing a drilling apparatus which includes a drill string having a leading end and a trailing end and having a bottom hole assembly connected with the leading end. The bottom hole assembly includes a drill bit and an externally threaded screw section. In operation, the drill bit is rotated, forming material cuttings and an opening in the subterranean formation, and the threaded screw section is rotated within the opening, forming a helical groove in the subterranean formation.

Abstract: Drilling apparatus comprises: a body; a pilot hole-drilling assembly (14) mounted to the body for drilling a pilot hole of a first diameter; and a hole-opening assembly (16) mounted to the body for opening the pilot hole to a larger second diameter. The apparatus is configured such that the pilot hole-drilling assembly (14) will drill at a faster rate than the hole-opening assembly (16) for a given unit loading. As the pilot hole- drilling assembly (14) has the capability to drill at a faster rate than the hole-opening assembly (16), the pilot hole-drilling assembly will tend to experience relatively low weight-on-bit (WOB). The pilot hole-drilling assembly (14) will thus tend to maintain a vertical orientation. The hole-opening assembly (16) will follow the path of the pilot hole, while opening the hole to the required diameter.

Abstract: A drill bit having a bit body intermediate a shank and a working face having at least one cutting insert. A bore is formed in the working face co-axial within an axis of rotation of the drill bit. A jack element is retained within the bore by a retaining element that intrudes a diameter of the bore.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a drill bit has a jack element that is substantially coaxial with an axis of rotation of the drill bit and the jack element has an asymmetrical distal end that extends beyond a working face of the drill bit. A turbine is located within a bore formed in the drill bit and a flow valve is actuated by the turbine. The flow valve is adapted to route a drilling fluid in the bore into a porting mechanism adapted to extend the jack element farther beyond the working surface of the drill bit. The turbine is also adapted to rotate the jack element at variable speeds.

Abstract: The fixed cutter drill bit disclosed utilizes a unique piloting section and reaming section carefully designed to impart several specific operational advantages. In the piloting section, cutting structures have been arranged so as to create offsetting cutting forces that result in a net zero imbalance during operation. Furthermore, the piloting section utilizes carefully placed shock studs which aid in protecting the primary cutting structure. In addition, the location of the fluid supply nozzles on the body of the reamer section serves to indicate the occurrence of a catastrophic cutting structure failure below the pilot gage.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a drill string comprises a drill bit with a body intermediate a shank and a working face, and the working face comprises at least one cutting element. A jack assembly is disposed within the drill bit body and comprises a jack element disposed on a distal end of the assembly. The jack element substantially protrudes from the working face and is adapted to move with respect to the bit body. At least one position feedback sensor is disposed proximate the jack assembly and is adapted to detect a position and/or orientation of the jack element.

Abstract: A reamer for subterranean wellbores may include a composite framework, which may include one or more high strength stems, each having one or more reamer bodies coupled thereto. The body may include a plurality of plates coupled together and may include additional components formed integrally therewith or coupled thereto. A method of forming a reaming tool may include forming a high strength stem and a reamer body and coupling the body to the stem. A method of using the reaming tool may include coupling one or more bodies in a drill string and reaming a wellbore.

Abstract: A drilling tool (10) includes a pilot bit (14) and a plurality of mills (16) encircling the pilot bit. The pilot bit and the plurality of mills are each driven by a separate, hydraulically powered turbine or positive displacement motor. (20) The drilling tool does not include a transmission for transmitting power from the turbine or motor to any of the plurality of mills or the pilot bit.

Abstract: A drilling tool has a body with a main drilling region and a pilot drilling region, eccentric to the main drilling region. The main drilling region has main blades and the pilot drilling region has pilot blades. The main drilling region has a main pass-through diameter, centered upon a first axis, one of the main blades extending to the main pass-through diameter, the pilot region having a pilot gauge diameter, centred upon a second axis of rotation at least one of the pilot blades extending to the pilot gauge diameter, wherein part of a circle of diameter equal to the pilot gauge diameter and centred upon the second axis of rotation extends outside of a circle of diameter equal to the main pass-through diameter and centred upon the first axis.

Abstract: A roof bit drill has a central shaft with a front end and a back end. The drill also has a base secured about the central shaft proximate to the front end, wherein the base has clearance channels extending axially therethrough. At least one cutting element is arranged on the base in a convex cutting pattern to permit loosened material to be evacuated. The roof bit drill may further include a drill depth locator to identify when the drill has been advanced within a mine roof to a predetermined depth. A method for using the roof drill bit is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A hardfacing is provided to protect surfaces of drill bits and other downhole tools. The hardfacing may include tungsten carbide particles or pellets formed with an optimum weight percentage of binding material and dispersed within and bonded to a matrix deposit. The tungsten carbide particles may be formed by sintering or other appropriate techniques. The tungsten carbide particles may have generally spherical shapes, partially spherical shapes or non-spherical shapes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a drilling head for reboring a stuck valve or drilling into the formation downhole. The invention furthermore relates to a drilling tool comprising the drilling head and a driving unit. The drilling head comprises a hole saw beside a drill bit for cutting out a piece from the stuck valve. Furthermore, the invention relates to a drilling system comprising the drilling tool and a driving tool for moving the drilling tool downhole, a method of drilling; and a use of the drilling head.

Abstract: A bi-center drilling tool comprises a main reamer region located eccentrically to an axis of rotation of the tool, and a leading cutting structure located ahead of the main reamer region, in the drilling direction, the leading cutting structure being located so as to apply a side loading to the drilling tool, the direction in which the side loading acts being such as to counter a side loading applied, in use, due to the main reamer region being eccentric to the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A drill bit has a bit body intermediate a working face and a shank end adapted for connection to a downhole drill string. The working face has at least three fixed blades converging towards a center of the working face and diverging towards a gauge of the bit, at least one blade having a cone region adjacent the center of the working face. The cone region increases in height away from the center of the working face and towards a nose portion of the at least one blade. An opening is formed in the working face at the center of the bit along an axis of the drill bit's rotation, the opening leading into a chamber with at least one wall. An indenting member is disposed within and extends from the opening, is substantially coaxial with the axis of rotation, and is fixed to the wall of the chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drilling a bore through a target includes advancing a drill bit into the target along a direction of advancement and injecting a directing gas in the direction of advancement through at least one aperture in the drill bit. As the bore is drilled, waste material is directed in the direction of advancement via the gas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a borehole drilling apparatus with in-line extending wings and driving method thereof. The drilling apparatus comprises a guide device rotating while moving upwardly and downwardly in a casing to fit into a borehole, extending wings for extending the diameter of a drilled hole, and a pilot bit installed at a lower portion of the guide device to strike the bottom of the borehole, wherein spiral projections formed at a lower surface of the guide device slidably engage with guide grooves formed at a side of the extending wings to each other, and a window is formed at a side of the pilot bit for advancing and retracting the extending wings so that they can spread and return linearly from the center of the pilot bit.

Abstract: Strategically placed hardfacing material near the shank end of a drill bit above the transition edges provides additional protection for compensator areas and the upper leg surfaces of drill bits during updrilling and/or backreaming operations. The strategically located hardfacing is typically passive in the normal drill mode, but active in the updrill drilling mode and/or back reaming. Alternative designs including other strategic material placement, the formation of hardfacing materials in tooth/wear design shapes, bimetallic gage, graded composite hardfacing materials, recesses or cavities at edges of the outer diameter, and various methods of applying the material also may be employed.

Abstract: The drilling of a casing bit and any other equipment in the casing with another casing bit where at least two casing bits of different diameter and having associated casing sections may be assembled to form a drilling assembly for drilling subterranean formations, the at least two casing bits and casing sections are arranged in a telescoping relationship.

Abstract: An earth bit includes an earth bit body and a lug and cutting cone carried by the earth bit body, wherein the cutting cone is rotatably mounted to the lug. A plurality of cutters are carried by the earth bit body, wherein the cutters include a cutter body and a plurality of curved teeth extending between opposed ends of the cutter body. The curved teeth are positioned so that one end of a tooth overlaps an opposed end of an adjacent tooth. The curved teeth of a first cutter extend in a direction around its corresponding cutter body and the curved teeth of a second cutter extend in an opposed direction around its corresponding cutter body.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a rotary drag drill bit has a body intermediate a shank and a working face. The working face has a plurality of blades converging towards a center of the working face and diverging towards a gauge of the working face. A carbide section is fixed to the working face and positioned within a pocket disposed within an inverted cone of the working face. The carbide section has a distal end exposed within the working face.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a drill bit and a single pass drilling apparatus. The one-piece drill bit has a connection portion, adapted to be rigidly connected to a drill steel, a pilot part and a reamer part. The pilot part has first rock machining means. The reamer part has a first center line and second rock machining means. The second rock machining means is provided axially between said connection portion and said first rock machining means and to one side of the pilot part. The drill bit has a rotational direction. A side of the pilot part facing away from the reamer part is provided with a wear resistant means. The wear resistant means is integral with the first rock machining means.

Abstract: Reamer bits have cutters with different effective back rake angles. Drilling systems include a pilot bit and a reamer bit, wherein cutters in shoulder regions of the reamer bit have a greater average effective back rake angle than cutters in shoulder regions of the pilot bit. Methods of drilling wellbores include drilling a bore with a pilot bit, and reaming the bore with a reamer bit having cutters in shoulder regions of the reamer bit that have an average effective back rake angle greater than that of cutters in shoulder regions of the pilot bit. Methods of forming drilling systems include attaching pilot and reamer bits to a drill string, and positioning cutters in shoulder regions of the reamer bit to have an average effective back rake angle greater than that of cutters in shoulder regions of the pilot bit.

Abstract: A sectorial force balanced drill bit, including conventional and bi-center drill bits, having the true center of rotation the same as, or about the same as, the bit mass axis. The bit mass axis is a longitudinal axis located off-center to the geometric axis of the bit and comprises the center of mass point. This balancing allows a greater longevity for the cutters. Additionally, a method for sectorially force balancing drill bits is provided. The method includes dividing the drill bit into one or more sections, calculating the magnitude and direction of the resultant radial imbalance force for the cutters of each section, adjusting the cutters and/or blades until the magnitude of the resultant radial imbalance force is about the same for each section and the direction of the resultant radial imbalance force for each section is about 2?/n, where n is the number of sections, from the adjacent section.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a drill bit has an axis of rotation and a working face with a plurality of blades extending outwardly from a bit body. The blades form in part an inverted conical region and a plurality of cutters with a cutting surface are arrayed along the blades. A jack element is coaxial with the axis of rotation and extend within the conical region within a range defined by the cutting surface of at least one cutter.

Abstract: A drilling unit containing a combined pilot bit and reamer. The drilling unit includes a housing containing a mud motor and a pilot bit extending from its distal end. A reamer is mounted to the housing. The mud motor turns the pilot bit while the reamer is turned either by the mud motor or as the drill string is rotated from the surface. The well bore is drilled and reamed in one pass. By positioning the reamer between the pilot bit and the mud motor, the mud motor must only pass through the larger reamer bore rather than the smaller pilot hole. This will allow larger mud motors to be used than would otherwise be possible. In one embodiment, the pilot bit is offset relative to the center of the end of the drill housing, providing increased tangential speed at the point of impact between the pilot bit and formation.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a drill bit has a body intermediate a shank and a working face, the working face comprising a plurality of blades formed on the working face and extending outwardly from the bit body. Each blade comprises at least one cutting element. The drill bit also has a jack element coaxial with an axis of rotation and extending out of an opening formed in the working face. A portion of the jack element is coated with a stop-off.

Abstract: A rotary claw bit for drilling. The rotary claw bit includes a base plate having multiple lobes, the lobes having upper surfaces located in the same plane and lower surfaces located in the same plane. A plurality of bullet tooth attachment blocks are attached to the upper surface of each of the lobes. A bullet tooth having a hardened tip is removably attached within each of the attachment blocks. A pilot bit extends upwardly from the center of the base plate, the pilot bit having a tip that is located above the hardened tips of said bullet teeth. A tapered neck is attached to the lower surface of the base plate and adapted to be connected to a drilling string.

Abstract: A drill bit having a bit body, and axis of rotation, and a working face, the working face having a plurality of cutting elements. A jack element extends from the working face and is coaxial with the axis of rotation and is a hard metal insert. A plurality of high pressure jets are disposed within the working face and surround the jack element, wherein at least one jet is disposed at least as close to the jack element as an inner most cutting element of the plurality of cutting elements.

Abstract: A drill bit having a bit body having at least one blade thereon, at least one cutter pocket disposed on the at least one blade, at least one cutter disposed in the at least one cutter pocket, hardfacing applied to at least a selected portion of the drill bit is shown and described. The hardfacing includes a first hardfacing layer disposed on the selected portion of the drill bit, a second hardfacing layer disposed on the first hardfacing layer, wherein the first hardfacing layer has a hardness different than a hardness of the second hardfacing layer.

Abstract: A bottom hole assembly includes a drill bit, a stabilized underreamer assembly located behind the drill bit, and a drilling assembly. A method to drill a formation includes positioning a stabilized underreamer assembly behind a drill bit, positioning a drilling assembly behind the stabilized underreamer assembly, and rotating the drill bit and stabilized underreamer assembly with the drilling assembly. A stabilized underreamer located between a directional drilling assembly and a drill bit includes at least one arm assembly extending from the stabilized underreamer assembly, wherein the arm assembly includes a stabilizer portion and an underreamer cutting structure.

Abstract: A drill bit having a bit body intermediate a shank and a working face having at least one cutting insert. A bore is formed in the working face co-axial within an axis of rotation of the drill bit. A jack element is retained within the bore by a retaining element that intrudes a diameter of the bore.

Abstract: A drill bit for drilling a borehole in an object, the drill bit having a central longitudinal axis and comprising: a pilot section for drilling a pilot bore section of the borehole in the object; an under-reaming section in a following position with respect to the pilot section, the cutting diameter Du of the under-reaming section being larger than the cutting diameter Dp of the pilot section; a connecting shaft extending between the pilot section and the under-reaming section; and a stabilising section located between the pilot section and the under-reaming section, wherein the stabilising section fits inside the pilot bore section and is capable of laterally stabilising the drill bit relative to the object while allowing rotation of at least the pilot section relative to the object.

Abstract: A drilling and/or chiseling tool, in particular for machining materials such as concrete, rock, masonry, and the like, having a hard metal cutting element (1) contained in the machining end of the tool head, a radially outer, second working region (II) of the hard metal cutting element (1) being set back in relation to a central, first working region (I) of the hard metal cutting element (1) and the two working regions (I, II) transitioning into each other via a third working region (III). The third working region (III) is at least partially comprised of at least one partial circumference surface (5, 6) of at least one conical surface.

Abstract: A drilling machine structure is disclosed, characterized in which handles are arranged on the machine body for holding by the operator with both hands. Between the two handles there are assembled a power motor and a plurality of gear plates with different number of teeth to drive respectively center tip and spiral-shaped rotary blade at the lower part of machine body. The center tip and rotary blade are made of different materials in view of the drilling needs. As such, when drilling a hole, the drilling machine drills with the center tip in alignment with the hole center to guide the varying-speed cutters peripherally arranged at the very bottom of rotary blade to perform real rotary cutting and drilling, and the chips from the cutting are instantly and continuously brought to the surface through a lead hole disposed above each cutter under the driving of rotary blade, thereby achieving smooth drilling in different occasions.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention a tool string comprises a jack element substantially coaxial with an axis of rotation. The jack element is housed within a bore of the tool string and has a distal end extending beyond a working face of the tool string. A rotary valve is disposed within the bore of the tool string. The rotary valve has a first disc attached to a driving mechanism and a second disc axially aligned with and contacting the first disc along a flat surface. As the discs rotate relative to one another at least one port formed in the first disc aligns with another port in the second disc. Fluid passed through the ports is adapted to displace an element in mechanical communication with the jack element.

Abstract: A pilot tube for an auger boring machine has a lubrication through passage formed therein through which water or another lubricant may be pumped during the driving of the pilot tube to facilitate formation of a pilot hole in the earth which is subsequently followed by an auger in forming a trenchless hole for laying underground pipe. Preferably, the lubrication passage extends to exit openings adjacent or on a steering head. A lubrication feed swivel is connected the trailing end of the pilot tube for feeding the water into the pilot tube while allowing rotation of the pilot tube for the steering thereof during the process of driving the pilot tube.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention a drill bit assembly comprises a working portion opposite a shank of the bit. The working portion has a plurality of cutting elements. The drill bit assembly also has a central axis eccentric to its axis of rotation. A jack element protrudes from an opening formed in the working portion and has a distal end that is adapted to contact a formation at the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A drill bit and a single pass drilling apparatus are disclosed. The one-piece drill bit is rotatable about a drilling axis and has a connection portion, adapted to be rigidly connected to a drill steel, a pilot part and a reamer part. The reamer part has a leading and at least one trailing first rock machining means disposed on one side of the pilot part within a sector defined by sector angle ?. At least one of the trailing first rock machining means is axially spaced from the leading first rock machining means in the direction toward the trailing end of the drill bit.

Abstract: A drilling assembly supports a liner for making a wellbore. The BHA comprises a pilot bit and a reamer above it that is larger in diameter than the suspended liner. If the BHA needs to be pulled out, the reamer is brought into contact with the liner and a latch mechanism between the two engages as another latch that had held the reamer bit to the BHA is released. The reamer bit stays with the liner as the BHA is pulled and later reinserted. On the way in the BHA latches to the reamer bit which then unlatches from the liner bottom. Preferably, splines and a shoulder on the BHA are used to drive the reamer bit as opposed to any power being transmitted through the latch between the BHA and the reamer bit. However, the latch mechanism between the BHA and the reamer bit could also provide torque and weight on bit for drilling operations. The process may be repeated.