Abstract: A method for sintering includes loading a tool material into a resistance heating element within a HPHT press and heating the resistance heating element at a first axial portion to a control temperature, where a temperature difference is measured between the control temperature and a second temperature measured at a distal axial portion along the resistance heating element, wherein a difference between the control temperature and the second temperature ranges between about 5 percent to about 11 percent of the control temperature.

Abstract: A method for joining a valve member for use within a valve, the method including brazing a body portion having a head and a base, the base having a bore extending a depth therein, to a leg portion having a shaft, the shaft having a distal end, a proximal end opposite the distal end, and a plurality of legs extending radially and axially therefrom and away from the proximal end, the brazing including placing a braze material between the bore and the proximal end, inserting the proximal end into the bore such that a portion of an outer surface of the proximal end is adjacent to an inner surface of the bore, and heating at least the adjacent surfaces to a braze temperature.

Abstract: Techniques involve a motor assembly including a rotor and a stator. The stator includes a contact surface for contacting an outer surface of the rotor. The contact surface includes a rigid material. The motor assembly also includes at least one constraint disposed along a length of the motor assembly, where the constraint constrains a radial and/or tangential movement of the rotor relative to the stator. The at least one constraint may be disposed at one or more proximate ends of the motor assembly, and/or along the length of the motor assembly. The contact surface of the stator may have a profile including peaks and valleys, and in some embodiments, the contact surface may be treated to reduce friction and/or wear.

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: Assemblies as disclosed herein for making superhard products by HPHT process comprise a first can portion for accommodating a mixture of materials therein and a second can mated with the first can portion. A leak-tight seal is provided between the first can portion and second can portion in a manner that accommodates the manufacture of relatively longer superhard products without having to change other elements or members used for HPHT processing to thereby provide improved manufacturing flexibility and cost efficiency.

Abstract: A downhole cutting tool includes a tool body and a plurality of cutter knife sets, each of the plurality of cutter knife sets configured to extend outwardly to separately perform a pipe cutting operation. A first cutter knife set has a diameter in an extended position larger than a diameter in an extended position of a second cutter knife set. A method includes running the downhole cutting tool into a wellbore, deploying the first set of expandable cutting arms to an extended position and engaging the extended expandable cutting arms with a first work piece, rotating the downhole cutting tool and cutting the first work piece, deploying the second set of expandable cutting arms during a single trip into the wellbore to an extended position and engaging the extended expandable cutting arms with a second work piece, and rotating the downhole cutting tool and cutting the second work piece.

Abstract: PCD constructions as disclosed comprise a ultra-hard body attached with a metallic substrate along a substrate extending between the body and the substrate. The construction includes a protective feature or element that is configured to protect a metal rich region or zone existing in the construction from unwanted effects of corrosion or erosion. The protective element extends from the body over the interface and along a portion of the substrate and may be integral with the.

Abstract: A container assembly for use in a high-pressure press having a central pressure cell and a method of sealing a central pressure cell. The container assembly includes a container that receives a sample to be pressed, and a gasket distinct from the container, the gasket meeting the container at an interface. The container and the gasket are dimensioned to locate the interface within the central pressure cell.

Abstract: A packoff device is disclosed for sealing an annulus within a wellbore, and for bypassing the sealed annulus. The packoff device may include a mandrel having a bore formed axially therethrough and first and second ports extending radially from the bore. A sealing element that extends radially-outwardly from the mandrel may be positioned axially between the first and second ports, and may create a seal within an annulus between the mandrel and a casing, to isolate a portion of the annulus above the sealing element from a portion below the sealing element. A sleeve within the bore may, with the mandrel, form a channel providing fluid communication between the first and second ports. The sleeve may be movable between open and closed states. The first and second ports may be unobstructed by the sleeve in the open state, one or more may be obstructed in the closed state.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus and method to facilitate milling of a casing window by improving the interaction between the mill and the casing. The cutting apparatus comprises a whipstock having a plurality of ramp sections that provide a ramp profile arranged and designed to cooperate with the cutting structure of a mill to achieve a desired loading on the mill cutting elements during milling of the casing window. The plurality of ramp sections, having specific lengths and oriented at specific angles, adjust the loading on the mill as the mill cuts through the casing during formation of the casing window. The improved whipstock maintains a more balanced loading across the cutting elements during milling operations. Additional mill cutting structures may also be selected and evaluated to further balance the cutting load during window milling.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to cutting elements incorporating polycrystalline diamond bodies used for subterranean drilling applications, and more particularly, to polycrystalline diamond bodies having a high diamond content which are configured to provide improved properties of thermal stability and wear resistance, while maintaining a desired degree of impact resistance, when compared to prior polycrystalline diamond bodies. In various embodiments disclosed herein, a cutting element with high diamond content includes a modified PCD structure and/or a modified interface (between the PCD body and a substrate), to provide superior performance.

Abstract: A cutting tool has a tool body, a plurality of blades extending radially from the tool body, at least one pocket in the plurality of blades, and at least one rolling element in the at least one pocket. The cutting tool may be a drill bit, with at least one rolling element in a pocket in a blade of the drill bit and at least partially exposed to the formation to be drilled.

Abstract: A cutting element may be formed by sintering together a plurality of metal carbide grains and a metal binder to form a substrate, forming at least one binder gradient in the substrate, and mounting an abrasive layer to the substrate at an interface. The concentration of metal binder material may decrease along at least one direction to form the at least one binder gradient.

Abstract: A cutting element includes a table coupled to a substrate at an interface. The table includes a working surface opposite the interface and defined by a perimeter, a table thickness measured between the interface and the working surface, and a torque transmittable depression formed in the working surface of the table a distance away from the perimeter. The torque transmittable depression extends a depth into the table and has a cross-sectional profile with a torque transmittable shape. The depth of the depression may be greater than the thickness of the table, or an optional sensor may be placed in the depression.

Abstract: A polycrystalline diamond body, and a method for making a carbonate polycrystalline diamond body includes combining a first quantity of diamond particles with a first quantity of magnesium carbonate to form a first layer in an enclosure, the first layer having a working surface, and placing a second quantity of magnesium carbonate in the enclosure forming a second layer, the first layer and the second layer forming an assembly. A quantity of at least one of silicon or aluminum is mixed in with or placed adjacent to at least one of the first layer or the second layer. The assembly, including the at least one of silicon or aluminum, is sintered at high pressure and high temperature, causing the at least one of silicon or aluminum to infiltrate at least one layer of the assembly, forming a polycrystalline diamond body.

Abstract: A method for selecting a bottomhole assembly, including performing a first dynamic simulation of a first bottomhole assembly, performing at least a second dynamic simulation of the first bottomhole assembly, in which the at least a second dynamic simulation includes a different constraint than the first dynamic simulation, and outputting results for both the first dynamic simulation and the second dynamic simulation, in which the results include at least one output showing performance as a function of position along the bottomhole assembly.

Abstract: Specialized computing systems, devices, interfaces and methods facilitate the simulation of downhole milling procedures such as wellbore departure milling procedures. Computing systems, devices, interfaces and methods enable a user to design and select milling components and procedures to be compared and simulated. Various milling parameters, such as milling tool parameters, whipstock parameters, and wellbore casing parameters may be accessed and selectably modified with milling and simulation interfaces to define and control the simulated milling procedures. Different types of output are selectably rendered to reflect various aspects of the simulated milling procedures.

Abstract: Roller cutters comprise a diamond-bonded body joined to an infiltration substrate. An extension is joined to the substrate and includes first section having a diameter sized the same as the substrate, and an integral second section having a diameter smaller than the substrate. The extension is joined to the substrate during an HPHT process. The first section has a thickness greater than that of the infiltration substrate. The second section has an axial length greater than the combined thickness of the substrate and the first section. The extension has a strength and/or toughness greater than the substrate as a result of its material composition, e.g., the amount of binder phase material and/or the size of hard phase material. The roller cutter is rotatably disposed within a pocket internal cavity, wherein the pocket is attached to a drill bit.

Abstract: Repeated percussive forces may be provided using various devices, systems, assemblies, and methods. Example rotary percussive devices may be used in a downhole environment, including within a drilling system that includes a percussive hammer drill bit. The rotary percussive device may include a rotational translator to convert drilling fluid pressure into a rotational force. An axial translator coupled to the rotational translator may convert the rotational force into an axial percussive force. This conversion may be done using magnets arranged in arrays of alternating polarities. The rotational translator may longitudinally overlap the axial translator. The rotational translator may include a rotational stator rotationally fixed within a bottomhole assembly. The rotational stator may include a shaft of a positive displacement motor.

Abstract: Polycrystalline ultra-hard constructions comprise a polycrystalline ultra-hard material body and two or more support members attached to the body by braze material. The support members include a backside support member and a side support member. The side support member is a one- or two-piece construction, and is positioned circumferentially around and extends axially along the body or both the body and the backside support member such that a working surface of the body remains exposed. The support members can be configured to provide a mechanical attachment or interlocking attachment with the body or another support member. The braze materials used in the construction can be different and selected to enhance the attachment and/or reduce the creation of thermal stress within the construction during assembly. The support members can be selected having different thermal expansion characteristics that also operate to reduce the thermal stress during construction assembly.