Abstract: A bearing assembly for a drilling tool. A thrust bearing assembly for use in a drilling tool may include a first thrust frame having a generally cylindrical hollow body with a first inner surface, where the first thrust frame includes: (i) first flow diverters protruding laterally from the first inner surface toward a longitudinal axis of the thrust bearing assembly and (ii) first flow ports formed along the first inner surface between adjacent first flow diverters. The thrust bearing assembly may also include a stationary thrust bearing having a generally cylindrical base with legs extending in an axial direction from the base, where the legs may be generally positioned within the first flow ports.

Abstract: An underreamer for increasing a diameter of a wellbore. The underreamer may include a body having an axial bore extending at least partially therethrough. An electromagnetic activation system may be disposed at least partially within the bore of the body. A valve may be disposed within the bore of the body and coupled to the electromagnetic activation system. The valve may include a mobile element and a static element. The mobile element may be coupled to the electromagnetic activation system and move from a first position where the mobile element obstructs fluid flow through the valve to a second position where the mobile element permits fluid flow through the valve. A cutter block may be movably coupled to the body and move radially-outward as the mobile element moves from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: A system for field selecting drill bit includes a server having a computing processor with functionality to perform: receiving a first simulation request, executing a first simulation to generate a first set of performance data, receiving a second simulation request, and executing a second simulation to generate a second set of performance data. A computing device coupled to the server having a graphical user interface with functionality to perform: selecting a baseline bit, inputting a plurality of drilling data, sending the first simulation request, receiving the first set of performance data, presenting the first set of performance data for review, modifying a parameter of a drill bit, sending the second simulation request with the modified parameter, receiving the second set of performance data from the second simulation, and presenting the first set of performance data and the second set of performance data for review.

Abstract: A cutting element may include a substrate including a plurality of metal carbide particles and a first metal binder having a first metal binder content; an outer layer of polycrystalline diamond material at an end of the cutting element, the polycrystalline diamond material including a plurality of interconnected diamond particles; and a plurality of interstitial regions disposed among the interconnected diamond particles, the plurality of interstitial regions containing a second metal binder having a second metal binder content. The cutting element also includes at least one transition zone between the substrate and the outer layer, the at least one transition zone including a plurality of refractory metal carbide particles and a third metal binder having a third metal binder content, the third metal binder content being less than the first metal binder content and the second metal binder content.

Abstract: Diamond bonded constructions include a diamond body comprising intercrystalline bonded diamond and interstitial regions. The body has a working surface and an interface surface, and may be joined to a metallic substrate. The body has a gradient diamond volume content greater about 1.5 percent, wherein the diamond content at the interface surface is less than 94 percent, and increases moving toward the working surface. The body may include a region that is substantially free of a catalyst material otherwise disposed within the body and present in a gradient amount. An additional material may be included within the body and be present in a changing amount. The body may be formed by high-pressure HPHT processing, e.g., from 6,200 MPa to 10,000 MPa, to produce a sintered body having a characteristic diamond volume fraction v. average grain size relationship distinguishable from that of diamond bonded constructions form by conventional-pressure HPHT processing.

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

Abstract: A cutting device for use in a drill bit has a body including an ultrahard material. The body has a top surface, a front surface, and at least one lateral surface adjacent the top surface. The lateral surface is oriented at a surface angle relative to the top surface between 30 and 150 degrees. One or more locking features are located on the lateral surface.

Abstract: A downhole tool for increasing a diameter of a wellbore disposed within a subterranean formation. The downhole tool includes an underreamer having a plurality of cutter blocks moveably coupled thereto that move radially-outward from a refracted state to an expanded state. The cutter blocks cut the subterranean formation to increase the diameter of the wellbore from a first diameter to a second diameter when in the expanded state. A formation weakening tool may be coupled to the underreamer. The formation weakening tool weakens a portion of the subterranean formation positioned radially-outward therefrom.

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 method for maintaining pressure in a wellbore drilled from a drilling platform floating on a body of water includes the steps of pumping fluid at a determined flow rate into a drill string disposed in a wellbore and measuring fluid pressure within a fluid discharge line of fluid returning from the wellbore. The fluid discharge line has a variable length corresponding to an elevation of the floating platform above the bottom of the body of water. The wellbore pressure is determined at a selected depth in the wellbore or at a selected position along a drilling riser or variable length portion of the fluid discharge line using known parameters/methods. The determined wellbore pressure is adjusted for changes in length of the fluid discharge line corresponding to changes in the elevation of the floating platform relative to the bottom of the body of water.

Abstract: A method for making a polycrystalline diamond construction is disclosed, which includes the steps of treating a polycrystalline diamond body having a plurality of bonded together diamond crystals and a solvent catalyst material to remove the solvent catalyst material therefrom, wherein the solvent catalyst material is disposed within interstitial regions between the bonded together diamond crystals, replacing the removed solvent catalyst material with a replacement material, and treating the body having the replacement material to remove substantially all of the replacement material from a first region of the body extending a depth from a body surface, and allowing the remaining amount of the replacement material to reside in a second region of the body that is remote from the surface.

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 a plurality of flow courses between the plurality of blades. Each of the plurality of blades is spaced a radial distance from the bit centerline to define a core-forming region. A plurality of cutting elements is disposed on the plurality of blades, and the plurality of cutting elements include at least one coring cutting element disposed on at least one of the plurality of blades. The at least one coring cutting element is the radially innermost cutting element on the plurality of blades, and a coring angle of the at least one coring cutting element is less than an inner cone angle thereof.

Abstract: Polycrystalline diamond constructions include a diamond body comprising a matrix phase of bonded together diamond crystals formed at high pressure/high temperature conditions with a catalyst material. The sintered body is treated remove the catalyst material disposed within interstitial regions, rendering it substantially free of the catalyst material used to initially sinter the body. Accelerating techniques can be used to remove the catalyst material. The body includes an infiltrant material disposed within interstitial regions in a first region of the construction. The body includes a second region adjacent the working surface and that is substantially free of the infiltrant material. The infiltrant material can be a Group VIII material not used to initially sinter the diamond body. A metallic substrate is attached to the diamond body, and can be the same or different from a substrate used as a source of the catalyst material used to initially sinter the diamond body.

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: 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 element assembly includes a sleeve, a lining extending a distance axially from an end of the sleeve, and an inner cutter. The inner cutter has a cutting end, wherein the cutting end extends a depth from a cutting face, a side surface, and a body, wherein the body is at least partially disposed within the sleeve, and wherein the side surface of the cutting end interfaces with an interfacing surface of the lining.

Abstract: A multi-stage flow sub usable in wellbore operations provides for flow of fluid from a tool string to a wellbore annulus, and may provide for one or more of controlling wellbore pressure during a tool operation, or preventing stripping of wet string. The multi-stage flow sub may include a housing having an axial bore and at least one flow passage. A sleeve within the housing may have an axial bore, a shoulder acting as a ball seat, and first and second axially offset flow passages. A first burst disc may be in fluid communication with the first flow passage, and a second burst disc may be in fluid communication with the second flow passage, the second burst disc having a higher burst pressure than the first burst disc.

Abstract: Ultra-hard constructions comprise polycrystalline diamond-body having a first metallic substrate attached thereto, and having a second metallic substrate attached to the first metallic substrate. The first and second substrates each comprise a first hard particle phase, e.g., WC, and a second binder material phase, e.g., Co, wherein the hard particles in the second substrate are sized larger than those in the first substrate. The first substrate may contain a larger amount of binder material than the second substrate. Constructed in this matter, the first substrate is engineered to facilitate sintering diamond body during HPHT conditions, while the second substrate is engineered to provide an improved degree of erosion resistance when placed in an end-use application. The construction may be formed during a single HPHT process. The second substrate may comprise 80 percent or more of the combined thickness of the first and second substrates.

Abstract: A method for treating a polycrystalline diamond material includes subjecting the polycrystalline diamond material to a leaching process and to a thermal decomposition process.

Abstract: Cutting elements include polycrystalline diamond which may be attached to a substrate. The polycrystalline diamond may have a ratio of cubic to hexagonal cobalt crystalline structures of greater than about 1.2. The polycrystalline diamond may have a high level surface compressive stress of greater than about 500 MPa.