Abstract: A method for monitoring a drilling operation includes: providing a drill bit for drilling a wellbore into a geological formation using a drilling motor for rotating the drill bit; determining depth of cut (DOC) of the drill bit and torque exerted on the drill bit by the drilling motor using parameters measured while drilling the wellbore; simulating drilling of a hypothetical wellbore using a hypothetical drill bit similar or identical to the drill bit and determining a function that provides strength of a hypothetical geological formation from the DOC of the hypothetical drill bit and the torque exerted on the hypothetical drill bit; and determining strength of the geological formation using the function and the determined DOC and the torque.

Abstract: A bit for drilling a wellbore includes: a shank having a coupling formed at an upper end thereof; a body mounted to a lower end of the shank; and a cutting face forming a lower end of the bit. The cutting face includes: a blade protruding from the body; a leading cutter including: a substrate mounted in a pocket formed in a leading edge of the blade; and a cutting table made from a superhard material and mounted to the substrate; and a shock stud having a nonplanar working portion made from a composite material and mounted in a lower face of the blade at a position trailing the leading cutter. The composite material comprises a ceramic or cermet matrix impregnated with a superhard material.

Abstract: A bit for drilling a wellbore includes: a shank having a coupling formed at an upper end thereof; a body mounted to a lower end of the shank; and a cutting face forming a lower end of the bit. The cutting face includes: a blade protruding from the body; a leading cutter including: a substrate mounted in a pocket formed in a leading edge of the blade; and a cutting table made from a superhard material and mounted to the substrate; and a shock stud having a nonplanar working portion made from a composite material and mounted in a lower face of the blade at a position trailing the leading cutter. The composite material comprises a ceramic or cermet matrix impregnated with a superhard material.