Abstract: A device may include an inner shell including an inner groove having an inner groove angle relative to the rotational axis. A device may include an intermediate shell circumferentially around the inner shell and having a slot therein, the slot being at least partially oriented in a longitudinal direction of the rotational axis. A device may include an outer shell circumferentially around the intermediate shell and including an outer groove having an outer groove angle relative to the rotational axis different from inner groove angle. A device may include a bearing positioned in the slot and contacting the inner groove and the outer groove.

Abstract: A method may include executing a computational framework to render a graphical user interface to a display that includes graphical controls for specification of bit design optimization properties for one or more formation types; executing multi-objective optimization code according to the bit design optimization properties to generate bit design genotypes; executing genotype-to-phenotype code to generate bit design phenotypes from the bit design genotypes; executing one or more simulators to generate simulation results for the bit design phenotypes; executing fitness vector generation code to generate a fitness vector for the simulation results; and executing the multi-objective optimization code using the fitness vector to generate a set of bit design genotypes.

Abstract: A downhole tool includes first and second electrical conductors and a relay deployed in and rotationally coupled to a first housing. The first and second electrical conductors are electrically connected to the relay. A solenoid is rotationally coupled with a second housing which is rotationally independent from the first housing. The solenoid is configured to actuate the relay and thereby electrically connect or disconnect the first electrical conductor to or from the second electrical conductor.

Abstract: A device may include a tool housing having an outer surface. A device may include a movable biasing element radially movable relative to the outer surface. A device may include a bore in the outer surface of the tool housing at least partially in a radial direction of the tool housing. A device may include a piston axially fixed to the movable biasing element and movable in the bore. A device may include a pressure ring coupled to the piston and positioned between at least a portion of the piston and an inner wall of the bore.

Abstract: A drilling system may include a steering tool configured to engage a wellbore wall to direct an orientation of a toolface, the steering tool being rotatable about a rotational axis. A drilling system may include an azimuth sensor package, the azimuth sensor package including at least one of a multi-axis gyroscopic azimuth sensor rotatable about the rotational axis of the steering tool, a multi-axis magnetic azimuth sensor rotatable about the rotational axis of the steering tool, or an accelerometer azimuth sensor rotatable about the rotational axis of the steering tool.

Abstract: A method for surveying a wellbore includes rotating a downhole tool having a tilted survey sensor in the wellbore. The tilted survey sensor has a sensory axis that is rotationally offset from a longitudinal axis of the downhole tool and is used to make sensor measurements while rotating the downhole tool in the wellbore. The sensor measurements are fit with a sinusoidal fitting function to obtain first and second fitting parameters. A wellbore survey parameter such as wellbore inclination or wellbore azimuth is computed from the first and second fitting parameters.

Abstract: An instrument assembly comprises an electronics housing disposed in a body of a downhole tool and an engagement element assembly connected to the electronics housing. The instrument assembly includes an engagement sensor positioned at a base of the engagement element assembly and configured to take measurements corresponding with an engagement of the engagement element assembly with a borehole. The instrument assembly includes an electronics housing seal configured to seal at least a portion of the electronics housing from a downhole pressure.

Abstract: A device may include a tool housing having an outer surface. A device may include a movable biasing element radially movable relative to the outer surface. A device may include a bore in the outer surface of the tool housing at least partially in a radial direction of the tool housing. A device may include a piston axially fixed to the movable biasing element and movable in the bore. A device may include a pressure ring coupled to the piston and positioned between at least a portion of the piston and an inner wall of the bore.

Abstract: A mud pulse telemetry system is disclosed including a drill string positioned within a wellbore, a restriction positioned within the drill string and configured to create a pressure differential between a high pressure region and a low pressure region of the drill string, a piston including a piston opening positioned within a piston chamber and movable along an axis between a first position and a second position, a valve movable to selectively open the piston opening, and a pulser coupled to the piston and positioned for movement within the drill string along the axis. The pulser includes a pulser body having at least a portion thereof with a non-linear profile and a conduit extending through the pulser body and facilitating fluid communication between the drill string and the piston chamber. Movement of the pulser body generates a pressure wave through mud within the drill string.

Abstract: A drilling system may include a steering tool configured to engage a wellbore wall to direct an orientation of a toolface, the steering tool being rotatable about a rotational axis. A drilling system may include an azimuth sensor package, the azimuth sensor package including at least one of a multi-axis gyroscopic azimuth sensor rotatable about the rotational axis of the steering tool, a multi-axis magnetic azimuth sensor rotatable about the rotational axis of the steering tool, or an accelerometer azimuth sensor rotatable about the rotational axis of the steering tool.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for drilling a secondary wellbore relative to a target wellbore, which involve drilling the secondary wellbore with a bottomhole assembly (BHA) that extends from a drill string. The BHA includes a magnetic field detector, a steering component, a drill bit, and at least one processor. The magnetic field detector is configured to detect a time- varying magnetic field generated from a rotating magnetic source of a drilling tool disposed in the target wellbore. The at least one processor is configured to i) use data output by the magnetic field detector to continually determine distance and direction or azimuth of the magnetic source relative to the BHA while drilling, and ii) use the distance and direction or azimuth of the magnetic source relative to the BHA while drilling to adjust the steering of the drilling performed by the BHA as controlled by the steering component of the BHA.

Abstract: A downhole communication device includes a downhole tool implemented in a wellbore. A magnetic component is connected to the downhole tool and configured to generate a polarized magnetic field. The downhole communication device includes a means for modulating the polarized magnetic field of the magnetic component to encode a bit sequence into the polarized magnetic field.

Abstract: A system includes a bottom hole assembly (BHA), including at least one valve including a bistable actuator coupled to a stem having a valve element, wherein the bistable actuator is configured to move the stem along an axial path of travel to position the valve element in an open position or a closed position relative to a valve seat. The at least one valve also includes a pressure-compensated seal disposed about the stem, wherein the pressure-compensated seal is disposed between an interior fluid chamber and a fluid flow path through the at least one valve.

Abstract: A downhole tool for forming a wellbore includes a plurality of jets configured to flow a main flow of a flow of drilling fluid out of the downhole tool along a main flow path. The downhole tool includes a plurality of main valves in fluid communication with the plurality of jets along the main flow path and being actuatable to control the main flow through the plurality of jets. The downhole tool further includes a control valve in fluid communication with the plurality of main valves along a control flow path and configured to direct the control flow selectively to the plurality of main valves to selectively actuate the plurality of main valves based on a selective mechanical input to the control valve. The downhole tool further includes a mechanical input mechanism for providing the selective mechanical input to the control valve.

Abstract: A method for making axial magnetic field measurements in a downhole tool includes evaluating axial magnetic field measurements to determine a magnetic interference offset and removing the magnetic interference offset to obtain compensated axial magnetic field measurements.

Abstract: A system includes a bottom hole assembly (BHA) that includes a drill bit configured to drill a pilot hole in a subterranean formation, such that the drill bit provides a first point of contact between the BHA and the subterranean formation. The BHA includes a steering pad assembly that includes one or more steering pads each configured to move over a path of travel between a retracted position and an extended position to provide a second point of contact between the BHA and the subterranean formation, and a reamer configured to expand the pilot hole into a borehole, such that the reamer provides a third point of contact between the BHA and the subterranean formation. The system includes a controller configured to steer the BHA via the first, second, and third points of contact and adjustments to the second point of contact via control of the steering pad assembly.

Abstract: A downhole communication system includes a gap sub located at an RSS. The gap sub is located on the outer, independently rotating member of the RSS. This allows the RSS to receive electromagnetic downlink communication signals from the surface or from an MWD. The RSS transmits electromagnetic uplink signals to a second gap sub located above the RSS or to the surface.

Abstract: An instrument assembly comprises an electronics housing disposed in a body of a downhole tool and an engagement element assembly connected to the electronics housing. The instrument assembly includes an engagement sensor positioned at a base of the engagement element assembly and configured to take measurements corresponding with an engagement of the engagement element assembly with a borehole. The instrument assembly includes an electronics housing seal configured to seal at least a portion of the electronics housing from a downhole pressure.

Abstract: A method for making axial magnetic field measurements in a downhole tool includes evaluating axial magnetic field measurements to determine a magnetic interference offset and removing the magnetic interference offset to obtain compensated axial magnetic field measurements.

Abstract: A method for making cross-axial magnetic field measurements in a downhole tool includes evaluating cross-axial magnetic field measurements to determine a magnetic interference bias and removing the magnetic interference bias to obtain compensated cross-axial magnetic field measurements.