Abstract: A cutting element assembly includes a cutter support including a cutter bore. A cutting element is in the cutter bore and a resilient element is integral with the cutter support. The resilient element is longitudinally compressible and has a displacement of greater than 0.1 mm and optionally less than 2 mm. Another cutting assembly includes a cutter support coupled to multiple cutting elements. A resilient element of the cutter support is compressible based on a force applied to the cutter support through one or more of the cutting elements. The resilient element can include a slit in the cutter support. A slit may, for instance, extend perpendicular or transverse to an axis of the cutting elements and allow the cutter support to flex and close off or reduce a size of the slit when forces act on one or more of the cutting elements.

Abstract: A torsional damping system includes a housing having an interior space. An inertia ring is located in the interior space, and a torsion fluid is located between the inertia ring and the housing. The inertia ring is rotatably installed relative to the housing. As the housing oscillates, the inertia ring damps at least a portion of the oscillation. The torsional damping system may be included in a downhole tool or bottomhole assembly, and used to damp oscillations along a drill string or along the bottomhole assembly, including between a downhole motor and a cutting tool.

Abstract: A directional drilling system that includes a drill bit capable of drilling a bore through rock. A shaft couples to the drill bit. The shaft transfers rotational power from a motor to the drill bit. A steering system controls a drilling direction of the drill bit. The steering system includes a sleeve coupled to the shaft. A steering pad couples to the sleeve. The steering pad forms a steering angle with the drill bit. Axial movement of the steering pad with respect to the drill bit changes the drilling direction by changing the steering angle.

Abstract: Changes to the vibrational frequencies of a drill string or BHA are monitored for prognostic health monitoring purposes. When one or more orders of resonance frequencies deviate from a baseline frequency, the magnitude of the deviation, and possibly the rate of deviation, is evaluated. When the deviation exceeds a threshold value, an alert is triggered. The alert may be triggered by downhole processing of the vibration data and conveyed to an operator to allow changes in operational parameters or removal of the component from the wellbore. The alert may instead be triggered by post-run processing of stored and dumped data, that can be used to evaluate whether the tool can be re-run, or whether it should be inspected, repaired, or scrapped.

Abstract: A steering assembly configured for circumferential disposition about a drill string above a drill head and having top and bottom surfaces, an under-gauge peripheral section, and an over-gauge peripheral section substantially opposing the under-gauge peripheral section, where the maximum under-gauge on the top surface in the under-gauge peripheral section is greater than the maximum over-gauge on the bottom surface in the over-gauge peripheral section.

Abstract: A directional drilling system that includes a drill bit that drills a bore through rock. The drill bit includes an outer portion of a first material and an inner portion coupled to the outer portion. The inner portion includes a second material.

Abstract: A drilling system that includes a drill bit that drills a bore through rock. A shaft coupled to the drill bit, wherein the shaft transfers rotational power to the drill bit. A housing that receives at least part of the shaft. A rotary steering system that controls a drilling direction of the drill bit. The rotary steering system includes a steering sleeve that couples to and uncouples from the housing to control a drilling direction of the drill bit.

Abstract: Changes to the vibrational frequencies of a drill string or BHA are monitored for prognostic health monitoring purposes. When one or more orders of resonance frequencies deviate from a baseline frequency, the magnitude of the deviation, and possibly the rate of deviation, is evaluated. When the deviation exceeds a threshold value, an alert is triggered. The alert may be triggered by downhole processing of the vibration data and conveyed to an operator to allow changes in operational parameters or removal of the component from the wellbore. The alert may instead be triggered by post-run processing of stored and dumped data, that can be used to evaluate whether the tool can be re-run, or whether it should be inspected, repaired, or scrapped.

Abstract: A steering assembly configured for circumferential disposition about a drill string above a drill head and having top and bottom surfaces, an under-gauge peripheral section, and an over-gauge peripheral section substantially opposing the under-gauge peripheral section, where the maximum under-gauge on the top surface in the under-gauge peripheral section is greater than the maximum over-gauge on the bottom surface in the over-gauge peripheral section.

Abstract: A steering assembly configured for circumferential disposition about a drill string above a drill head and having top and bottom surfaces, an under-gauge peripheral section, and an over-gauge peripheral section substantially opposing the under-gauge peripheral section, where the maximum under-gauge on the top surface in the under-gauge peripheral section is greater than the maximum over-gauge on the bottom surface in the over-gauge peripheral section.

Abstract: A drilling system that includes a drill bit that drills a bore through rock. A shaft coupled to the drill bit, wherein the shaft transfers rotational power to the drill bit. A housing that receives at least part of the shaft. A rotary steering system that controls a drilling direction of the drill bit. The rotary steering system includes a steering sleeve that couples to and uncouples from the housing to control a drilling direction of the drill bit.

Abstract: A directional drilling system that includes a drill bit capable of drilling a bore through rock. A shaft couples to the drill bit. The shaft transfers rotational power from a motor to the drill bit. A steering system controls a drilling direction of the drill bit. The steering system includes a sleeve coupled to the shaft. A steering pad couples to the sleeve. The steering pad forms a steering angle with the drill bit. Axial movement of the steering pad with respect to the drill bit changes the drilling direction by changing the steering angle.

Abstract: A directional drilling system that includes a drill bit that drills a bore through rock. The drill bit includes an outer portion of a first material and an inner portion coupled to the outer portion. The inner portion includes a second material.

Abstract: A steering assembly configured for circumferential disposition about a drill string above a drill head and having top and bottom surfaces, an under-gauge peripheral section, and an over-gauge peripheral section substantially opposing the under-gauge peripheral section, where the maximum under-gauge on the top surface in the under-gauge peripheral section is greater than the maximum over-gauge on the bottom surface in the over-gauge peripheral section.