Abstract: A layer of matrix powder is deposited within a mold opening. A layer of super-abrasive particles is then deposited over the matrix powder layer. The super-abrasive particles have a non-random distribution, such as being positioned at locations set by a regular and repeating distribution pattern. A layer of matrix powder is then deposited over the super-abrasive particles. The particle and matrix powder layer deposition process steps are repeated to produce a cell having alternating layers of matrix powder and non-randomly distributed super-abrasive particles. The cell is then fused, for example using an infiltration, hot isostatic pressing or sintering process, to produce an impregnated structure. A working surface of the impregnated structure that is oriented non-parallel (and, in particular, perpendicular) to the super-abrasive particle layers is used as an abrading surface for a tool.

Abstract: A method for analyzing a wellbore drilling operation includes acquiring sonic log data, gamma ray log data, and rate of penetration (ROP) data. The sonic log data, the gamma ray log data, and the ROP data are associated with depth intervals of a wellbore. The method further includes determining unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of a rock formation associated with the wellbore using well log data and drilling data. The well log data is limited to the sonic log data and the gamma ray log data, and the drilling data is limited to the ROP data.

Abstract: A drill bit includes a crown portion that has a plurality of blades that are separated from each other by a junk slot. Each blade includes a plurality of blind micro-holes formed in a working surface of the blade where each blind micro-hole in the plurality of blind micro-holes has a depth of 2 mm to 10 mm and a circular cross-section with a diameter of 1 mm to 3.5 mm. A super-abrasive material fills each blind micro-hole of the plurality of blind micro-holes. The super-abrasive material filling each of the plurality of blind apertures may be a polycrystalline diamond compact or an impregnated diamond material (such as formed by fused tungsten carbide impregnating randomly distributed diamond particles).

Abstract: A substrate includes a surface having blind apertures formed therein. The blind apertures formed in the surface are preferably arranged in a regular and repeating pattern, such as with an array. A super-abrasive material fills each of the blind apertures. Each apertures hole has an opening with a cross-sectional dimension in the range of 1 mm to 15 mm. The super-abrasive material filling each of the plurality of blind apertures may be a polycrystalline diamond compact or an impregnated diamond material (such as formed by fused tungsten carbide impregnating randomly distributed diamond particles). The blind apertures may be formed in the substrate using electrical discharge machining.

Abstract: A short matrix drill bit is disclosed along with methods of manufacturing the same. The Short drill matrix bit includes a combination shank/blank bonded to a matrix. The combination shank/blank includes a blank portion and a shank portion, which are formed as a unitary component. The combination shank and blank may also include an outer layer formed along at least a portion of the combination shank/blank. In some instances, the outer layer is nickel plating, or some other suitable material, which facilitates wetting of the binder material used to form the matrix.

Abstract: A method for analyzing a wellbore drilling operation includes acquiring sonic log data, gamma ray log data, and rate of penetration (ROP) data. The sonic log data, the gamma ray log data, and the ROP data are associated with depth intervals of a wellbore. The method further includes determining unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of a rock formation associated with the wellbore using well log data and drilling data. The well log data is limited to the sonic log data and the gamma ray log data, and the drilling data is limited to the ROP data.

Abstract: A layer of matrix powder is deposited within a mold opening. A layer of super-abrasive particles is then deposited over the matrix powder layer. The super-abrasive particles have a non-random distribution, such as being positioned at locations set by a regular and repeating distribution pattern. A layer of matrix powder is then deposited over the super-abrasive particles. The particle and matrix powder layer deposition process steps are repeated to produce a cell having alternating layers of matrix powder and non-randomly distributed super-abrasive particles. The cell is then fused, for example using an infiltration, hot isostatic pressing or sintering process, to produce an impregnated structure. A working surface of the impregnated structure that is oriented non-parallel (and, in particular, perpendicular) to the super-abrasive particle layers is used as an abrading surface for a tool.

Abstract: A layer of matrix powder is deposited within a mold opening. A layer of super-abrasive particles is then deposited over the matrix powder layer. The super-abrasive particles have a non-random distribution, such as being positioned at locations set by a regular and repeating distribution pattern. A layer of matrix powder is then deposited over the super-abrasive particles. The particle and matrix powder layer deposition process steps are repeated to produce a cell having alternating layers of matrix powder and non-randomly distributed super-abrasive particles. The cell is then fused, for example using an infiltration, hot isostatic pressing or sintering process, to produce an impregnated structure. A working surface of the impregnated structure that is oriented non-parallel (and, in particular, perpendicular) to the super-abrasive particle layers is used as an abrading surface for a tool.

Abstract: A layer of matrix powder is deposited within a mold opening. A layer of super-abrasive particles is then deposited over the matrix powder layer. The super-abrasive particles have a non-random distribution, such as being positioned at locations set by a regular and repeating distribution pattern. A layer of matrix powder is then deposited over the super-abrasive particles. The particle and matrix powder layer deposition process steps are repeated to produce a cell having alternating layers of matrix powder and non-randomly distributed super-abrasive particles. The cell is then fused, for example using an infiltration, hot isostatic pressing or sintering process, to produce an impregnated structure. A working surface of the impregnated structure that is oriented non-parallel (and, in particular, perpendicular) to the super-abrasive particle layers is used as an abrading surface for a tool.

Abstract: A substrate includes a surface having blind apertures formed therein. The blind apertures formed in the surface are preferably arranged in a regular and repeating pattern, such as with an array. A super-abrasive material fills each of the blind apertures. Each apertures hole has an opening with a cross-sectional dimension in the range of 1 mm to 15 mm. The super-abrasive material filling each of the plurality of blind apertures may be a polycrystalline diamond compact or an impregnated diamond material (such as formed by fused tungsten carbide impregnating randomly distributed diamond particles). The blind apertures may be formed in the substrate using electrical discharge machining.

Abstract: A drill bit includes a plurality of continuous segments impregnated with diamond that are each mounted to form a corresponding blade. The regions between the blades define a plurality of fluid passages on the bit face. The blades extend radially outwardly to the gage. The continuous segments may be either straight or spiral in design. Furthermore, the design of the segments supports varying one or more of: diamond content, width, back rake angle and/or relief angle along a length of the segment.

Abstract: A drill bit includes a plurality of continuous segments impregnated with diamond that are each mounted to form a corresponding blade. The regions between the blades define a plurality of fluid passages on the bit face. The blades extend radially outwardly to the gage. The continuous segments may be either straight or spiral in design. Furthermore, the design of the segments supports varying one or more of: diamond content, width, back rake angle and/or relief angle along a length of the segment.

Abstract: A drill bit includes a plurality of continuous segments impregnated with diamond that are each mounted to form a corresponding blade. The regions between the blades define a plurality of fluid passages on the bit face. The blades extend radially outwardly to the gage. The continuous segments may be either straight or spiral in design. Furthermore, the design of the segments supports varying one or more of: diamond content, width, back rake angle and/or relief angle along a length of the segment.

Abstract: A method of identifying one or more rock properties and/or one or more abnormalities occurring within a subterranean formation. The method includes obtaining a plurality of drilling parameters, which include at least the rate of penetration, the weight on bit, and the bit revolutions per minute, and then normalizing these plurality of drilling parameters by calculating a depth of cut and an intrinsic drilling impedance. Typically, the intrinsic drilling impedance is specific to the type of bit used to drill the wellbore and includes using a plurality of drill bit constants. From this intrinsic drilling impedance, the porosity and/or the rock strength may be determined which is then compared to the actual values to identify the specific type of the one or more abnormalities occurring. Additionally, the intrinsic drilling impedance may be compared to other logging parameters to also identify the specific type of the one or more abnormalities occurring.

Abstract: A drill bit includes a plurality of continuous segments impregnated with diamond that are each mounted to form a corresponding blade. The regions between the blades define a plurality of fluid passages on the bit face. The blades extend radially outwardly to the gage. The continuous segments may be either straight or spiral in design. Furthermore, the design of the segments supports varying one or more of: diamond content, width, back rake angle and/or relief angle along a length of the segment.

Abstract: A drill bit includes a plurality of continuous segments impregnated with diamond that are each mounted to form a corresponding blade. The regions between the blades define a plurality of fluid passages on the bit face. The blades extend radially outwardly to the gage. The continuous segments may be either straight or spiral in design. Furthermore, the design of the segments supports varying one or more of: diamond content, width, back rake angle and/or relief angle along a length of the segment.

Abstract: A method of identifying one or more rock properties and/or one or more abnormalities occurring within a subterranean formation. The method includes obtaining a plurality of drilling parameters, which include at least the rate of penetration, the weight on bit, and the bit revolutions per minute, and then normalizing these plurality of drilling parameters by calculating a depth of cut and an intrinsic drilling impedance. Typically, the intrinsic drilling impedance is specific to the type of bit used to drill the wellbore and includes using a plurality of drill bit constants. From this intrinsic drilling impedance, the porosity and/or the rock strength may be determined which is then compared to the actual values to identify the specific type of the one or more abnormalities occurring. Additionally, the intrinsic drilling impedance may be compared to other logging parameters to also identify the specific type of the one or more abnormalities occurring.

Abstract: A drill bit includes a plurality of continuous segments impregnated with diamond that are each mounted to form a corresponding blade. The regions between the blades define a plurality of fluid passages on the bit face. The blades extend radially outwardly to the gage. The continuous segments may be either straight or spiral in design. Furthermore, the design of the segments supports varying one or more of: diamond content, width, back rake angle and/or relief angle along a length of the segment.

Abstract: The tread of a rib type tire is modified to provide draft angles in lateral grooves of selected ribs to compensate the tire's residual aligning torque (RAT). This allows the vehicle to have straight ahead motion with no steering pull. The draft angles are achieved by inclining the radial centerline of the lateral grooves to be sloped forward on one side of the midcircumferential plane and sloped backward on the other side of the midcircumferential plane. The centerline draft angle results in tread blocks sloped forward and backward during forward motion of the vehicle. The sloping tread blocks produces an effective rolling radius change on selected ribs of the tread pattern. Effective rolling radius of selected ribs is a concept introduced to explain the physical relationships that exist in the contact patch of the tire with the ground surface.

Abstract: The tread design of a radial pneumatic tire for ground vehicles is characterized by lateral or transverse grooves on the shoulder ribs having an incline from the normal to the contact surface in one direction and the lateral or transverse grooves in the center of the tread width being inclined in the reverse direction. Improved wear rates with uniform wear is obtained on a drive axle with proper tire rotation. A reversed direction of rotation on the non-drive axle results in more even wear with potentially less vibration and noise.Lateral grooves are inclined form approximately 20 to 30 degrees and leading edges of some tread blocks have acute angles while other tread blocks have trailing edges with acute angles. The resultant distribution of longitudinal tangential stress on tread blocks is improved.