Abstract: Methods and systems for receiving an earth-boring tool design, identifying a force model equation to utilize in simulating performance of the earth-boring tool design within a planned drilling operation, simulating performance of the earth-boring tool design within the planned drilling operation utilizing the identified force model equation, and based at least partially on the simulated performance of the earth-boring tool, estimating a probability of an actual earth-boring tool experiencing stick-slip within the planned drilling operation.

Abstract: A drill bit comprises a bit body having a longitudinal axis and a blade extending radially outward from the longitudinal axis along a face region and axially along a gauge region. A gauge region includes a cutting element located proximate to an uphole edge of the blade in the gauge region. A remainder of the gauge region is free of cutting elements mounted thereon. A method of drilling a borehole comprises rotating the bit about the longitudinal axis, engaging a formation with cutting elements mounted to the face region, and increasing a lateral force applied substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis such that the cutting element engages the formation and such that side cutting exhibited by the tool is initially minimal and substantially constant and subsequently increases in a substantially linear manner with increasing lateral force.

Abstract: A drill bit for removing subterranean formation material in a borehole comprises a bit body comprising a longitudinal axis, a plurality of blades extending radially outward from the longitudinal axis along a face region of the bit body and extending axially along a gauge region of the bit body, and an insert coupled to at least one blade in the gauge region. The insert comprises an elongated body having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a longitudinal axis extending centrally therethrough and intersecting the upper and lower surfaces. The upper surface comprises a bearing surface for supporting for the drill bit and providing a surface on which the subterranean formation being drilled rubs against the insert without exceeding the compressive strength of the selected formation. The insert is coupled to the blade such that the upper surface thereof extends radially beyond an outer surface of the blade and the lower surface thereof extends radially below the outer surface of the blade.

Abstract: A drill bit comprises a bit body having a longitudinal axis and a blade extending radially outward from the longitudinal axis along a face region and axially along a gauge region. A gauge region includes a cutting element located proximate to an uphole edge of the blade in the gauge region. A remainder of the gauge region is free of cutting elements mounted thereon. A method of drilling a borehole comprises rotating the bit about the longitudinal axis, engaging a formation with cutting elements mounted to the face region, and increasing a lateral force applied substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis such that the cutting element engages the formation and such that side cutting exhibited by the tool is initially minimal and substantially constant and subsequently increases in a substantially linear manner with increasing lateral force.

Abstract: A drill bit comprises a bit body having a longitudinal axis and a blade extending radially outward from the longitudinal axis along a face region and axially along a gauge region. A gauge region includes a gauge feature and first and second recessed regions extending axially above and below the gauge feature, respectively. The gauge feature comprises an outermost surface extending radially beyond outer surfaces of the blade in the recessed regions. A method of drilling a borehole comprises rotating the bit about the longitudinal axis, engaging a formation with cutting elements mounted to the face region, and increasing a lateral force applied substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis such that radially outer surfaces in the gauge region engage the formation and such that side cutting exhibited by the bit is initially minimal and substantially constant and subsequently increases in a substantially linear manner with increasing lateral force.

Abstract: A simulation system that receives a first plurality of inputs including at least one drilling parameter, at least one lithology parameter, and at least one earth-boring tool option; provides the first plurality of inputs to a cluster system; receives simulation data from the cluster system derived from a plurality of simulations of drilling operations utilizing the first plurality of inputs; analyzes the simulation data to generate a predictive algorithm for simulating drilling operations; receives a well plan including data related to a planned trajectory of a borehole; and utilizes the predictive algorithm to select a suitable earth-boring tool and suitable drilling parameters to achieve the planned trajectory of a borehole.

Abstract: A method of predicting behavior of a drilling assembly includes: generating a mathematical representation of a geometry of each of a plurality of components of a drilling assembly, the plurality of components including a plurality of cutters and one or more additional components configured to at least one of: support the plurality of cutters and operably connect the plurality of cutters to the drill string, the one or more additional components including a drill bit crown; simulating one or more operating conditions incident on the drilling assembly representation, and simulating an interaction between the plurality of components and an earth formation; and predicting physical responses of the drilling assembly representation to the one or more conditions.

Abstract: A drill bit comprises a bit body having a longitudinal axis and a blade extending radially outward from the longitudinal axis along a face region and axially along a gauge region. A gauge region includes a cutting element located proximate to an uphole edge of the blade in the gauge region. A remainder of the gauge region is free of cutting elements mounted thereon. A method of drilling a borehole comprises rotating the bit about the longitudinal axis, engaging a formation with cutting elements mounted to the face region, and increasing a lateral force applied substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis such that the cutting element engages the formation and such that side cutting exhibited by the tool is initially minimal and substantially constant and subsequently increases in a substantially linear manner with increasing lateral force.

Abstract: A drill bit for removing subterranean formation material in a borehole comprises a bit body comprising a longitudinal axis, a plurality of blades extending radially outward from the longitudinal axis along a face region of the bit body and extending axially along a gauge region of the bit body, and an insert coupled to at least one blade in the gauge region. The insert comprises an elongated body having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a longitudinal axis extending centrally therethrough and intersecting the upper and lower surfaces. The upper surface comprises a bearing surface for supporting for the drill bit and providing a surface on which the subterranean formation being drilled rubs against the insert without exceeding the compressive strength of the selected formation. The insert is coupled to the blade such that the upper surface thereof extends radially beyond an outer surface of the blade and the lower surface thereof extends radially below the outer surface of the blade.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatuses to aid with directional drilling through a subterranean formation are described. A model is provided that is indicative of: (i) one or more frictional forces at one or more contact points of the BHA and a wall of a non-linear borehole through a subterranean formation, (ii) one or more internal torques of the BHA between the one or more contact points, and (iii) one or more internal torques of the drill string between the one or more contact points. Based on the model, a toolface severity is determined for the drilling system, the toolface severity corresponding to a change in angular deflection for a change in applied weight-on-bit (WOB) of the BHA. A design is selected for the drilling system based on a comparison of the toolface severity to another toolface severity for a different design. Drilling may be performed by a drilling system having a bottom-hole assembly (BHA) optimized to reduce fluctuations in toolface orientation along a non-linear borehole.

Abstract: A simulation system that receives a first plurality of inputs including at least one drilling parameter, at least one lithology parameter, and at least one earth-boring tool option; provides the first plurality of inputs to a cluster system; receives simulation data from the cluster system derived from a plurality of simulations of drilling operations utilizing the first plurality of inputs; analyzes the simulation data to generate a predictive algorithm for simulating drilling operations; receives a well plan including data related to a planned trajectory of a borehole; and utilizes the predictive algorithm to select a suitable earth-boring tool and suitable drilling parameters to achieve the planned trajectory of a borehole.

Abstract: Methods of drilling earth formations may involve removing a portion of an underlying earth formation utilizing cutting elements of an earth-boring drill bit. A rotational speed of the drill string may be sensed utilizing a first sensor. A rate of penetration of the drill string during advancement of the earth-boring drill bit may be sensed utilizing a second sensor. An instantaneous average depth of cut of cutting elements of the earth-boring drill bit may be determined utilizing a control unit to calculate the instantaneous average depth of cut based on a sensed rotational speed of the drill string and a sensed speed of advancement of the drill string. The weight on the earth-boring drill bit may be increased utilizing the drawworks when the instantaneous average depth of cut is less than the predetermined minimum depth of cut.

Abstract: A method of predicting behavior of a drilling assembly includes: generating a mathematical representation of a geometry of each of a plurality of components of a drilling assembly, the plurality of components including a plurality of cutters and one or more additional components configured to at least one of: support the plurality of cutters and operably connect the plurality of cutters to the drill string, the one or more additional components including a drill bit crown; simulating one or more operating conditions incident on the drilling assembly representation, and simulating an interaction between the plurality of components and an earth formation; and predicting physical responses of the drilling assembly representation to the one or more conditions.

Abstract: A method of controlling drill bit trajectory in a subterranean formation includes receiving drilling parameters for operating a specific bottomhole assembly (BHA), constructing, with a computer processor, a directional drill-ahead simulator including a computer model of the BHA and the subterranean formation, calculating axial motion and lateral motion of a drill bit connected to a bottom end of the BHA using formation parameters and drilling parameters, predicting bit walk of the drill bit by accounting for and calculating contact forces and frictional forces between the BHA and a wall of a borehole in the subterranean formation using the computer model of the BHA, and determining an adjusted drill bit trajectory to account for the predicted bit walk. The method includes determining adjusted drilling parameters for operating the BHA to substantially follow the adjusted drill bit trajectory and operating the BHA according to the adjusted drilling parameters.

Abstract: A drill bit comprises a bit body having a longitudinal axis and a blade extending radially outward from the longitudinal axis along a face region and axially along a gauge region. A gauge region includes a gauge feature and first and second recessed regions extending axially above and below the gauge feature, respectively. The gauge feature comprises an outermost surface extending radially beyond outer surfaces of the blade in the recessed regions. A method of drilling a borehole comprises rotating the bit about the longitudinal axis, engaging a formation with cutting elements mounted to the face region, and increasing a lateral force applied substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis such that radially outer surfaces in the gauge region engage the formation and such that side cutting exhibited by the bit is initially minimal and substantially constant and subsequently increases in a substantially linear manner with increasing lateral force.

Abstract: A method of predicting behavior of a drilling assembly includes: generating a mathematical representation of a geometry of each of a plurality of components of a drilling assembly, the plurality of components including a plurality of cutters and one or more additional components configured to at least one of: support the plurality of cutters and operably connect the plurality of cutters to the drill string, the one or more additional components including a drill bit crown; simulating one or more operating conditions incident on the drilling assembly representation, and simulating an interaction between the plurality of components and an earth formation; and predicting physical responses of the drilling assembly representation to the one or more conditions.

Abstract: An earth-boring tool may include a body and at least one rotatable cutting structure assembly. The rotatable cutting structure assembly may include a leg, a rotatable cutting structure rotatably coupled to the leg, and a resistance actuator configured to impose rotational resistance on the rotatable cutting structure relative to the leg. An earth-boring to may include a plurality of rotatable cutting structure assemblies coupled to the bit body and a plurality of blades coupled to the body. A method of drilling a borehole may include rotating an earth-boring tool within the borehole, causing rotational resistance to be imposed on at least one rotatable cutting structure of the earth-boring tool, causing a blade of the earth-boring tool to be pushed into a sidewall of the borehole, and side cutting the sidewall of the borehole with the blade.

Abstract: A method for predicting a path of a borehole that will be drilled in a rock formation by a bottomhole assembly (BHA) having a drill bit includes: constructing a model of the BHA; calculating confined compressive strength of the rock formation using an axial motion drill bit model that receives drilling parameter, drill bit design and lithology information; calculating lateral motion of the drill bit using a lateral motion drill bit model; calculating a ratio of lateral motion to axial motion using the lateral motion drill bit model; calculating an inclination angle and an azimuthal direction of the BHA using a BHA steering model that receives the ratio; and iterating the above steps by updating the BHA model to include extending the borehole an incremental distance in the direction of the inclination angle and the azimuthal direction and displacing the BHA the incremental distance in the extended borehole.

Abstract: A method for predicting a change in lateral displacement with a change in axial displacement of a drill bit drilling in a formation rock includes: constructing a virtual representation of the drill bit and the formation rock, the drill bit having a gage pad configured to remove rock by wearing or crushing the rock during moving contact and a cutter configured to cut into the rock during moving contact with the rock; adjusting lateral penetration depth until rock reactive force equals a side force applied to the drill bit to provide an adjusted lateral penetration depth; removing formation rock to where the pad and the cutters contact the rock at the adjusted lateral penetration depth and to a selected axial displacement of the drill bit; moving the drill bit in a drilling direction to the end of the currently drilled borehole; and iterating the adjusting, the removing, and the moving.

Abstract: Methods of drilling earth formations may involve removing a portion of an underlying earth formation utilizing cutting elements of an earth-boring drill bit. A rotational speed of the drill string may be sensed utilizing a first sensor. A rate of penetration of the drill string during advancement of the earth-boring drill bit may be sensed utilizing a second sensor. An instantaneous average depth of cut of cutting elements of the earth-boring drill bit may be determined utilizing a control unit to calculate the instantaneous average depth of cut based on a sensed rotational speed of the drill string and a sensed speed of advancement of the drill string. The weight on the earth-boring drill bit may be increased utilizing the drawworks when the instantaneous average depth of cut is less than the predetermined minimum depth of cut.