Abstract: A mill-drill cutter for an earth boring bit includes a cutting structure secured to a substrate. The cutting structure has a drilling edge, and the substrate has a milling edge. The substrate is configured to be received in a cutter pocket of the earth boring bit. The drilling edge of the cutting structure is disposed radially internal to the milling edge of the substrate.

Abstract: A mill-drill cutter for an earth boring bit includes a cutting structure secured to a substrate. The cutting structure has a drilling edge, and the substrate has a milling edge. The substrate is configured to be received in a cutter pocket of the earth boring bit. The drilling edge of the cutting structure is disposed radially internal to the milling edge of the substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus that includes one or more machined high-angle sockets and method for fabricating such sockets. The apparatus includes a body, one or more blades extending outwardly from the body, and one or more high-angle nozzles machined into a portion of the blade. The body includes a bit face at one end and a plenum formed therein communicably coupled to an opening formed at an opposing end. Each blade includes a leading section, a trailing section, a face section extending from one end of the leading section to an end of the trailing section, and an inner section extending from an opposing end of the leading section to an opposing end of the trailing section. Each nozzle includes a nozzle socket cavity and a second hole intersecting with the nozzle socket cavity and extending to the plenum, which collectively form a passage extending from the plenum to the bit face.

Abstract: A casing end tool has a bowl-like (or cup-like) body defined by a wall having an outer convex surface and an inner concave surface opposite of the outer convex surface. The bowl-like body has a center axis. The inner concave surface is non-axisymmetric with respect to the center axis, while the outer convex surface is axisymmetric with respect to the center axis. The non-axisymmetric configuration is provided in one implementation through the presence of a set of raised boss or land structures formed on the inner concave surface. In another implementation, the non-axisymmetric configuration is provided by channels formed in the inner concave surface.

Abstract: A PDC bit includes a plurality of blades including primary blades and secondary blades. The included primary blades are set with PDC cutters in accordance with a “single set” methodology. The included secondary blades, however, are set with PDC cutters using a type of “plural set” methodology such that the radial positions of cutters on a secondary blade match the radial positions of cutters on a single set primary which is immediately preceding that secondary blade. Plural secondary blades can be positioned to follow a single primary blade, and the cutters on those plural secondary blades will have radial positions matching the cutters of the immediately preceding single set primary blade.

Abstract: An assembly is provided to attach a whipstock to a mill/drill bit. The assembly includes an upper collar adapted for installation around a shank of the mill/drill bit. At least one connecting member is mounted at a first end to the upper collar. The connecting member extends downwardly from the upper collar and is adapted to fit within a junkslot of the mill/drill bit to which the upper collar is attached. A whipstock attachment structure is mounted to a second end of the at least one connecting member.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing a down hole tool that reduces manufacturing costs and enhances the tool's performance. A belted mold assembly includes a casting assembly, a belt assembly, and a mid-belt. The belted mold assembly is used to fabricate a casting that allows for a larger diameter blank to be used which displaces the more expensive casting material and for using a smaller outer diameter thin-walled mold. The casting assembly is disposed within the belt assembly and the mid-belt is loaded in the volume created between the casting assembly's outer surface and the belt assembly's inner surface. The mid-belt provides a bracing for the casting assembly during the casting process. Optionally, a cap can be disposed on top of the blank for preventing metallurgical bonds from forming between the binder material and the upper portion of the blank. This allows for the excess binder material to remain high in purity so that it can be reprocessed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing a down hole tool that reduces manufacturing costs and enhances the tool's performance. A belted mold assembly includes a casting assembly, a belt assembly, and a mid-belt. The belted mold assembly is used to fabricate a casting that allows for a larger diameter blank to be used which displaces the more expensive casting material and for using a smaller outer diameter thin-walled mold. The casting assembly is disposed within the belt assembly and the mid-belt is loaded in the volume created between the casting assembly's outer surface and the belt assembly's inner surface. The mid-belt provides a bracing for the casting assembly during the casting process. Optionally, a cap can be disposed on top of the blank for preventing metallurgical bonds from forming between the binder material and the upper portion of the blank. This allows for the excess binder material to remain high in purity so that it can be reprocessed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing a down hole tool that reduces manufacturing costs and enhances the tool's performance. A belted mold assembly includes a casting assembly, a belt assembly, and a mid-belt. The belted mold assembly is used to fabricate a casting that allows for a larger diameter blank to be used which displaces the more expensive casting material and for using a smaller outer diameter thin-walled mold. The casting assembly is disposed within the belt assembly and the mid-belt is loaded in the volume created between the casting assembly's outer surface and the belt assembly's inner surface. The mid-belt provides a bracing for the casting assembly during the casting process. Optionally, a cap can be disposed on top of the blank for preventing metallurgical bonds from forming between the binder material and the upper portion of the blank. This allows for the excess binder material to remain high in purity so that it can be reprocessed.

Abstract: A casing end tool has a mandrel and a body that is defined by a wall having an outer surface and an inner surface opposite of the outer surface. The body is fabricated from crystalline tungsten powder and a binder material. The inner surface includes a set of raised bosses or land structures. The body includes a plurality of blades on the outer surface. Each blade has a plurality of cutters. Blade channels and cutter channels on the blades enhance fragmentation of the body during drill out of the casing end tool.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing a down hole tool that reduces manufacturing costs and enhances the tool's performance. A belted mold assembly includes a casting assembly, a belt assembly, and a mid-belt. The belted mold assembly is used to fabricate a casting that allows for a larger diameter blank to be used which displaces the more expensive casting material and for using a smaller outer diameter thin-walled mold. The casting assembly is disposed within the belt assembly and the mid-belt is loaded in the volume created between the casting assembly's outer surface and the belt assembly's inner surface. The mid-belt provides a bracing for the casting assembly during the casting process. Optionally, a cap can be disposed on top of the blank for preventing metallurgical bonds from forming between the binder material and the upper portion of the blank. This allows for the excess binder material to remain high in purity so that it can be reprocessed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing a down hole tool that reduces manufacturing costs and enhances the tool's performance. A belted mold assembly includes a casting assembly, a belt assembly, and a mid-belt. The belted mold assembly is used to fabricate a casting that allows for a larger diameter blank to be used which displaces the more expensive casting material and for using a smaller outer diameter thin-walled mold. The casting assembly is disposed within the belt assembly and the mid-belt is loaded in the volume created between the casting assembly's outer surface and the belt assembly's inner surface. The mid-belt provides a bracing for the casting assembly during the casting process. Optionally, a cap can be disposed on top of the blank for preventing metallurgical bonds from forming between the binder material and the upper portion of the blank. This allows for the excess binder material to remain high in purity so that it can be reprocessed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing a down hole tool that reduces manufacturing costs and enhances the tool's performance. A belted mold assembly includes a casting assembly, a belt assembly, and a mid-belt. The belted mold assembly is used to fabricate a casting that allows for a larger diameter blank to be used which displaces the more expensive casting material and for using a smaller outer diameter thin-walled mold. The casting assembly is disposed within the belt assembly and the mid-belt is loaded in the volume created between the casting assembly's outer surface and the belt assembly's inner surface. The mid-belt provides a bracing for the casting assembly during the casting process. Optionally, a cap can be disposed on top of the blank for preventing metallurgical bonds from forming between the binder material and the upper portion of the blank. This allows for the excess binder material to remain high in purity so that it can be reprocessed.

Abstract: An assembly is provided to attach a whipstock to a mill/drill bit. The assembly includes an upper collar adapted for installation around a shank of the mill/drill bit. At least one connecting member is mounted at a first end to the upper collar. The connecting member extends downwardly from the upper collar and is adapted to fit within a junkslot of the mill/drill bit to which the upper collar is attached. A whipstock attachment structure is mounted to a second end of the at least one connecting member.

Abstract: A casing end tool has a bowl-like (or cup-like) body defined by a wall having an outer convex surface and an inner concave surface opposite of the outer convex surface. The bowl-like body has a center axis. The inner concave surface is non-axisymmetric with respect to the center axis, while the outer convex surface is axisymmetric with respect to the center axis. The non-axisymmetric configuration is provided in one implementation through the presence of a set of raised boss or land structures formed on the inner concave surface.

Abstract: A PDC bit includes a plurality of blades including primary blades and secondary blades. The included primary blades are set with PDC cutters in accordance with a “single set” methodology. The included secondary blades, however, are set with PDC cutters using a type of “plural set” methodology such that the radial positions of cutters on a secondary blade match the radial positions of cutters on a single set primary which is immediately preceding that secondary blade. Plural secondary blades can be positioned to follow a single primary blade, and the cutters on those plural secondary blades will have radial positions matching the cutters of the immediately preceding single set primary blade.

Abstract: A flexible steering sub is disclosed for flexible drilling of horizontal oil and gas wells, horizontal storage wells, geothermal drilling for electric power generation; earth sciences study of and monitoring of earth movement with respect to fault movement; environmental science cleaning up of inaccessible polluted areas; coring to test rock strength prior to large scale constructions such as dams; introduction of chemicals for solution mining logging while drilling short radius well bores, and the like. The flexible sub comprises an elongated housing having a plurality of housing sections connectable at one end to an orientation sub for a PDM drill and connectable at the other end to a wire line connector. An electronics assembly including guidance directional guided sensors, directional probe and logging while drilling probe is positioned in a plurality of the housing sections, interconnected electrically, and connected at one end to the wire line connector.

Abstract: A system of apparatus for arcuate drilling into the earth is disclosed which comprises a drill string extending into a well bore in the earth and a fluid operated drill motor and drill bit operated thereby secured on the bottom end of the drill string. The drill motor is connected at its upper end to the drill string and at its lower end to the drill bit for rotating the drill bit independently of rotation of the drill string. The drill motor has a tubular drive section housing constructed of non-magnetic material, preferably a Beta-C titanium alloy containing titanium, aluminum, vanadium, chromium, zirconium and molybdenum in the proportions Ti-3Al-8V-6Cr-4Zr-4Mo. The longitudinal axis of the drill motor housing has its upper and lower ends angularly displaced from the longitudinal axis of its central portion end for directing the axis of rotation of the drill bit such that it is angularly displaced from the axis of the drill string for effecting a curved path for the wellbore.