Abstract: A rotary drag bit for drilling a subterranean formation includes a plurality of support elements affixed to the bit body, each forming at least a portion of a cutting element pocket. Each of a plurality of cutting elements has a substantially cylindrical body and is at least partially disposed within a cutter pocket. At least a portion of the substantially cylindrical body of each cutting element is directly secured to at least a portion of a substantially arcuate surface of the bit body. At least a portion of a substantially planar surface of each cutting element matingly engages at least a portion of a substantially planar surface of a support element.

Abstract: A cutting element for use with a drill bit includes a substrate having a longitudinal axis, a lateral surface substantially symmetric about the longitudinal axis and one or more key elements coupled to the lateral surface. The lateral surface lies between an insertion end and a cutting end of the substrate. The one or more key elements are substantially axially aligned with the longitudinal axis and configured to selectively rotationally locate the substrate in a pocket. A drill bit configured for retaining a cutting element having one or more key elements is also disclosed.

Abstract: A rotary drag bit for drilling a subterranean formation includes a plurality of support elements affixed to the bit body, each forming at least a portion of a cutting element pocket. Each of a plurality of cutting elements has a substantially cylindrical body and is at least partially disposed within a cutter pocket. At least a portion of the substantially cylindrical body of each cutting element is directly secured to at least a portion of a substantially arcuate surface of the bit body. At least a portion of a substantially planar surface of each cutting element matingly engages at least a portion of a substantially planar surface of a support element.

Abstract: A rotary drag bit for drilling a subterranean formation includes a plurality of support elements affixed to the bit body, each forming at least a portion of a cutting element pocket. Each of a plurality of cutting elements has a substantially cylindrical body and is at least partially disposed within a cutter pocket. At least a portion of the substantially cylindrical body of each cutting element is directly secured to at least a portion of a substantially arcuate surface of the bit body. At least a portion of a substantially planar surface of each cutting element matingly engages at least a portion of a substantially planar surface of a support element.

Abstract: A cutting element for use with a drill bit includes a substrate having a longitudinal axis, a lateral surface substantially symmetric about the longitudinal axis and one or more key elements coupled to the lateral surface. The lateral surface lies between an insertion end and a cutting end of the substrate. The one or more key elements are substantially axially aligned with the longitudinal axis and configured to selectively rotationally locate the substrate in a pocket. A drill bit configured for retaining a cutting element having one or more key elements is also disclosed.

Abstract: A drag bit having cutting elements, wherein the cross section of the cutting elements is an oval shape, wherein in one embodiment the major axis is perpendicular to the surface of the drag bit blade. A method is also included, wherein the method comprises using a milling bit having an oval cross section that thereby produces pockets in the drag bit blades for receiving the oval shaped cutting elements. Use of the oval bit also results in a half oval formed at the closed end of the pocket.

Abstract: A steel body rotary drag bit for drilling a subterranean formation includes a plurality of support elements affixed to the bit body, each forming at least a portion of a cutting element pocket. Each of a plurality of cutting elements has a substantially cylindrical body and is at least partially disposed within a cutter pocket. At least a portion of the substantially cylindrical body of each cutting element is directly secured to at least a portion of a substantially arcuate surface of the bit body. At least a portion of a substantially planar surface of each cutting element matingly engages at least a portion of a substantially planar surface of a support element.

Abstract: A steel body rotary drag bit for drilling a subterranean formation includes a plurality of support elements affixed to the bit body, each forming at least a portion of a cutting element pocket. Each of a plurality of cutting elements has a substantially cylindrical body and is at least partially disposed within a cutter pocket. At least a portion of the substantially cylindrical body of each cutting element is directly secured to at least a portion of a substantially arcuate surface of the bit body. At least a portion of a substantially planar surface of each cutting element matingly engages at least a portion of a substantially planar surface of a support element.

Abstract: Angled insertable drag bit teeth having a front portion at an oblique angle to a shank portion: the front portion is nearly parallel to the direction of thrust during cutting, and is bonded, along a substantial part of its length, to a groove in the bit body. The shank portion extends down into a pocket in the bit body. Preferably the front portion is faced with a superhard material such as polycrystalline-diamond-compact.

Abstract: A drag bit having a plurality of blades or ribs on its end face has one or more pockets milled into the top surfaces of said blades. A tungsten carbide button or insert is positioned at the gauge diameter to reduce impact on the gauge diameter cutter in each of the fibs. The tungsten carbide button extends to the borehole gauge diameter to stabilize the bit within the borehole to limit bit whirling. The tungsten carbide button extends just forward of at least the final cutter assembly with respect to the direction of bit rotation to take the impact instead of the cutters. An additional tungsten carbide button or a shaped cutter is used along the blades in line with PDC cutting assemblies for limiting the penetration of the PDC cutting assemblies to thereby limit bit whirling or tilting instabilities.

Abstract: A drag bit having a plurality of blades or ribs on its end face has one or more pockets milled into the top surfaces of said blades using a ball-nosed end mill to create a plurality of pockets, each having a spherical or a semi-spherical first end and a second end having a semicircular configuration that intersects with the leading edge face of the rib. A bullet-shaped cutting structure having a spherical first end is brazed into each of the pockets. During the manufacturing process, a pin is brazed into cooperating first and second semicircular receptacles in the spherical end of the cutter and in the semi-spherical end of the pocket, respectively, to prevent the cutter assembly from being pushed up out of the pocket during the drilling operation. In an alternative embodiment, a slot is milled into the top surface of the rib to allow use of a ball-nosed end mill having a reduced diameter shank sized to pass through the slot.