Abstract: PCD materials comprise a diamond body having bonded diamond crystals and interstitial regions disposed among the crystals. The diamond body is formed from diamond grains and a catalyst material at high pressure/high temperature conditions. The diamond grains have an average particle size of about 0.03 mm or greater. At least a portion of the diamond body has a high diamond volume content of greater than about 93 percent by volume. The entire diamond body can comprise high volume content diamond or a region of the diamond body can comprise the high volume content diamond. The diamond body includes a working surface, a first region substantially free of the catalyst material, and a second region that includes the catalyst material. At least a portion of the first region extends from the working surface to depth of from about 0.01 to about 0.1 mm.

Abstract: A cutting element may include a polycrystalline diamond layer and a reduced-CTE substrate comprising diamond particles disposed in a matrix material, wherein the diamond particles have a contiguity of 15% or less. Also, a cutting element may include a polycrystalline diamond layer and a reduced-CTE substrate comprising a matrix material, at least one diamond-filled region, and embedded diamond particles.

Abstract: A cutting element for a drill bit that includes an outer support element having at least a bottom portion and a side portion; and an inner rotatable cutting element, a portion of which is disposed in the outer support element, wherein the inner rotatable cutting element includes a substrate and a diamond cutting face having a thickness of at least 0.050 inches disposed on an upper surface of the substrate; and wherein a distance from an upper surface of the diamond cutting face to a bearing surface between the inner rotatable cutting element and the outer support element ranges from 0 to about 0.300 inches is disclosed.

Abstract: Cutter assemblies include an outer support and a cutting element disposed therein. The cutting element is immovably attached to the outer support element. Also disclosed is downhole tools incorporating such cutter assemblies and methods of making such downhole tools.

Abstract: A bottom hole assembly containing a drill bit. The drill bit additionally has a plurality of primary cutter elements mounted thereto. The plurality of cutter elements comprise one or more first cutter elements and one or more second cutter elements. The second cutter element differs from the first cutter element in at least one cutter element property. The first cutter element has a diamond body containing a first region comprising an infiltrant material disposed within the interstitial regions. The first region is located remote from the working surface of the diamond body. The first cutter element also contains a second region comprising interstitial regions that are substantially free of the infiltrant material. The second region is located along at least the working surface of the diamond body. Also included are a cutter element, method of designing a bottom hole assembly as well as method of designing a drill bit.

Abstract: Cutter assemblies comprising an outer support element and a cutting element disposed therein. The cutting element is immovably attached to the outer support element. Also provided are downhole tools incorporating such cutter assemblies and methods of making such downhole tools.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to cutting elements incorporating polycrystalline diamond bodies used for subterranean drilling applications, and more particularly, to polycrystalline diamond bodies having a high diamond content which are configured to provide improved properties of thermal stability and wear resistance, while maintaining a desired degree of impact resistance, when compared to prior polycrystalline diamond bodies. In various embodiments disclosed herein, a cutting element with high diamond content includes a modified PCD structure and/or a modified interface (between the PCD body and a substrate), to provide superior performance.

Abstract: A method of forming a cutting element that includes filling at least one non-planar region on an upper surface of a carbide substrate with a diamond mixture, subjecting the substrate and the diamond mixture to high pressure high temperature sintering conditions to form a reduced-CTE substrate having polycrystalline diamond that extends a depth into the reduced-CTE substrate in an interface region, and an upper surface made of a composite surface of diamond and carbide, and attaching a polycrystalline diamond body to the composite surface of the reduced-CTE substrate is disclosed.

Abstract: A cutting element is provided having a substrate and an ultra hard material cutting layer over the substrate. The cutting layer includes a surface portion for making contact with a material to be cut by the cutting element. The surface portion in cross-section has a curvature that has a varying radius of curvature. A bit incorporating such a cutting element is also provided.

Abstract: A method of re-processing used TSP material layers to form cutting elements, bits with such cutting elements mounted on their bodies, and bits having re-processed TSP material layers attached to their bodies, as well as such cutting elements and bits are provided. The method includes providing a used TSP material cutting element having a TSP material layer and substrate, or a bit having a TSP material layer attached to the bit, removing the used TSP material layer from the cutting element or bit, cutting the used TSP material layer to a new shape, if necessary, optionally re-leaching the used TSP layer and re-using the TSP material layer to form a cutting element, or in forming a bit body. The formed cutting element may be mounted on a bit body.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to cutting elements incorporating polycrystalline diamond bodies used for subterranean drilling applications, and more particularly, to polycrystalline diamond bodies having a high diamond content which are configured to provide improved properties of thermal stability and wear resistance, while maintaining a desired degree of impact resistance, when compared to prior polycrystalline diamond bodies. In various embodiments disclosed herein, a cutting element with high diamond content includes a modified PCD structure and/or a modified interface (between the PCD body and a substrate), to provide superior performance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ultra-hard cutting elements, and in particular cutting elements or compacts formed by a pulsed electrical field assisted HPHT sintering process or a spark plasma HPHT sintering process. In an embodiment, a method of forming a polycrystalline ultra-hard material includes providing a mixture of ultra-hard particles, placing the mixture of ultra-hard particles into an enclosure, placing the enclosure into a press cell assembly having a heater, applying a repeated high-energy pulse of direct current to the heater to heat the ultra-hard particles, and pressing the enclosure at sufficient pressure to form a polycrystalline ultra-hard material.

Abstract: A method of re-processing used TSP material layers to form cutting elements, bits with such cutting elements mounted on their bodies, and bits having re-processed TSP material layers attached to their bodies, as well as such cutting elements and bits are provided. The method includes providing a used TSP material cutting element having a TSP material layer and substrate, or a bit having a TSP material layer attached to the bit, removing the used TSP material layer from the cutting element or bit, cutting the used TSP material layer to a new shape, if necessary, optionally re-leaching the used TSP layer and re-using the TSP material layer to form a cutting element, or in forming a bit body. The formed cutting element may be mounted on a bit body.

Abstract: A method for forming a thermally stable cutting element that includes forming at least one acid infusion pathway in a polycrystalline abrasive body containing a catalyzing material to be leached; and contacting at least a portion of the at least one acid infusion pathway in the polycrystalline abrasive body with a leaching agent is disclosed.

Abstract: Cutting elements have substrates including end surfaces. TSP material layers extend over only a portion of the end surfaces or extend into the substrates below the end surfaces. Bits incorporate such cutting elements.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to cutting elements incorporating polycrystalline diamond bodies used for subterranean drilling applications, and more particularly, to polycrystalline diamond bodies having a high diamond content which are configured to provide improved properties of thermal stability and wear resistance, while maintaining a desired degree of impact resistance, when compared to prior polycrystalline diamond bodies. In various embodiments disclosed herein, a cutting element with high diamond content includes a modified PCD structure and/or a modified interface (between the PCD body and a substrate), to provide superior performance.

Abstract: A cutting element is provided having a substrate and an ultra hard material cutting layer over the substrate. The cutting layer includes a surface portion for making contact with a material to be cut by the cutting element. The surface portion in cross-section has a curvature that has a varying radius of curvature. A bit incorporating such a cutting element is also provided.

Abstract: A cutting element for a drill bit that includes an outer support element having at least a bottom portion and a side portion; and an inner rotatable cutting element, a portion of which is disposed in the outer support element, wherein the inner rotatable cutting element includes a substrate and a diamond cutting face having a thickness of at least 0.050 inches disposed on an upper surface of the substrate; and wherein a distance from an upper surface of the diamond cutting face to a bearing surface between the inner rotatable cutting element and the outer support element ranges from 0 to about 0.300 inches is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for forming a thermally stable cutting element that includes forming at least one acid infusion pathway in a polycrystalline abrasive body containing a catalyzing material to be leached; and contacting at least a portion of the at least one acid infusion pathway in the polycrystalline abrasive body with a leaching agent is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for a down hole cutting tool is disclosed, wherein the cutting tool includes a cutting element support structure having at least one cutter pocket to support a cutting element comprising a substrate and an ultrahard layer. The method includes inserting a base portion of the cutting element into the cutter pocket; locating a first braze alloy such that when heated the first braze alloy melts and fills a space in the cutter pocket between the cutting element and the cutting element support structure adjacent the ultrahard layer; locating a second braze alloy such that when heated the second braze alloy melts and fills a space in the cutter pocket between the cutting element and the cutting element support structure non-adjacent the ultrahard layer; and heating the first and second braze alloy such that they melt.