Abstract: A core drill assembly includes a core drill and a stand upon which the core drill is mounted. The stand includes a base supportable upon a mounting surface, a mast defining a longitudinal axis and extending upward from the base, a carriage moveably coupled to the mast and configured to support the core drill thereon, and at least one leg pivotably coupled to the base between a deployed position, in which the leg extends away from the base, and a stowed position, in which the leg is at least partially recessed within the base.

Abstract: A drill bit includes a bit body defining a plurality of blades extending from a selected distance from an axis of rotation of the bit body to a gage face. A plurality of only gouging cutters is mounted on the bit body. At least one of the plurality of blades has a blade top surface longitudinally behind the tips of the gouging cutters at a selected distance from the tips of the gouging cutters.

Abstract: Grains of superabrasive material may be infiltrated with a molten metal alloy at a relatively low temperature, and the molten metal alloy may be solidified within interstitial spaces between the grains of superabrasive material to form a solid metal alloy having the grains of superabrasive material embedded therein. The solid metal alloy with the grains of superabrasive material embedded therein may be subjected to a high pressure and high temperature process to form a polycrystalline superabrasive material. A polycrystalline superabrasive material also may be formed by depositing material on surfaces of grains of superabrasive material in a chemical vapor infiltration process to form a porous body, which then may be subjected to a high pressure and high temperature process. Polycrystalline compacts and cutting elements including such compacts may be formed using such methods.

Abstract: Fibers for diamond-impregnated cutting tools and their associated methods for manufacture and use are described. A matrix is formed that contains fibers made from carbon, glass, ceramic, polymer, and the like. The matrix is then sintered to form a cutting portion of a drill bit. The type and concentration of the fibers can be modified to control the tensile strength and the erosion rate of the matrix to optimize the cutting performance of the tools. Additionally, the fibers may be added to the cutting section to weaken the structure and allow higher modulus binders to be used for the cutting tools at a lower cost, allowing the amount of fibers to be tailored to retain the diamonds in the cutting portion for the desired amount. As the cutting portion erodes, the fibers may also increase the lubricity at the face of the cutting portion.

Abstract: The present disclosure is related to an apparatus for taking a sample in a wellbore during drilling operations. The apparatus may include a drill bit configured to form a core and at least one retractable cutter internal to the drill bit for taking the sample from the core. The apparatus may also include equipment for analyzing the sample, extracting fluid from the sample, testing fluid from the sample, encapsulating the sample, and/or tagging the sample. The present disclosure is also related to a method for taking a core sample without interrupting drilling operations. The method includes taking a core sample using a drill bit configured to take a core sample using internal cutters. The method may also include analyzing the sample, extracting fluid from the sample, analyzing fluid from the sample, encapsulating the sample, and/or tagging the sample.

Abstract: A boring tool having downhole hammered impact elements that present to the bore face from platforms or plateaux of the work face of the tool, such work face having shear cutters able to benefit over the bore face from disruption caused by the impact elements.

Abstract: A cutting element for an earth-boring tool includes at least one volume of superabrasive material on a substrate. The volume of superabrasive material includes a first planar surface and a second planar surface oriented at an angle relative to the first planar surface and intersecting the first planar surface along an apex. The first planar surface has a circular or oval shape having a first maximum diameter, and the second planar surface has a circular or oval shape having a second maximum diameter. The apex has a length less than the first maximum diameter and the second maximum diameter. Earth-boring tools includes such a cutting element attached to a body. Methods of forming earth-boring tools include the attachment of such a cutting element to a body of an earth-boring tool.

Abstract: Methods for forming earth-boring tools include providing a metal or metal alloy bonding agent at an interface between a first element and a second element and sintering the first element, the second element, and the boding agent to form a bond between the first element and the second element at the interface. The methods may be used, for example, to bond together portions of a body of an earth-boring tool (which may facilitate, for example, the formation of cutting element pockets) or to bond cutting elements to a body of an earth-boring tool (e.g., a bit body of a fixed-cutter earth-boring drill bit or a cone of a roller cone earth-boring drill bit). At least partially formed earth-boring tools include a metal or metal alloy bonding agent at an interface between two or more elements, at least one of which may comprise a green or brown structure.

Abstract: An abrasive drill bit includes: a hollow tubular body having a rotation axis and being configured to be rotated by a drill about the rotation axis; and a plurality of teeth disposed around the periphery of a distal end of the tubular body and extending distally from the tubular body, each of the plurality of teeth supporting a drilling abrasive, wherein the distal extension of the teeth relative to each other varies cyclically along the periphery of the distal end of the tubular portion such that when the drill bit is rotated about the rotation axis and advanced along the rotation axis into a surface of a drilled material, at least one distal-most tooth maintains contact with the surface and at least one least distally extending tooth does not contact the surface.

Abstract: Fibers for diamond-impregnated cutting tools and their associated methods for manufacture and use are described. A matrix is formed that contains fibers made from carbon, glass, ceramic, polymer, and the like. The matrix is then sintered to form a cutting portion of a drill bit. The type and concentration of the fibers can be modified to control the tensile strength and the erosion rate of the matrix to optimize the cutting performance of the tools. Additionally, the fibers may be added to the cutting section to weaken the structure and allow higher modulus binders to be used for the cutting tools at a lower cost, allowing the amount of fibers to be tailored to retain the diamonds in the cutting portion for the desired amount. As the cutting portion erodes, the fibers may also increase the lubricity at the face of the cutting portion.

Abstract: The present disclosure is related to an apparatus for taking a sample in a wellbore during drilling operations. The apparatus may include a drill bit configured to form a core and at least one retractable cutter internal to the drill bit for taking the sample from the core. The apparatus may also include equipment for analyzing the sample, extracting fluid from the sample, testing fluid from the sample, encapsulating the sample, and/or tagging the sample. The present disclosure is also related to a method for taking a core sample without interrupting drilling operations. The method includes taking a core sample using a drill bit configured to take a core sample using internal cutters. The method may also include analyzing the sample, extracting fluid from the sample, analyzing fluid from the sample, encapsulating the sample, and/or tagging the sample.

Abstract: Diamond-impregnated cutting tools including fibers and drilling systems incorporating such tools are described. The cutting tools contain a diamond-impregnated cutting portion that contains fibers made from carbon, glass, ceramic, polymer, and the like. The fibers may be used to both control the tensile strength and the erosion rate of the matrix to optimize the cutting performance of the tools. Additionally, the fibers may also weaken the structure and allow higher modulus binders to be used for the cutting tools at a lower cost, allowing the amount of fibers to be tailored to retain the diamonds in the cutting portion for the desired amount. As the cutting portion erodes, the fibers may also increase the lubricity at the face of the cutting portion. Using the fibers allows the cutting tools to last longer and make them safer and more economical because they need to be replaced less often.

Abstract: A drill string having a drill bit with a bit body located between a shank and a working face. The working face has at least one cutting element and a jack element disposed partially within the drill bit body and partially protruding from the working face. The jack element is adapted to be rotated with respect to the bit body by a driving mechanism disposed within a bore of the drill string. A generator or motor with a rotor is incorporated into a torque transmitting mechanism that links the driving mechanism to the jack element, and configured so that at least one waveform is produced in the generator or motor when the jack element is rotated. The waveform is processed by an electronic processing device to determine the rotational position of the jack element.

Abstract: A method in core drilling, wherein a tubular drill bit (8) being arranged at the end of a tubular drill string (6) is driven under rotation against a material intended for drilling, and wherein for the purpose of core retrieving, a tool (17, 20) is brought inside the drill string to an operative position in the area of the drill bit. Acoustic vibrations (24, 25) from the drill string are sensed when the tool is brought to its operative position, sensed acoustic vibrations are analysed for detecting the occurrence of acoustic vibrations characteristic for when the tool has reached its operative position, and an output signal is emitted when the occurrence of vibrations characteristic of when the tool has reached its operative position has been detected. The invention also concerns a device and a drill rig.

Abstract: A mobile soil sampling device is mounted on the side of a vehicle such as an ATV or UTV and includes an upstanding frame member which is vertically movable with respect to the vehicle by means of a parallel arm linkage and actuator. A vertically disposed and rotatable auger is mounted on the frame member and is moved upwardly and downwardly with respect thereto through the use of a motor and pinion gear with the pinion gear engaging a gear rack on the frame member. The auger is rotated so as to dig into the ground to the desired depth with the soil sample being conveyed upwardly into a vacuum collection chamber with the soil sample being conveyed to a vacuum chamber mounted on the vehicle. A sample collection device is mounted beneath the vacuum chamber for receiving the desired soil samples. An auger flute cleaning apparatus is mounted on the device to remove soil from the flutes of the auger as the auger is raised from a soil penetration position.

Abstract: A core drill bit (1) for working brittle material has an axially extending tubular shaft (2) with a rotation driver (4) coaxially fitted to a trailing end portion (3a) and a plurality of had material inserts (5a, 5b) arranged on the opposite open leading end portion (3b), which are formed with a defined cutting edge, whereby each individual hard material insert (5a, 5b) is fitted on precisely one intermediate carrier members (6a, 6b) associated therewith, which is fitted on the leading open end portion (3b) of the tubular shaft (2).

Abstract: The present invention provides a brush bit for cutting a core sample from an unconsolidated formation with reduced fragmentation or damage to the core sample by using a plurality of stiff bristles to cut rock from around the core sample. The present invention also provides an improved method of obtaining a core sample from an unconsolidated formation.

Abstract: A portable core sampler includes a portable electric drill having an output rotary shaft connected detachably to a coupler shaft that supports a water swivel which connects a source of water to an axial water delivery passageway in the coupler shaft. The passageway in the coupler shaft communicates with the water delivery passageway in an elongated core sampler tube connected detachably to the coupler shaft, either directly or through one or more spacer tubes, for simultaneous rotation with the coupler shaft. The end of the core sampler tube opposite the coupler shaft includes core cutting elements for cutting core material for collection in the core sampler tube. Water injected into the system assists the cutting elements in cleanly cutting sub-surface materials by removing heat and cuttings. An inner shoulder in the sampler tube supports a core sample in the core sample tube during retraction of the tube assembly from the sub-surface.

Abstract: A rotary cone rock bit has bearing inserts pressed into the side of the shirttail portion of the rock bit body for stabilizing the rock bit during drilling. Such a rock bit has a steel bit body with a threaded upper pin for connection to a drill string. Cutter cones are mounted on lower leg portions of the rock bit body. The rock bit body gradually decreases in diameter from the gage diameter adjacent the lower tips of the shirttails adjacent to the cones to a smaller diameter shoulder the pin end of the body. The lowermost bearing insert protrudes laterally from the gradually decreasing diameter part of the bit body approximately half way between the lower tip of the shirttail and the shoulder at the upper end of the shirttail. The outer ends of the bearing inserts are rounded and substantially at the gage diameter of the bit for bearing on the wall of the borehole being drilled without appreciably reaming the borehole.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved roller cone core bit comprising a plurality of cone cutters facing inboard and a single cone cutter facing outboard. The single outboard facing cone cutter provides additional cutting elements for cutting a core. The single outboard facing cone cutter also creates an unbalanced loading condition on the core bit causing the bit to drill smoother than conventional reversed cone core bits.

Abstract: A roller cone drill bit is disclosed that leaves uncut a substantial formation core having a diameter from 10% to 25% of the bit gage diameter. The bit is designed to have normal size bearings, cone shell thickness and cutter protrusion to allow the use of standard drilling weights and RPM, thereby achieving a significant increase in drilling rate. When drilling abrasive formations, ultra hard cutting teeth are used in the cone apex to maintain the core diameter.

Abstract: An improved rotary rock bit is described having a plurality of wear resistant inserts protruding along the leading edge of the bearing segment shanks. These inserts break up large chunks of formation which protrude inward from the borehole wall while drilling fractured or broken hard formations. Thereby protecting the bit from damage and excessive erosion often incurred while drilling hard fractured and broken formations.

Abstract: The method of forming a cutter, which includes a core and a wear resistant insert defining a body means which includes(a) applying to the body means a mixture of:(i) wear resistant metallic powder, and(ii) binder(b) volatilizing the binder,(d) and applying pressure to the body means and powdered metal, at elevated temperature to consolidate same.