Ulterra Drilling Technologies, L.p.

Andrew David Murdock

Carl Aron Deen

William Henry Dubose

Neal Alan Bowden

Matthew Douglas Mumma

John Martin Clegg

Rob A Simmons

Jason C Maw

Ryan Matthews

Benjamin Chrest

Thomas A Damian

A polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC), which is attached or bonded to a substrate to form a cutter for a drill bit, is comprised of sintered polycrystalline diamond interspersed with a seed material which has a hexagonal close packed (HCP) crystalline structure. A region of the sintered polycrystalline diamond structure, near one or more of its working surfaces, which has been seeded with an HCP seed material prior to sintering, is leached to remove catalyst. Selectively seeding portions or regions of a sintered polycrystalline diamond structure permits differing leach rates to form leached regions with differing distances or depths and geometries.

Diamond cutting elements for drill bits seeded with HCP crystalline material

A rotating bit with cutters used in drilling operations to advance a borehole in the earth. The bit includes column cutters in the bit body in a recessed central area. The column cutters contact a column of borehole material that is formed during operation. The column cutters are oriented to fracture the column, producing larger cuttings or chips, and to exert a force on the column to limit lateral movement of the bit during operation.

Drill bit

Earth boring tools with a plurality of fixed cutters have side rake or lateral rakes configured for improving chip removal and evacuation, drilling efficiency, and/or depth of cut management as compared with conventional arrangements.

Earth boring tool with improved arrangements of cutter side rakes

The rate of leaching of a polycrystalline diamond (PCD) cutting layer for cutting elements or other wear parts is varied by introduction into the PCD of an additive prior to leaching. Selective introduction of the additive into one or more regions of a PCD cutting structure allows controlling leaching rates of selective leaching of parts of the PCD structure, which allows for creating of a boundary between the leached and non-leached regions of a PCD structure to be made so that is not parallel to the surface or surfaces exposed to the leaching solution. The additive is comprised of a material that increases the permeability of the PCD or acceptance of the PCD to the leaching solution, such as a hydrophile.

Selectively leached, polycrystalline structures for cutting elements of drill bits

Earth boring tool with improved arrangement of cutter side rakes

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Fort Worth, TX, United States of America

Andrew David Murdock