Hughes Tool Company-usa

Smith International, Inc.

Dresser Industries, Inc.

Camco International, Inc.

David M Nguyen

William W King

Michael Allen Siracki

Douglas Bruce Caraway

Stephen G Southland

Douglas Alan Patton

Arthur M Handsel

Tony Martin Watts

Robert B Coolidge

A wear indicator is provided for a rotary drilling tool of the type which comprises a bit body having a leading surface for cutting, abrading or reaming a hole in a target substrate material such as a sub-surface formation, the wear indicator comprising or including one or more discrete areas of a visually distinct material to that from which the drilling tool is mainly composed, the visually distinct material being arranged or configured at or adjacent the surface of the bit such that progressive wear of the bit and hence the or each visually distinct discrete area provides a visual indication of surface wear of the tool.

Wear indicator for rotary drilling tools

An improved polycrystalline diamond composite ('PDC') cutter comprises a single or a plurality of secondary PDC cutting surfaces in addition to a primary PDC cutting surface. The two cutting surfaces are spaced apart, resulting in enhanced cutter efficiency and useful life. The primary PDC cutting surface is a polycrystalline diamond layer on an exposed end face of the cutter. A secondary cutting surface is formed by a polycrystalline diamond layer embedded within the body of the cutter. The secondary cutting surface can have a larger diameter than the primary cutting surface so that the forward end of the cutter parallels rock formation during drilling and both cutting surfaces engage the rock formation.

Multiple diamond layer polycrystalline diamond composite cutters

A cutting element retention system is shown for a diamond drill bit. The drill bit has a bit body with a bit face, the bit face having polycrystalline diamond cutting elements received thereon within mating recesses provided in the face. Each cutting element has a mounting body with a leading face and a trailing face and a diamond layer carried on the leading face. At least one fin with associated troughs are located behind the mounting body on the bit face or within the carrier substrate or cutting element itself and arranged transverse to the cutting element layer. The fins are separated by a trough which extends for substantially the entire cross-sectional depth of the diamond cutting face.

Drill bit having improved cutting element retention system

An improved earth boring bit of the type having diamond cutting elements and a fluid passageway to direct drilling fluid toward a borehole bottom during drilling, a metal nozzle with a cylindrical, threaded exterior and a noncircular throat having a minimum cross sectional dimension to receive a mating wrench and a length to resist damage from the torque required to make-up and break-out the nozzle for threads in the body of the bit.

Earth boring bit having a replaceable, threaded nozzle with wrench socket

A matrix bit is shown of the type having a metallic mandrel with a connecting end for connection in a well pipe string leading to the well surface. An opposite end is covered with a cast matrix material which defines a central bit body. A plurality of integral blades are formed of the cast matrix material and extend axially and radially from the central bit body. Each of the blades is reinforced by a metallic extension which is contained within the matrix material and extends coaxially with each blade.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

David M Nguyen