Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Dresser Industries, Inc.

James Edward Boyce

Thomas Wayne Ray

Michael S Beaton

Richard David Mittan

A drill bit () for drilling a wellbore that traverses subterranean formations includes a drill bit body () having a plurality of journal pins (), each having a bearing surface (), and a rotary cutter () rotatably mounted on each journal pin (), each rotary cutter () including a bearing surface (). A pressure-compensated reservoir () is in fluid communication with the bearing surfaces () and has a lubricant therein. A seal element () is positioned between each journal pin () and rotary cutter () and retains the lubricant in the bearing surfaces (). The seal element () is formed from a nanocomposite material including a polymer host material and a plurality of nanostructures.

Drill bit having an improved seal and lubrication method using same

A thin layer of carbide containing an ultra-hard component, such as diamond, is applied to a formed compact for a drilling tool. The compact is then subjected to a high-temperature, high-pressure process to bond it to the added layer. This process allows the use of an underlying substrate which has a lower binder content than previously possible. The compact provides superior cutting ability, as even if the diamond-enhanced layer wears through, the carbide can provide enhanced hardness.

Shaped cutting-grade inserts with transitionless diamond-enhanced surface layer

Hardfacing to protect wear surfaces of drill bits and other downhole tools having coated cubic boron nitride particles or coated particles of other ceramic, superabrasive or superhard materials dispersed within and bonded to a matrix deposit. The coating on the ceramic particles or particles of other hard materials may be formed from materials and alloys such as tungsten carbide, and tungsten carbide/cobalt and cermets such as metal carbides and metal nitrides. The coated particles are preferably sintered and have a generally spherical shape. The coated particles are pre-mixed with selected materials such that welding and cooling will form both metallurgical bonds and mechanical bonds within the solidified matrix deposit. A welding rod may be prepared by placing a mixture of selected hard particles such as coated cubic boron nitride particles, hard particles such as tungsten carbide/cobalt, and loose filler material into a steel tube. A substrate may be hardfaced by progressively melting the welding rod onto a selected surface of the substrate and allowing the melted material to solidify and form the desired hardfacing with coated cubic boron nitride particles dispersed within the matrix deposit on the substrate surface.

Hardfacing having coated ceramic particles or coated particles of other hard materials

An insert is provided for a rock bit for drilling bore holes in the ground and other downhole tools. The cutting portion of the inserts consist of encrusted cubic boron nitride pellets, tungsten carbide particles and a binder material which are fused together to form a unitary body. The cubic boron nitride particles of the fused insert are cubic in structure and substantially free of heat degradation and resultant hexagonal crystalline structure in response to fusing the elements together in a single step of simultaneously heating and compacting the elements.

Inserts and compacts having coated or encrusted cubic boron nitride particles

Hardfacing having coated ceramic particles or coated particles of other

The improved insert for a ground engaging tool, with a plurality of sockets for receiving a respective insert comprises a body having first and second portions and first and second zones. The first zone may consist of tungsten carbide and metallic cobalt, with preselected dimensions adapted for press fitting within a respective socket of the ground engaging tool. The second body portion may define an earth engaging portion. The second zone may consist of encrusted diamond pellets, tungsten carbide and metallic cobalt, fused together. The first and second zones may be fused together with the first zone being substantially free of encrusted diamond pellets.

Inserts and compacts having coated or encrusted diamond particles

A weld rod is prepared by placing a plurality of tungsten carbide/cobalt nuggets, preferably mixed with loose material, into a steel tube. The nuggets are previously sintered and have a generally ellipsoidal shape. A substrate is hard faced by progressively melting the weld rod onto the surface to be hard faced, and allowing the melted material to solidify on the surface.

Growing community of inventors

Cedar Hill, TX, United States of America

James Edward Boyce