Smith International, Inc.

Cnpc USA Corporation

Schlumberger Technology Corporation

Liang Zhao

Zhijun Lin

Youhe Zhang

J Daniel Belnap

Yahua Bao

Xiaoge Gan

Xiaomin C Cheng

Madapusi K Keshavan

Michael George Azar

Bala Durairajan

Huimin Song

Chen Chen

Michael L Stewart

Yu Liu

Xiongwen Yang

Yonghong Wang

Demin Chen

Yuri Y Burhan

Javier Davila

Xueqing Teng

Ning Li

A cutting element may include a substrate and an ultrahard layer. A top surface of the ultrahard layer includes a peripheral edge extending around the cutting element, a cutting crest extending across a major dimension of the cutting element from a cutting edge at a first portion of the peripheral edge to a modified region at a central axis of the ultrahard layer, and a lateral portion extending across a minor dimension of the cutting element from the peripheral edge to the modified region. The modified region along the major dimension includes a concave cross-sectional shape. The lateral portion along the minor dimension from the peripheral edge to the modified region includes one or more of a linear shape and a convex shape, and the modified region along the minor dimension includes a planar shape perpendicular to the central axis.

Cutting elements having non-planar surfaces and downhole cutting tools using such cutting elements

A method of making a cutting element includes subjecting a mixture of diamond particles and a carbonate material to high-pressure high-temperature sintering conditions to form a sintered carbonate-polycrystalline diamond body having a diamond matrix of diamond grains bonded together and carbonates residing in the interstitial regions between the diamond grains, the carbonate material having a non-uniform distribution throughout the diamond matrix. The carbonate-polycrystalline diamond body is subjected to a controlled temperature, a controlled pressure condition or a combination thereof, to effect an at least partial decomposition of the carbonate material.

Thermally stable polycrystalline diamond and methods of making the same

A cutting element may include a substrate, an upper surface of the substrate including a crest, the crest transitioning into a depressed region, and an ultrahard layer on the upper surface, thereby forming a non-planar interface between the ultrahard layer and the substrate. A top surface of the ultrahard layer includes a cutting crest extending along at least a portion of a diameter of the cutting element, the top surface having a portion extending laterally away from the cutting crest having a lesser height than a peak of the cutting crest.

The present invention provides non-planar cutting tooth and a diamond drill bit. The non-planar cutting tooth and the diamond drill bit have great ability of impact resistance and balling resistance. According to the features of drilled formation, cutting teeth are arranged on the drill bit with different mode, which can improve the mechanical speed and footage of the drill bit.

Convex ridge type non-planar cutting tooth and diamond drill bit

Methods for joining an ultra-hard body, such as a thermally stable polycrystalline diamond (TSP) body, to a substrate and mitigating the formation of high stress concentration regions between the ultra-hard body and the substrate. One method includes covering at least a portion of the ultra-hard body with an intermediate layer, placing the ultra-hard body and the intermediate layer in a mold, filling a remaining portion of mold with a substrate material including a matrix material and a binder material such that the intermediate layer is disposed between the ultra-hard body and the substrate material, and heating the mold to an infiltration temperature configured to melt the binder material and form the substrate.

Ultra-hard material cutting elements and methods of manufacturing the same with a metal-rich intermediate layer

The present invention provides a convex ridge type non-planar cutting tooth and a diamond drill bit, the convex ridge type non-planar cutting tooth comprises a cylindrical body, the surface of the end portion of the cylindrical body is provided with a main cutting convex ridge and two non-cutting convex ridges, the inner end of the main cutting convex ridge and the inner ends of the two non-cutting convex ridges converge at the surface of the end portion of the cylindrical body, the outer end of the main cutting convex ridge and the outer ends of the two non-cutting convex ridges extend to the outer edge of the surface of the end portion of the cylindrical body, the surfaces of the end portion of the cylindrical body on both sides of the main cutting convex ridge are cutting bevels. The convex ridge type non-planar cutting tooth and the diamond drill bit have great ability of impact resistance and balling resistance. According to the features of drilled formation, convex ridge type non-planar cutting teeth are arranged on the drill bit with different mode, which can improve the mechanical speed and footage of the drill bit.

A method for treating a polycrystalline diamond material includes subjecting the polycrystalline diamond material to a leaching process and to a thermal decomposition process.

Chemical leaching/thermal decomposing carbonate in carbonate PCD

The polycrystalline diamond compact cutter includes a diamond table and a carbide substrate. Different zones of the diamond table with relative thermal stability and toughness to each other are arranged for a particular cutting efficiency and working life. A thermally stable zone has a metal formation agent removed and forms a top outer ring. A base zone bonds to the carbide substrate on the bottom surface of the diamond table. An anchor zone sets between the thermally stable zone and the base zone, and an absorbing zone extends from the top surface to the base zone. The absorbing zone is circumscribed by the thermally stable zone and the anchor zone. The weight percentage metal content of the anchor zone is less than weight percentage metal content of the base zone. The weight percentage metal content of the base zone is less than weight percentage metal content of the absorbing zone.

Polycrystalline diamond compact cutter

The method for determining fracture toughness includes clamping a cutting element in a first orientation, exerting a confining pressure on the cutting element, applying a first load at a first distance from a perimeter of the diamond table of the cutting element, increasing the first load to a first level sufficient to fracture, and recording the first level sufficient to fracture. Then, another load is applied at another distance from a perimeter of the diamond table with another cutting element or the same cutting element in another orientation. The load is increased until fracture again. The steps are repeated at different distances and different orientations to create a profile of the fracture toughness of the cutting element. The method also includes wearing the cutting element and measuring fracture toughness at a worn distance. The profile is a more complete rating of the cutting element under drilling conditions.

Method of testing a polycrystalline diamond compact cutter

A method for making a diamond compact includes pre-heating a diamond body which includes a carbonate catalyst to convert at least a portion of the carbonate catalyst into an oxide, assembling the diamond body and a substrate, providing a braze material between the diamond body and the substrate to form a diamond compact, heating the braze material to melt the braze material and form a braze joint between the diamond body and the substrate, and cooling the braze material after increasing the pressure. A bit having a diamond compact including a carbonate catalyst and a metal oxide mounted thereon.

Growing community of inventors

Spring, TX, United States of America

Liang Zhao