An apparatus for determining torque on bit and bending forces in a drilling assembly. The apparatus includes a body having an inner bore defined by an inner wall and having an outer wall, the body also including first and second light bores disposed between the inner wall and the outer wall and a light emitting assembly arranged and configured to cause a light beam to enter the first and second light bores. The assembly further includes first and second light sensors disposed in or at an end of the first and second light bores, respectively, that measure a location where light that enters the first and second light bores contacts the sensors

An apparatus for determining torque on bit and bending forces in a drilling assembly. The apparatus includes a body having an inner bore defined by an inner wall and having an outer wall, the body also including first and second light bores disposed between the inner wall and the outer wall and a light emitting assembly arranged and configured to cause a light beam to enter the first and second light bores. The assembly further includes first and second light sensors disposed in or at an end of the first and second light bores, respectively, that measure a location where light that enters the first and second light bores contacts the sensors

A manufacturing method includes the steps of providing a mould containing a matrix material, providing an infiltrant material arranged so that, when molten, the infiltrant material will infiltrate into the matrix material, and heating the matrix material and the infiltrant material by induction heating using an induction heater. The induction heater includes a first coil and a second coil, wherein the first and second coils are energised independently of one another to allow increased control over the heating of different parts of the matrix material and infiltrant material within the mould.

A manufacturing method includes the steps of providing a mould containing a matrix material, providing an infiltrant material arranged so that, when molten, the infiltrant material will infiltrate into the matrix material, and heating the matrix material and the infiltrant material by induction heating using an induction heater. The induction heater includes a first coil and a second coil, wherein the first and second coils are energised independently of one another to allow increased control over the heating of different parts of the matrix material and infiltrant material within the mould.

A downhole component including a first portion; a second portion; a controlled failure structure between the first portion and second portion. A method for improving efficiency in downhole components.

A downhole component including a first portion; a second portion; a controlled failure structure between the first portion and second portion. A method for improving efficiency in downhole components.

Based on measurements of forces and rotational velocity experienced by a drill bit during drilling, drilling behavior is detected and identified. Measurements of forces on a drill bit including torque on bit (TOB), weight on bit (WOB), etc. and measurements of rotational velocity (rotations per minute or RPM) are acquired in real time at the drill bit. Various measurements are correlated to produce related combinations of measurements, such as WOB-RPM, TOB-RPM, and RPM-time. Based on fitting between the combinations of measurements and curves corresponding to predetermined torsional behavior trends, torsional, axial, and rotational behaviors are classified as functional or dysfunctional. A dysfunction identifier then identifies drill bit dysfunctions, such as high-frequency torsional noise, cutting-induced stick-slip, friction-inducted stick-slip, pipe-induced stick-slip, three-dimensional (3D) coupled vibrations (including subsets high-frequency torsional oscillations and low-frequency torsional oscillations), low-frequency torsional vibration, high-frequency torsional vibration, etc.) based on the functionality of the torsional, axial, and rotational behaviors. Based on drill bit dysfunction identification, dysfunctional drilling behavior can be mitigated.

Systems and methods are disclosed for selecting a drill bit design that reduces or eliminates bit induced stick-slip. In some embodiments, each of a set of test drill bits is correlated with stick-slip events, wherein each of the test drill bits has a different design pattern comprising a combination of structural attributes. The design pattern stick-slip correlation includes, for each of the test drill bits, detecting variations in motion of the test drill bit during drilling operation. Stick-slip for each of the test drill bits is detected based on the detected variations in motion of the test drill bits during operation. The correlation further includes in response to detecting stick-slip, recording a stick-slip event in association with the corresponding test drill bit. The method further includes determining a performance efficiency value for each of the plurality of test drill bits and correlating the determined performance efficiency values with the stick-slip events to determine a threshold performance efficiency value. A design pattern for a drill bit is selecting or determined based, at least in part, on the threshold performance efficiency value.

Systems and methods are disclosed for selecting a drill bit design that reduces or eliminates bit induced stick-slip. In some embodiments, each of a set of test drill bits is correlated with stick-slip events, wherein each of the test drill bits has a different design pattern comprising a combination of structural attributes. The design pattern stick-slip correlation includes, for each of the test drill bits, detecting variations in motion of the test drill bit during drilling operation. Stick-slip for each of the test drill bits is detected based on the detected variations in motion of the test drill bits during operation. The correlation further includes in response to detecting stick-slip, recording a stick-slip event in association with the corresponding test drill bit. The method further includes determining a performance efficiency value for each of the plurality of test drill bits and correlating the determined performance efficiency values with the stick-slip events to determine a threshold performance efficiency value. A design pattern for a drill bit is selecting or determined based, at least in part, on the threshold performance efficiency value.

A system for improving drill bit performance, having processors and memory storing instructions to obtain a wear report for a drill bit, wherein the wear report includes wear characteristics of the drill bit and drill operating parameters under which the drill bit was used; compare the wear characteristics of the drill bit to a threshold for acceptable drill bit wear; and adjust drill operating parameters based on the wear characteristics of the drill bit. The instructions to obtain the wear report for the drill bit include instructions to analyze images of the drill bit to identify wear characteristics; identify wear patterns based on the wear characteristics of the drill bit; identify probable drilling conditions based on the wear patterns; and generate the wear report for the drill bit based on the images of the drill bit, the wear characteristics of the drill bit, and the probable drilling conditions.