A rotary drill bit for directional drilling operations, in which a rotating bit with cutters advances a borehole in the earth invention, provides a smaller radius of curvature to increase drilling efficiency. The rotary drill bit comprises a box connection for connecting the bit to the drill string. The drill bit receives a pin connection that seats adjacent the plenum of the bit to shorten the distance between the bit face and steering tools behind the bit so the drill string can be steered more efficiently.

A bit breaker for making or breaking a connection between a drill bit and a drill string, and the bit breaker includes a support structure that has a bit aperture through which a portion of the drill bit may pass. The support structure also includes basket apertures positioned circumferentially around the bit aperture. The bit breaker also includes a flexible member that passes through the basket apertures of the support structure to form a basket extending from one side of the support structure that can receive a drill bit. Relative rotation between the support structure and the flexible member causes the flexible member to tighten to make or break the connection between the drill bit and the drill string.

A bit breaker for making or breaking a connection between a drill bit and a drill string, and the bit breaker includes a support structure that has a bit aperture through which a portion of the drill bit may pass. The support structure also includes basket apertures positioned circumferentially around the bit aperture. The bit breaker also includes a flexible member that passes through the basket apertures of the support structure to form a basket extending from one side of the support structure that can receive a drill bit. Relative rotation between the support structure and the flexible member causes the flexible member to tighten to make or break the connection between the drill bit and the drill string.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a wrench for loosening or tightening a threaded joint of two drill-string components. The wrench is mountable on a drill assembly. The wrench comprises: a jaw assembly with opposing jaws for engaging the drill-string component therebetween; a first actuator for actuating the pair of opposing jaws between an engaged position and a disengaged position; a second actuator configured to pivot the jaw assembly and configured for applying a torque when engaged with the drill-string component; a third actuator configured to extend and retract the jaw assembly in a first plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the drill assembly when the wrench is mounted on the drill assembly; and a fourth actuator for actuating the wrench in a second plane substantially perpendicular to the first plane. Embodiments of the present disclosure also relate to drilling systems comprising the wrench.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a wrench for loosening or tightening a threaded joint of two drill-string components. The wrench is mountable on a drill assembly. The wrench comprises: a jaw assembly with opposing jaws for engaging the drill-string component therebetween; a first actuator for actuating the pair of opposing jaws between an engaged position and a disengaged position; a second actuator configured to pivot the jaw assembly and configured for applying a torque when engaged with the drill-string component; a third actuator configured to extend and retract the jaw assembly in a first plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the drill assembly when the wrench is mounted on the drill assembly; and a fourth actuator for actuating the wrench in a second plane substantially perpendicular to the first plane. Embodiments of the present disclosure also relate to drilling systems comprising the wrench.

The invention provides a bit breaker comprising a generally flat plate that defines two arms and a base leg. The two arms project respectively from opposed ends of the base leg. The bit breaker has a generally rectangular pipe slot located between the two arms. The bit breaker includes a jaw mounted on one of the arms so as to be removable therefrom when damaged and thereafter replaced with a new jaw. The jaw defines a working surface located on a side of the pipe slot. In some embodiments, the bit breaker further comprises a security plate attached to the generally flat plate so as to define a mount space between the generally flat plate and the security plate. The jaw is received in the mount space such that the jaw has limited freedom of movement relative to both the generally flat plate and the security plate.

The invention provides a bit breaker comprising a generally flat plate that defines two arms and a base leg. The two arms project respectively from opposed ends of the base leg. The bit breaker has a generally rectangular pipe slot located between the two arms. The bit breaker includes a jaw mounted on one of the arms so as to be removable therefrom when damaged and thereafter replaced with a new jaw. The jaw defines a working surface located on a side of the pipe slot. In some embodiments, the bit breaker further comprises a security plate attached to the generally flat plate so as to define a mount space between the generally flat plate and the security plate. The jaw is received in the mount space such that the jaw has limited freedom of movement relative to both the generally flat plate and the security plate.

A downhole disconnect tool can include outer housing sections connected to each other with threads, and an inner sleeve received in at least one of the outer housing sections, whereby the inner sleeve limits relative rotation between the outer housing sections in a connect position, and permits relative rotation between the outer housing sections in a disconnect position. A method of disconnecting portions of a tubular string can include connecting a downhole disconnect tool between the tubular string portions, deploying a plug into the tubular string, thereby engaging the plug with an inner sleeve in the downhole disconnect tool, applying a differential pressure across the plug, thereby displacing the inner sleeve relative to outer housing sections of the downhole disconnect tool, and then unthreading the outer housing sections from each other in the well.

A drill bit changer system for a drill rig includes a drill bit storage holder rotatably and pivotally mounted to the drill rig and a plurality of bit holder assemblies located within the drill bit storage holder. Each bit holder assembly includes a receptacle, wherein the plurality of bit holder assemblies are arranged to receive a drill bit in each receptacle. The drill bit storage holder is pivotally connected between a stowed position and an engaged position in which the drill bit is positioned at a drill string of the drill rig, wherein the drill bit storage holder is further indexable to present a respective receptacle at the drill string such that the drill bit is added or removed from the drill string. A method of changing a drill bit is also disclosed.

A drill bit changer system for a drill rig includes a drill bit storage holder rotatably and pivotally mounted to the drill rig and a plurality of bit holder assemblies located within the drill bit storage holder. Each bit holder assembly includes a receptacle, wherein the plurality of bit holder assemblies are arranged to receive a drill bit in each receptacle. The drill bit storage holder is pivotally connected between a stowed position and an engaged position in which the drill bit is positioned at a drill string of the drill rig, wherein the drill bit storage holder is further indexable to present a respective receptacle at the drill string such that the drill bit is added or removed from the drill string. A method of changing a drill bit is also disclosed.