A drill bit includes a bit body having one or more blades extending therefrom, a plurality of cutters secured to the one or more blades, and a rolling element assembly positioned within a cavity defined on the bit body. The rolling element assembly includes a rolling element rotatable within the cavity about a rotational axis, and a retainer extendable within a retainer slot defined in the cavity to secure the rolling element within the cavity. The retainer and the cavity cooperatively encircle more than 180° but less than 360° of a circumference of the rolling element while leaving a full axial width of the rolling element exposed. The retainer includes a protruding portion thereon extendable into an offset region of the retainer slot when the first retainer piece is inserted into the retainer slot in a first direction and shifted within the retainer slot in a second direction.

Drill bits and methods relating thereto are disclosed. In an embodiment, the drill bit includes a body having a plurality of legs each having a lower section that has a leading surface and a trailing surface. A plurality of cone cutters are each rotatably mounted to the lower section of one of the legs, each having a cone axis, and including a first plurality of cutter elements arranged about the cone axis such that each is shear the formation when the body is rotated about the bit axis.

Drill bits and methods relating thereto are disclosed. In an embodiment, the drill bit includes a body having a plurality of legs each having a lower section that has a leading surface and a trailing surface. A plurality of cone cutters are each rotatably mounted to the lower section of one of the legs, each having a cone axis, and including a first plurality of cutter elements arranged about the cone axis such that each is shear the formation when the body is rotated about the bit axis.

A fixed cutting structure-composite cone drill bit includes a drill bit body, a fixed cutting structure, and at least one cone. The cone and the fixed cutting structure are disposed on the drill bit body. The cone is rotatably connected to the drill bit body by means of a bearing structure. The distance from the outermost tooth or back cone of the at least one cone to the front side surface of the fixed cutting structure La≤πR/3, and the distance from the outermost tooth or back cone of the at least one cone to the rear side surface of the fixed cutting structure Lb≤πR/3. In the composite drill bit, the distance from the cone to the front/rear side surface of the fixed cutting structure is short, the gap between the cone and the fixed cutting structure is small, transition between cutting structure is smooth.

A method of manufacturing, assembling, configuring, and/or using a hybrid drill bit is disclosed. An illustrative example includes inserting a rolling cutting structure into a central bore of a bit body through an upper connector section of the bit body toward a lower end portion of the bit body. The bit body has a rotational axis and a plurality of blades at the lower end portion. The upper connector section is configured to be coupled to a lower end of a drill string. Each of the plurality of blades extends radially from the bit body about the rotational axis at the lower end portion and includes a plurality of cutters embedded therein.

A method of manufacturing, assembling, configuring, and/or using a hybrid drill bit is disclosed. An illustrative example includes inserting a rolling cutting structure into a central bore of a bit body through an upper connector section of the bit body toward a lower end portion of the bit body. The bit body has a rotational axis and a plurality of blades at the lower end portion. The upper connector section is configured to be coupled to a lower end of a drill string. Each of the plurality of blades extends radially from the bit body about the rotational axis at the lower end portion and includes a plurality of cutters embedded therein.

A hybrid drill bit includes both fixed cutting elements and an adjustable cutting structure thereon. An adjustment mechanism is provided to allow an axial position of cutting elements at a leading end of the adjustable cutting structure to be adjusted with respect to an axial position of the fixed cutting elements. The adjustable cutting structure may include counter rotational cutting members mounted obliquely with respect to a bit body rotational axis, and the adjustment mechanism may dynamically support the adjustable cutting structure such that the axial position of the cutting elements may be adjusted as the drill bit is in operation within a wellbore. The axial position may be adjusted by altering a weight applied to the drill bit within the wellbore.

A hybrid drill bit includes both fixed cutting elements and an adjustable cutting structure thereon. An adjustment mechanism is provided to allow an axial position of cutting elements at a leading end of the adjustable cutting structure to be adjusted with respect to an axial position of the fixed cutting elements. The adjustable cutting structure may include counter rotational cutting members mounted obliquely with respect to a bit body rotational axis, and the adjustment mechanism may dynamically support the adjustable cutting structure such that the axial position of the cutting elements may be adjusted as the drill bit is in operation within a wellbore. The axial position may be adjusted by altering a weight applied to the drill bit within the wellbore.

A hybrid drill bit includes both fixed cutting elements and an adjustable cutting structure thereon. An adjustment mechanism is provided to allow an axial position of cutting elements at a leading end of the adjustable cutting structure to be adjusted with respect to an axial position of the fixed cutting elements. The adjustable cutting structure may include counter rotational cutting members mounted obliquely with respect to a bit body rotational axis, and the adjustment mechanism may dynamically support the adjustable cutting structure such that the axial position of the cutting elements may be adjusted as the drill bit is in operation within a wellbore. The axial position may be adjusted by altering a weight applied to the drill bit within the wellbore.

A hybrid drill bit includes both fixed cutting elements and an adjustable cutting structure thereon. An adjustment mechanism is provided to allow an axial position of cutting elements at a leading end of the adjustable cutting structure to be adjusted with respect to an axial position of the fixed cutting elements. The adjustable cutting structure may include counter rotational cutting members mounted obliquely with respect to a bit body rotational axis, and the adjustment mechanism may dynamically support the adjustable cutting structure such that the axial position of the cutting elements may be adjusted as the drill bit is in operation within a wellbore. The axial position may be adjusted by altering a weight applied to the drill bit within the wellbore.