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 drill bit is provided that 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 compliant retainer extendable within a retainer slot defined in the cavity to secure the rolling element within the cavity. The compliant 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 compliant retainer is compressible responsive to forces from the rolling element to absorb vibrations and/or automatically adjust depth of cut.

A split roller cone and polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) composite drill bit, including a PDC bit module, a split roller cone bit module, and a drill bit body module. The split roller cone bit module has split structure, and during the operation, the lower roller cone body and the upper roller cone body revolve with the drill bit, and rotate around the axle neck of the palm respectively, thereby achieving the task of scraping and breaking rocks. The tooth scraping efficiencies of the small-end ring gear and the middle ring gear are improved. The split roller cone bit module, the PDC bit module, and the drill bit body module can be mass-produced. The split roller cone bit module and the PDC bit module can be quickly assembled and disassembled with the drill bit body module and different sizes of PDC bit modules are assembled with the bit body module.

Hardfacing materials include a polymer matrix material and particles of hard material embedded within and dispersed throughout the polymer matrix material. Earth-boring tools include a tool body and a hardfacing material on at least a portion of a surface of the body, wherein the hardfacing material includes a polymer matrix material and particles of hard material embedded within and dispersed throughout the polymer matrix material. Methods of applying hardfacing material to an earth-boring tool comprise mixing hard particles with a polymer precursor material to form a paste, applying the paste to a surface of an earth-boring tool, and curing the polymer precursor material to form a hardfacing material on the surface of the earth-boring tool.

Hardfacing materials include a polymer matrix material and particles of hard material embedded within and dispersed throughout the polymer matrix material. Earth-boring tools include a tool body and a hardfacing material on at least a portion of a surface of the body, wherein the hardfacing material includes a polymer matrix material and particles of hard material embedded within and dispersed throughout the polymer matrix material. Methods of applying hardfacing material to an earth-boring tool comprise mixing hard particles with a polymer precursor material to form a paste, applying the paste to a surface of an earth-boring tool, and curing the polymer precursor material to form a hardfacing material on the surface of the earth-boring tool.

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 hole opener includes a body with cone arms. The body includes pockets formed in the body in which each of the pockets includes a forwardly-positioned shoulder pocket section, a rearwardly-positioned tapered pocket section and a base opening axially extending through a wall of the corresponding pocket that receives a fastener therethrough. The cone arms each include a cone head attached to an arm. The arm includes a forwardly-positioned shoulder arm section, a rearwardly-positioned tapered arm section, and a rearwardly-facing opening axially extending through the rearwardly-positioned tapered arm section that receives the fastener. When each of the cone arms is inserted into a corresponding one of the pockets and the corresponding fastener(s) is/are tightened, the rearwardly-positioned tapered arm section is securely drawn into the rearwardly-positioned tapered pocket section of the pocket to create a pre-loaded fit therebetween and the forwardly-positioned shoulder arm section mates with the forwardly-positioned shoulder pocket section.

A hole opener includes a body with cone arms. The body includes pockets formed in the body in which each of the pockets includes a forwardly-positioned shoulder pocket section, a rearwardly-positioned tapered pocket section and a base opening axially extending through a wall of the corresponding pocket that receives a fastener therethrough. The cone arms each include a cone head attached to an arm. The arm includes a forwardly-positioned shoulder arm section, a rearwardly-positioned tapered arm section, and a rearwardly-facing opening axially extending through the rearwardly-positioned tapered arm section that receives the fastener. When each of the cone arms is inserted into a corresponding one of the pockets and the corresponding fastener(s) is/are tightened, the rearwardly-positioned tapered arm section is securely drawn into the rearwardly-positioned tapered pocket section of the pocket to create a pre-loaded fit therebetween and the forwardly-positioned shoulder arm section mates with the forwardly-positioned shoulder pocket section.

A drill bit may include a bit body and at least two cones assemblies including at least two drive cylinders having at least two cones. The at least two cone assemblies are mounted on the bit body. The drill bit may also include an indexing mechanism coupled to the bit body and configured to rotate and lock at least one drive cylinder. A method of operating the drill bit may include providing fluid to the drill bit, rotating the drill string to drill formation, moving the indexing mechanism an axial distance within a central chamber of the drill bit, rotating the at least two indexable structures as the indexing mechanism moves, and locking the at least two indexable structures.