A reversible polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) bit. The reversible PDC bit includes at least one blade, at least one front cutter disposed on a first side of the at least one blade, and at least one rear cutter disposed on a second side of the at least one blade, wherein the first side is opposite to the second side along a circumferential direction of the reversible PDC bit, wherein rotating the reversible PDC bit in a clockwise direction engages the at least one front cutter to cut into a subterranean formation, and wherein rotating the reversible PDC bit in a counter-clockwise direction engages the at least one rear cutter to cut into the subterranean formation.

A hole opener configured for use with a directional drilling rig and the hole opener includes a shaft and slots that extends along the shaft. Blades extend radially outward from the shaft and are each received within one of the slots to couple the blades to the shaft for rotation with the shaft and to space the blades apart around the shaft. The hole opener further includes saddles. Each of the saddles includes a slot that receives one of the blades to couple the saddle to the blade and the shaft for rotation with the blade and the shaft. The saddles each include a recess. The hole opener further includes cutters and each of the cutters is received within one of the recesses of the saddles to couple the cutters to the shaft for rotation with the shaft and to space the cutters around the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

A hole opener configured for use with a directional drilling rig and the hole opener includes a shaft and slots that extends along the shaft. Blades extend radially outward from the shaft and are each received within one of the slots to couple the blades to the shaft for rotation with the shaft and to space the blades apart around the shaft. The hole opener further includes saddles. Each of the saddles includes a slot that receives one of the blades to couple the saddle to the blade and the shaft for rotation with the blade and the shaft. The saddles each include a recess. The hole opener further includes cutters and each of the cutters is received within one of the recesses of the saddles to couple the cutters to the shaft for rotation with the shaft and to space the cutters around the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

A downhole tool, for selectively reaming a wellbore or stabilizing drill string components within a wellbore, includes an elongate tool body adapted to receive reamer cartridges or stabilizer cartridges. The reamer cartridges are radially insertable into corresponding pockets in the tool body, with each reamer cartridge having a reamer insert with an array of cutting elements. The reamer insert is disposed within a bushing and is rotatable relative thereto, about a rotational axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tool. However, the rotational axis is offset from the tool body axis, resulting in eccentric contact of the cutting elements with the wall of the wellbore, which in turn imparts rotation to the reamer insert when the tool is moved axially through a wellbore without rotation. When the tool is used for stabilization, the reamer cartridges are removed and replaced with stabilizer cartridges having stabilizer inserts with hard-faced stabilizer cones.

A downhole tool, for selectively reaming a wellbore or stabilizing drill string components within a wellbore, includes an elongate tool body adapted to receive reamer cartridges or stabilizer cartridges. The reamer cartridges are radially insertable into corresponding pockets in the tool body, with each reamer cartridge having a reamer insert with an array of cutting elements. The reamer insert is disposed within a bushing and is rotatable relative thereto, about a rotational axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tool. However, the rotational axis is offset from the tool body axis, resulting in eccentric contact of the cutting elements with the wall of the wellbore, which in turn imparts rotation to the reamer insert when the tool is moved axially through a wellbore without rotation. When the tool is used for stabilization, the reamer cartridges are removed and replaced with stabilizer cartridges having stabilizer inserts with hard-faced stabilizer cones.

A downhole tool, comprising: a mandrel having first and second opposing ends and an outer mounting surface, the first end comprising a male threaded portion; a tool component mountable on the mounting surface by sliding said tool component onto the mounting surface from the first end of the mandrel; and a load sleeve defining a torque shoulder, wherein the load sleeve is mountable on the mandrel and securable adjacent the male threaded portion of the first end of the mandrel such that the torque shoulder and the male threaded portion define a pin connector to facilitate connection with a box connector of a separate component.

Provided herein is PDC drill bits for engaging subterranean formations and for drilling wellbores, wherein the PDC drill bits are adapted to reduce erosion of the drill bit face by the inclusion of openings in a portion of the gauge of the PDC drill bit. The present disclosure also relates to systems and methods of drilling subterranean formations using the drill bits disclosed herein.

A raise boring head for rotary boring in rock having a main body mountable at a drive shaft in which a mount face provides a supporting surface for a plurality of saddles that mount, in turn, respective roller cutters. At least one guide block is attached to the main body to project upwardly from the mount face and includes at least one guide face to facilitate the transport of cut material away from the mount face.

A raise boring head for rotary boring in rock having a main body mountable at a drive shaft in which a mount face provides a supporting surface for a plurality of saddles that mount, in turn, respective roller cutters. At least one guide block is attached to the main body to project upwardly from the mount face and includes at least one guide face to facilitate the transport of cut material away from the mount face.

A shaft enlargement arrangement for a boring system comprises a hollow column proximate a lower end of the boring system. A reamer section comprising a downwardly tapering first cutter head arrangement is rotatably fitted to the hollow column, with a first drive being provided to rotate the first cutter head arrangement relative to the hollow column so as to bore downwardly a hole having a diameter corresponding substantially to the diameter of the first cutter head arrangement. A boring head arrangement is fitted to an operatively lower end, the boring head arrangement terminating in a downwardly tapering second cutter head arrangement to bore a leading or pilot hole, having a diameter that is less than the diameter of the first cutter head arrangement, as the boring system proceeds to bore downwardly.