A drill bit includes a bit body and an internal plenum in the bit body. In addition, the drill bit includes a first flow passage extending from the internal plenum to a bit face. Still further, the drill bit includes a nozzle assembly secured to the bit body at a downhole end of the flow passage. The nozzle assembly has a central axis and includes an outer sleeve and an inner nozzle extending axially through the outer sleeve. The inner nozzle has a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a radially inner surface extending axially from the first end to the second end. The radially inner surface defines a second flow passage. The inner nozzle also includes a choke disposed along the second flow passage and a side outlet extending radially from the outer surface to the inner surface.

An example drill bit includes a body that is connectable to a drill string. The body has a base configured to face downhole within a wellbore and a perimeter configured to face a wall of the wellbore. The body includes a first nozzle and a second nozzle. The first nozzle corresponds to a first channel that exits the body through the perimeter and the second nozzle corresponds to a second channel that exits the body through the base. The example drill bit also includes a bit cutter on the base of the body and a valve within the body. The valve is configured to move within the body to block either the first channel or the second channel.

An earth-boring tool may include a plurality of blades extending axially and radially from a body. A first plurality of cutting elements may be disposed along rotationally leading faces of the plurality of blades. A pocket may be formed within a blade, and the pocket may extend angularly into the blade from a rotationally leading face of the blade within a shoulder region of the blade. A second plurality of cutting elements may be disposed within the at least one pocket. A rotational pathway of at least one cutting element of the second plurality of cutting elements may at least partially overlaps with another rotational pathway of at least one cutting element of the first plurality of cutting elements.

A bladeless polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) drill bit includes a head having a plurality of knots protruding from a drilling face of the head. Each of the plurality of knots includes a single cutter. Each of the cutters is arranged about a central axis of the head such that each cutter has a unique radial position and angular position relative to the central axis. The head defines at least one fluid port extending through the drilling surface.

An apparatus and method for drilling an underground borehole is presented, wherein pressurized air may be used to discharge out of the borehole cuttings created by a cutter head. A casing may be secured to the cutter head such that the cutter head and casing may be rotatable together as a unit. The casing may have larger and smaller diameter sections. An auger may be disposed adjacent the front of the casing.

A completions bit for use in a wellbore includes: a shank having a coupling formed at an upper end thereof; a body mounted to a lower end of the shank; and a cutting face forming a lower end of the bit. The cutting face includes: a blade protruding from the body; a tangentially oriented leading cutter mounted to a bearing face of the blade adjacent to a leading edge of the blade at an inner portion of the cutting face; and a radially oriented leading cutter mounted to the bearing face of the blade in proximity to the leading edge thereof at an outer portion of the cutting face.

A system includes a sensor carrier and an integrated data recorder. The sensor carrier includes an outer sub body and an inner sub body. The inner sub body is coupled to the outer sub body by a support leg. The inner sub body includes a recess formed therein. The sensor carrier includes a flow path defined as the space between the outer sub body, the inner sub body, and the support leg. The integrated data recorder is positioned within the recess of the inner sub body such that the integrated data recorder is substantially at the centerline of the sensor carrier. The integrated data recorder includes a sensor package including one or more drilling dynamics sensors, a processor, a memory module, and an electrical energy source.

A bladeless polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) drill bit includes a head having a plurality of knots protruding from a drilling face of the head. Each of the plurality of knots includes a single cutter. Each of the cutters is arranged about a central axis of the head such that each cutter has a unique radial position and angular position relative to the central axis. The head defines at least one fluid port extending through the drilling surface.

A nozzle for a drill bit such as may be used to drill for oil or natural gas. The nozzle includes a generally-cylindrical body having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end for insertion into a drill bit body, and a distal end opposite the proximal end. The nozzle body defines a longitudinal bore through the nozzle along the longitudinal axis. The nozzle further includes one or more lobes extending radially from the nozzle body near the distal end. Each of the lobes is displaced axially from the distal end such that a cylindrical portion of the nozzle body is disposed between the distal end and the lobe. The nozzle further includes a fitting in the distal end configured to engage a tool for imparting rotational torque to the nozzle about the longitudinal axis. Such a nozzle is preferably insertable into a drill bit body from outside the body.

Ribs on a gauge pad are used to increase side-cutting capability of a drill bit. A drill bit includes a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end has a face region on which is defined a plurality of blades extending from the face region to a gauge region and separated by channels between the blades, each blade supporting on an outer edge region a plurality of polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) cutters distal to the gauge region. The proximal end is opposite the distal end. At least one cutter is disposed distally to the gauge region on an outer surface oriented substantially parallel to the central axis. The gauge region includes a plurality of outwardly protruding ribs oriented in a direction offset relative to the outer edge region. Aggressive gauge pads can cause unstable drillings. Cutters can be placed distally to the gauge pad, behind PDC cutters on the outer edge region, to help stabilize the drill bit during operation.