A core catcher for a coring tool comprises a sleeve comprising a longitudinal axis and at least one slit extending at least partially along a height of the sleeve between an upper end and a lower end thereof. The at least one slit separates a first side surface and a second side surface of the sleeve. The first and second side surfaces are located a first distance and a second distance from the longitudinal axis, respectively, measured in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis. The core catcher further comprises a bridging element extending at least partially about a sleeve perimeter. The bridging element operatively couples movement of the first side surface and the second side surface to limit a difference between the first and second distances as a width of the at least one slit that separates the first side surface and the second side surface increases or decreases.

In one aspect the present invention comprises a wireline retrievable coring apparatus for incorporation into a drillstring, comprising: a housing for coupling to a drill string housing, a drill bit, a turbine comprising a stator coupled to the housing and a rotor within the stator, the rotor coupled to rotate the drill bit, a core barrel through the turbine and in communication with the drill bit for capturing a core, a fluid path to the drill bit via the turbine to rotate the turbine, wherein the core barrel is rotationally isolated from the rotor and is fluidly isolated from the fluid path.

A core catcher for a coring tool comprises a sleeve comprising a longitudinal axis and at least one slit extending at least partially along a height of the sleeve between an upper end and a lower end thereof. The at least one slit separates a first side surface and a second side surface of the sleeve. The first and second side surfaces are located a first distance and a second distance from the longitudinal axis, respectively, measured in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis. The core catcher further comprises a bridging element extending at least partially about a sleeve perimeter. The bridging element operatively couples movement of the first side surface and the second side surface to limit a difference between the first and second distances as a width of the at least one slit that separates the first side surface and the second side surface increases or decreases.

A drill bit includes a shank having a threaded coupling formed at an upper end thereof; a bit body mounted to a lower end of the shank and having a plenum; a gage section forming an outer portion of the drill bit; a cutting face forming a lower end of the drill bit and including: a core receptacle formed at a center of the cutting face, operable to receive a core of earth, and including: a concave core cutter mounted to a bottom of the bit body; and a core port extending from the plenum through the bottom of the bit body and operable to discharge drilling fluid onto the core and core cutter; a plurality of blades protruding from a bottom of the bit body and extending from a periphery of the core receptacle to the gage section; and a plurality of leading cutters mounted along each blade.

Systems and methods presented herein include sidewall coring tool assemblies used to return core plugs of rock from a sidewall of a wellbore as part of a data collection exercise for exploration and production of hydrocarbons. A coring bit and a coring shaft of the present disclosure allow space for cuttings to move away from the bit face when drilling into a formation. In addition, certain embodiments include a plurality of inlets disposed circumferentially on an external surface at a first axial end of the coring shaft, a plurality of internal grooves disposed on an internal surface of the coring shaft, and/or a plurality of fins disposed on the external surface to direct flow of drilling and debris away from the coring bit. In addition to providing more space for cuttings to move away from the coring bit, the torque needed to drive the bit is lessened as the surface area of the bit contacting or engaging the formation is reduced.

Methods of operating earth-boring tools may involve extending a selectively actuatable cutting element outward from a face of the earth-boring tool. A portion of an underlying earth formation may be crushed by a crushing cutting action utilizing the selectively actuatable cutting element in response to extension of the cutting element. The selectively actuatable cutting element may subsequently be retracted. Earth-boring tools may include a selectively actuatable cutting element mounted to a blade, the selectively actuatable cutting element configured to move between a retracted state in which the selectively actuatable cutting element does not engage with an underlying earth formation and an extended state in which the selectively actuatable cutting element engages with the underlying earth formation. The selectively actuatable cutting element may be configured to perform a gouging or crushing cutting action at least upon initial positioning into the extended state.

Systems and methods presented herein include sidewall coring tool assemblies used to return core plugs of rock from a sidewall of a wellbore as part of a data collection exercise for exploration and production of hydrocarbons. A coring bit and a coring shaft of the present disclosure allow space for cuttings to move away from the bit face when drilling into a formation. In addition, certain embodiments include a plurality of inlets disposed circumferentially on an external surface at a first axial end of the coring shaft, a plurality of internal grooves disposed on an internal surface of the coring shaft, and/or a plurality of fins disposed on the external surface to direct flow of drilling and debris away from the coring bit. In addition to providing more space for cuttings to move away from the coring bit, the torque needed to drive the bit is lessened as the surface area of the bit contacting or engaging the formation is reduced.

A coring bit for use on a coring tool for extracting a sample of subterranean formation from a wellbore includes a bit body having a cavity, wherein a throat portion of the cavity extends into the bit body from a face of the bit body. The coring bit includes a sleeve disposed within the cavity of the bit body, the sleeve configured to separate a face discharge channel and a throat discharge channel. The face discharge channel is located radially outward of the sleeve and the throat discharge channel is located radially inward of the sleeve. A method of repairing a such a coring bit includes removing the sleeve from the cavity of a bit body.

A drill bit for forming a hole in a formation. The drill bit has a shank and an annular crown that cooperate to define an interior space that receives water or other drilling fluid. The annular crown defines inner channels spaced circumferentially about an inner surface of the crown and outer channels spaced circumferentially about an outer surface of the crown. The annular crown can completely circumferentially enclose the interior space of the drill bit, or the annular crown can be provided with a single waterway extending between the inner and outer surfaces of the crown.

Drilling tools having axially-tapered waterways that can increase flushing and bit life, while also decreasing clogging. According to some implementations of the present invention, the waterways can be radially tapered in addition to being axially tapered. The axially-tapered waterways can include notches extending into the cutting face of the drilling tools and/or slots enclosed within the crown of the drilling tools. Implementations of the present invention also include drilling systems including drilling tools having axially-tapered waterways, and methods of forming drilling tools having axially-tapered waterways.