A drill bit comprises a bit body having a longitudinal axis and a blade extending radially outward from the longitudinal axis along a face region and axially along a gauge region. A gauge region includes a cutting element located proximate to an uphole edge of the blade in the gauge region. A remainder of the gauge region is free of cutting elements mounted thereon. A method of drilling a borehole comprises rotating the bit about the longitudinal axis, engaging a formation with cutting elements mounted to the face region, and increasing a lateral force applied substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis such that the cutting element engages the formation and such that side cutting exhibited by the tool is initially minimal and substantially constant and subsequently increases in a substantially linear manner with increasing lateral force.

A drill bit comprises a bit body having a longitudinal axis and a blade extending radially outward from the longitudinal axis along a face region and axially along a gauge region. A gauge region includes a cutting element located proximate to an uphole edge of the blade in the gauge region. A remainder of the gauge region is free of cutting elements mounted thereon. A method of drilling a borehole comprises rotating the bit about the longitudinal axis, engaging a formation with cutting elements mounted to the face region, and increasing a lateral force applied substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis such that the cutting element engages the formation and such that side cutting exhibited by the tool is initially minimal and substantially constant and subsequently increases in a substantially linear manner with increasing lateral force.

Embodiments relate to polycrystalline diamond compacts (“PDCs”) including a polycrystalline diamond (“PCD”) table having a diamond grain size distribution selected for improving performance and/or leachability. In an embodiment, a PDC includes a PCD table bonded to a substrate. The PCD table includes a plurality of diamond grains exhibiting diamond-to-diamond bonding therebetween. The plurality of diamond grains includes a first amount being about 5 weight % to about 65 weight % of the plurality of diamond grains and a second amount being about 18 weight % to about 95 weight % of the plurality of diamond grains. The first amount exhibits a first average grain size of about 0.5 μm to about 30 μm. The second amount exhibits a second average grain size that is greater than the first average grain size and is about 10 μm to about 65 μm. Other embodiments are directed to methods of forming PDCs, and various applications for such PDCs in rotary drill bits, bearing apparatuses, and wire-drawing dies.

Embodiments relate to polycrystalline diamond compacts (“PDCs”) including a polycrystalline diamond (“PCD”) table having a diamond grain size distribution selected for improving performance and/or leachability. In an embodiment, a PDC includes a PCD table bonded to a substrate. The PCD table includes a plurality of diamond grains exhibiting diamond-to-diamond bonding therebetween. The plurality of diamond grains includes a first amount being about 5 weight % to about 65 weight % of the plurality of diamond grains and a second amount being about 18 weight % to about 95 weight % of the plurality of diamond grains. The first amount exhibits a first average grain size of about 0.5 μm to about 30 μm. The second amount exhibits a second average grain size that is greater than the first average grain size and is about 10 μm to about 65 μm. Other embodiments are directed to methods of forming PDCs, and various applications for such PDCs in rotary drill bits, bearing apparatuses, and wire-drawing dies.

A rotary drill bit includes movable gauge elements biased to protrude radially through a circumferential engagement surface of a gauge pad. The gauge elements are retractable to protrude a lesser distance against the bias of a biasing mechanism. Fluid chambers are defined adjacent the gauge elements, and fluid is permitted to be bled into and out of the fluid chambers to delay and slow the retraction and extension of the gauge elements. During straight drilling operations, the biasing mechanisms maintain the gauge elements in an extended position providing stability to the drill bit. When a steering force is applied to the drill bit, the gauge elements retract slowly as fluid is bled from the fluid chambers. As the gauge elements rotate with the drill bit, the retracted configuration may be maintained as gauge elements disengage the geologic formation on a side of the drill bit opposite the steering direction.

A drill bit including a body having a face and a bit axis. The face includes a cone region disposed about the bit axis, a nose region disposed radially outward from the cone region, and a shoulder region disposed radially outward from the nose region. The drill bit further includes a first plurality of cutters defining a first cutting profile, and a second plurality of cutters defining a second cutting profile different from the first cutting profile. The second plurality of cutters are not back-up cutters to the first plurality of cutters.

A drill bit including a body having a face and a bit axis. The face includes a cone region disposed about the bit axis, a nose region disposed radially outward from the cone region, and a shoulder region disposed radially outward from the nose region. The drill bit further includes a first plurality of cutters defining a first cutting profile, and a second plurality of cutters defining a second cutting profile different from the first cutting profile. The second plurality of cutters are not back-up cutters to the first plurality of cutters.

A bit for drilling a wellbore includes: a body; and a cutting face. The cutting face includes: an inner section and an outer section; a plurality of blades protruding from the body, and a row of superhard cutters mounted along each blade, the cutters in the inner section having a negative profile angle and the cutters in the outer section having a positive profile angle. At least one of: at least one inner cutter is oriented at a negative side rake angle to create a weight on bit (WOB) reducing effect, and at least one outer cutter is oriented at a positive side rake angle to create the WOB reducing effect. Each of the rest of the cutters are oriented at a side rake angle such that an overall effect of the side rake angles is the WOB reducing effect.

A bit for drilling a wellbore includes: a body; and a cutting face. The cutting face includes: an inner section and an outer section; a plurality of blades protruding from the body, and a row of superhard cutters mounted along each blade, the cutters in the inner section having a negative profile angle and the cutters in the outer section having a positive profile angle. At least one of: at least one inner cutter is oriented at a negative side rake angle to create a weight on bit (WOB) reducing effect, and at least one outer cutter is oriented at a positive side rake angle to create the WOB reducing effect. Each of the rest of the cutters are oriented at a side rake angle such that an overall effect of the side rake angles is the WOB reducing effect.

A cutting element comprises a cylindrical substrate, a table bonded to the substrate, a working surface on the top of the table, and a plurality of dimples on the working surface. The table is made of super-abrasive material. The super-abrasive material can be PCD. Surface patterns of the table can reduce contact friction between the rock and the cutting element. Therefore, heat on the table can be reduced and thermal damage to the table is decreased. This results in improved cutting element service life.