A drill bit for drilling a borehole in an earthen formation has a central axis and a cutting direction of rotation. The bit includes a bit body configured to rotate about the axis in the cutting direction of rotation. The bit body includes a bit face. The bit also includes a blade extending radially along the bit face. In addition, the bit includes a first cutter element mounted to a cutter-supporting surface of the blade and a second cutter element mounted to the cutter-supporting surface of the blade. The first cutter element has a central axis and includes a first forward-facing cutting face including a first cutting tip distal the cutter supporting surface and a first planar surface extending radially from the first cutting tip toward the central axis of the first cutter element. The first planar surface is oriented at a first effective backrake angle measured between the cutter supporting surface and a surface vector of the first planar surface. The second cutter element has a central axis and comprises a second forward-facing cutting face including a second cutting tip distal the cutter supporting surface and a second planar surface extending radially from the second cutting tip toward the central axis of the second cutter element. The second planar surface is oriented at a second effective backrake angle measured between the cutter supporting surface and a surface vector of the second planar surface. The second effective backrake angle is greater than the first effective backrake angle.

A drill bit for drilling a borehole in an earthen formation has a central axis and a cutting direction of rotation. The bit includes a bit body configured to rotate about the axis in the cutting direction of rotation. The bit body includes a bit face. The bit also includes a blade extending radially along the bit face. In addition, the bit includes a first cutter element mounted to a cutter-supporting surface of the blade and a second cutter element mounted to the cutter-supporting surface of the blade. The first cutter element has a central axis and includes a first forward-facing cutting face including a first cutting tip distal the cutter supporting surface and a first planar surface extending radially from the first cutting tip toward the central axis of the first cutter element. The first planar surface is oriented at a first effective backrake angle measured between the cutter supporting surface and a surface vector of the first planar surface. The second cutter element has a central axis and comprises a second forward-facing cutting face including a second cutting tip distal the cutter supporting surface and a second planar surface extending radially from the second cutting tip toward the central axis of the second cutter element. The second planar surface is oriented at a second effective backrake angle measured between the cutter supporting surface and a surface vector of the second planar surface. The second effective backrake angle is greater than the first effective backrake angle.

The invention relates to reamers used in downhole oil well drilling operations, particularly in reaming while drilling applications. Presented is a reamer having an interior channel which runs along an elongate axis of the entire body of the reamer, wherein there are openings along both ends of the reamer, exposing the interior channel. Additionally presented in the reamer are a plurality of paths extending parallel to the interior channel along the exterior of the body of the reamer, and running in a helical pattern along the entirety of the exterior of the body of the reamer. Disposed within the helical paths are a plurality of cutting inserts, which cutting inserts are enabled to provides a uniform cutting surface against a well bore, which preferably improves cutting action and reduces strain on the reamer.

Articles comprising at least a portion of an earth-boring tool include at least one insert and a solidified eutectic or near-eutectic composition including a metal phase and a hard material phase. Other articles include a solidified eutectic or near-eutectic composition including a metal phase, a hard material phase and a coating material in contact with the solidified eutectic or near-eutectic composition.

Articles comprising at least a portion of an earth-boring tool include at least one insert and a solidified eutectic or near-eutectic composition including a metal phase and a hard material phase. Other articles include a solidified eutectic or near-eutectic composition including a metal phase, a hard material phase and a coating material in contact with the solidified eutectic or near-eutectic composition.

A sensor element for a cutting tool, the sensor element having a hard portion having a working surface and at least one diamond crystal at least partially embedded in the hard portion, the at least one diamond crystal being arranged to generate a piezoresistive signal in response to the working surface engaging external material in use.

An embodiment of a PCD insert comprises an embodiment of a PCD element joined to a cemented carbide substrate at an interface. The PCD element has internal diamond surfaces defining interstices between them. The PCD element comprises a masked or passivated region and an unmasked or unpassivated region, the unmasked or unpassivated region defining a boundary with the substrate, the boundary being the interface. At least some of the internal diamond surfaces of the masked or passivated region contact a mask or passivation medium, and some or all of the interstices of the masked or passivated region and of the unmasked or unpassivated region are at least partially filled with an infiltrant material.

An embodiment of a PCD insert comprises an embodiment of a PCD element joined to a cemented carbide substrate at an interface. The PCD element has internal diamond surfaces defining interstices between them. The PCD element comprises a masked or passivated region and an unmasked or unpassivated region, the unmasked or unpassivated region defining a boundary with the substrate, the boundary being the interface. At least some of the internal diamond surfaces of the masked or passivated region contact a mask or passivation medium, and some or all of the interstices of the masked or passivated region and of the unmasked or unpassivated region are at least partially filled with an infiltrant material.

A superhard polycrystalline construction comprises a body of polycrystalline superhard material comprising a superhard phase, and a non-superhard phase dispersed in the superhard phase, the superhard phase comprising a plurality of inter-bonded superhard grains. The non-superhard phase comprises particles or grains that do not chemically react with the superhard grains and form less than around 10 volume % of the body of polycrystalline superhard material. There is also disclosed a method of forming such a superhard polycrystalline construction.

A superhard polycrystalline construction comprises a body of polycrystalline superhard material comprising a superhard phase, and a non-superhard phase dispersed in the superhard phase, the superhard phase comprising a plurality of inter-bonded superhard grains. The non-superhard phase comprises particles or grains that do not chemically react with the superhard grains and form less than around 10 volume % of the body of polycrystalline superhard material. There is also disclosed a method of forming such a superhard polycrystalline construction.