A horizontal directional drilling sonde housing has a cavity for receiving a sonde. Signal channels extend from the cavity to an exterior of the housing. A polymer lines at least part of the cavity and fills the signal channels. The drilling tool has a bit body and a drilling body. The two bodies have respective lateral surfaces which engage each other to prevent the transverse movement of the drilling body relative to the bit body during operations. The drill bit has a forward extending drill tooth, which drill tooth is removable from a bore. A spacer is located in the bore between the bottom end of the bore and the tooth. The drilling bit has buttons located on the side in a spiral configuration about a longitudinal axis of the bit.

A milling tool for use in a cased wellbore. The milling tool has a housing having a plurality of pockets formed therein. A blade is installed within each pocket and is movable between open and closed positions. The blade projects from the pocket when in an open position. Rotation of the housing causes the blades to move to an open position. The blades remain in a closed position when the housing is not rotating.

The present invention relates to a drill bit assembly for fluid-operated percussion drill tools comprising a percussion bit having a head portion and a bit retaining portion. Engagement means are provided on the head portion engageable with complementary engagement means on a drive ring whereby rotational drive from the drive ring may be transmitted to the percussion bit. The assembly also comprises bit retaining means adapted for engagement with the bit retaining portion of the percussion bit to retain the percussion bit in the drill bit assembly. Connection means on the drive ring are adapted for connecting the drive ring to a drive means of the fluid-operated percussion drill tool. According to a first aspect, the drive ring comprises a plurality of separable part-annular drive dog segments, wherein the bit retaining means are provided on at least two of the drive dog segments. According to a second aspect the head portion of the bit comprises a main body and a plurality of bit inserts engaged therewith, and wherein the engagement means is provided by the bit inserts.

The present invention relates to a drill bit assembly for fluid-operated percussion drill tools comprising a percussion bit having a head portion and a bit retaining portion. Engagement means are provided on the head portion engageable with complementary engagement means on a drive ring whereby rotational drive from the drive ring may be transmitted to the percussion bit. The assembly also comprises bit retaining means adapted for engagement with the bit retaining portion of the percussion bit to retain the percussion bit in the drill bit assembly. Connection means on the drive ring are adapted for connecting the drive ring to a drive means of the fluid-operated percussion drill tool. According to a first aspect, the drive ring comprises a plurality of separable part-annular drive dog segments, wherein the bit retaining means are provided on at least two of the drive dog segments. According to a second aspect the head portion of the bit comprises a main body and a plurality of bit inserts engaged therewith, and wherein the engagement means is provided by the bit inserts.

An insert for a drill bit includes a base portion having a central axis and a formation engaging portion. The formation engaging portion includes an elongate peaked ridge, a first flanking surface extending from the peaked ridge, and a second flanking surface extending from the peaked ridge. The first flanking surface is defined by a first curve rotated about a first axis and the second flanking surface is defined by a second curve rotated about a second axis. The first axis and the second axis are disposed in a reference plane that bisects the base portion and contains the central axis of the base portion. The first axis is disposed at a first radius measured in the reference plane and the second axis is disposed at a second radius measured in the reference plane. The first radius is different from the second radius.

An insert for a drill bit includes a base portion having a central axis and a formation engaging portion. The formation engaging portion includes an elongate peaked ridge, a first flanking surface extending from the peaked ridge, and a second flanking surface extending from the peaked ridge. The first flanking surface is defined by a first curve rotated about a first axis and the second flanking surface is defined by a second curve rotated about a second axis. The first axis and the second axis are disposed in a reference plane that bisects the base portion and contains the central axis of the base portion. The first axis is disposed at a first radius measured in the reference plane and the second axis is disposed at a second radius measured in the reference plane. The first radius is different from the second radius.

An accessory is coupled to a body using a connection member inserted into a plurality of lateral recesses of a bore. The accessory includes a complementary connection mechanism to the connection member and is tightened in the bore with a torque. An example accessory is a nozzle for use with a drill bit. The nozzle includes threads and the drill bit includes a nozzle bore with lateral recesses. Partial thread segments are inserted into the lateral recesses, and the nozzle is threaded to the partial thread segments.

An insert for a drill bit includes a base portion. In addition, the insert includes a formation engaging portion extending from the base portion. The formation engaging portion has a longitudinal axis and includes a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first lateral side extending from the first end to the second end, and a second lateral side extending from the first end to the second end, and an elongate crown extending longitudinally from the first end to the second end and laterally from the first lateral side to the second lateral side. The first lateral side comprises a first curved surface having a first radius of curvature in top view of the insert and the second lateral side includes a second curved surface having a second radius of curvature in top view of the insert. The first radius of curvature of the first curved surface is different than the second radius of curvature of the second curved surface.

An insert for a drill bit includes a base portion. In addition, the insert includes a formation engaging portion extending from the base portion. The formation engaging portion has a longitudinal axis and includes a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first lateral side extending from the first end to the second end, and a second lateral side extending from the first end to the second end, and an elongate crown extending longitudinally from the first end to the second end and laterally from the first lateral side to the second lateral side. The first lateral side comprises a first curved surface having a first radius of curvature in top view of the insert and the second lateral side includes a second curved surface having a second radius of curvature in top view of the insert. The first radius of curvature of the first curved surface is different than the second radius of curvature of the second curved surface.

Methods and systems for maintaining a drill bit includes positioning a cutter within a recess of a drill bit body so that an initial edge is positioned at a first location that is a radially outward location relative to a blade of the drill bit. A threaded member extended through a central bore of the cutter can be rotated to releasably secure the cutter to the drill bit. The subterranean well is drilled with the drill bit. The threaded member can be rotated in a second direction so that the cutter can be rotated relative to the recess and the initial edge of the cutter is positioned at a second location that is rotationally offset from the first location. The threaded member can be rotated to releasably re-securing the cutter to the drill bit and the subterranean well can continue to be drilled with the drill bit.