A drilling system, assembly, and method may help optimize drilling in a system that involves more than one rotary tool that engages the formation. A rotary tool may be a rotary cutting tool, such as a drill bit or reamer, or some other rotary tool (e.g. stabilizer or rotary steerable tool) that has the potential to drag on the wall of the hole being drilled and take energy away from cutting. In an example, a wellbore or portion thereof is formed by rotating a first rotary cutting tool having a first cutting structure in engagement with one portion of the formation together with a second rotary cutting tool having a second cutting structure in engagement with another portion of the formation. Forces are obtained above and below the second cutting structure. One or more drilling parameter or drill bit design parameter are adjusted in relation to a force differential between the forces above and below the second cutting structure.

A drilling system, assembly, and method may help optimize drilling in a system that involves more than one rotary tool that engages the formation. A rotary tool may be a rotary cutting tool, such as a drill bit or reamer, or some other rotary tool (e.g. stabilizer or rotary steerable tool) that has the potential to drag on the wall of the hole being drilled and take energy away from cutting. In an example, a wellbore or portion thereof is formed by rotating a first rotary cutting tool having a first cutting structure in engagement with one portion of the formation together with a second rotary cutting tool having a second cutting structure in engagement with another portion of the formation. Forces are obtained above and below the second cutting structure. One or more drilling parameter or drill bit design parameter are adjusted in relation to a force differential between the forces above and below the second cutting structure.

A sensor element for a cutting tool has a hard portion having a first sensing surface, first and second electrodes, and first and second sets of thermocouple wires, and an electrically insulating portion. The second electrode has a second sensing surface, The hard portion comprises hard and/or super-hard material and the first and second electrodes comprise electrically conductive hard and/or super-hard material, the hard portion isolating the first sensing surface from the second sensing surface. The second electrode is attached to or forms part of an electrically conductive region of the hard portion or a region attached thereto. Electric current flows between the first and second electrodes through external material when the sensing surfaces contact the material in response to the cutting tool engaging the material. The first and second electrodes are operable to indicate any one or more of a temperature of the first and second electrodes, and conductivity between the electrodes.

A sensor element for a cutting tool has a hard portion having a first sensing surface, first and second electrodes, and first and second sets of thermocouple wires, and an electrically insulating portion. The second electrode has a second sensing surface, The hard portion comprises hard and/or super-hard material and the first and second electrodes comprise electrically conductive hard and/or super-hard material, the hard portion isolating the first sensing surface from the second sensing surface. The second electrode is attached to or forms part of an electrically conductive region of the hard portion or a region attached thereto. Electric current flows between the first and second electrodes through external material when the sensing surfaces contact the material in response to the cutting tool engaging the material. The first and second electrodes are operable to indicate any one or more of a temperature of the first and second electrodes, and conductivity between the electrodes.

An instrumented cutter including a polycrystalline diamond table bonded to a substrate with a sensor, for monitoring the condition of the polycrystalline compact diamond table, embedded in the substrate. Further the instrumented cutter includes a wireless transmitter equipped with a power supply to power to the wireless transmitter.

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.

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.

A housing defines a through passage along its length and is configured to support a group of electrical isolators surrounding the through passage to form an electrically isolating break in a drill string such that each isolator of the group of isolators is subject to no more than a compressive force responsive to extension and retraction of the drill string. The housing defines a housing cavity to receive an electronics package having a signal port and is configured for electrical connection of the signal port across the electrically isolating break. A housing lid can cooperate with a main housing body to define elongated slots for purposes of enhancing the emanation of a locating signal. A housing arrangement can support electrical connections from an electronics package to bridge an electrically isolating gap.

A housing defines a through passage along its length and is configured to support a group of electrical isolators surrounding the through passage to form an electrically isolating break in a drill string such that each isolator of the group of isolators is subject to no more than a compressive force responsive to extension and retraction of the drill string. The housing defines a housing cavity to receive an electronics package having a signal port and is configured for electrical connection of the signal port across the electrically isolating break. A housing lid can cooperate with a main housing body to define elongated slots for purposes of enhancing the emanation of a locating signal. A housing arrangement can support electrical connections from an electronics package to bridge an electrically isolating gap.

Methods, systems, devices, and products for downhole operations. Embodiments include downhole tools comprising an outer member configured for conveyance in the borehole; a pressure barrel positioned inside the outer member; a substantially cylindrical pod positioned inside the pressure barrel; and at least one downhole electronic component mounted between the exterior surface and the frame. The pod comprises at least one rigid outer surface forming an exterior surface of the pod and supported by a central frame extending across a diameter of the pod, such as a plurality of outer rigid surfaces. The pod may include a plurality of coupled rigid elongated semicircular metallic shells, wherein each shell of the plurality comprises a rigid outer surface of the plurality of outer rigid surfaces. Each of the at least one downhole electronic component may be sealingly enclosed within a corresponding shell.