Flexible basket drill bit breaker

A method for use with a drill bit, comprising:

• forming a basket with a flexible member on a bit breaker by passing the flexible member through basket apertures in a support structure of the bit breaker and extending the flexible member from the basket apertures through a linkage axially separated from the support structure;
• placing the drill bit in the basket formed by the flexible member such that the flexible member is wrapped around the drill bit;
• rotating one of the drill bit or the support structure to tighten the flexible member about the drill bit;
• and
• continuing to rotate one of the drill bit or the support structure to make or break a drill bit connection.

A system for making or breaking a connection between a drill bit and a drill string, the system comprising:

• a bit breaker comprising:
• a support structure including a bit aperture for receiving a portion of the drill bit and a plurality of basket apertures positioned circumferentially around the bit aperture;
• and
• a basket including a flexible member that passes through the basket apertures of the support structure to form the basket, wherein the basket extends from the support structure and is configured to receive the drill bit, wherein relative rotation between the support structure and the flexible member causes the flexible member to tighten around the drill bit so that torque may be applied to the drill bit to make or break the drill bit connection;
• a drill bit clamp comprising arms that engage with the support structure of the bit breaker to lock the support structure in place;
• and
• a drill string clamp comprising arms that engage with the drill string to lock the drill string in place and enable relative rotation between the bit breaker and the drill string.