Bearing assemblies, bearing apparatuses, and related methods

A method of manufacturing a bearing assembly, the method comprising:

• sintering a plurality of polycrystalline diamond (“PCD”) bearing elements, each of the plurality of PCD bearing elements comprising a table defining a bearing surface of each of the plurality of PCD bearing elements;
• pressurizing the plurality of PCD bearing elements during the sintering such that at least a portion of the table of each of the plurality of PCD bearing elements exhibits at least one of a coercivity of about 125 Oersteds (“Oe”) or more, a specific magnetic saturation of about 14 Gauss·cm3/grams (“G·cm3/g”) or less, or an electrical conductivity of less than 1200 siemens per meter (“S/m”);
• sintering a second plurality of PCD bearing elements, each of the second plurality of PCD bearing elements comprising a table, such that the each of the second plurality of PCD bearing elements exhibit a specific magnetic saturation or an electrical conductivity that is greater than the plurality of PCD bearing elements;
• mounting the plurality of PCD bearing elements to a first support ring and a second support ring;
• mounting the second plurality of PCD bearing elements to the first support ring and the second support ring at locations between the plurality of PCD bearing elements;
• and
• positioning the second support ring at least partially within the first support ring such that at least some of the plurality of PCD bearing elements bear upon each other.

A method of forming a bearing assembly, the method comprising:

• selecting a plurality of polycrystalline diamond (“PCD”) bearing elements that each include a PCD table including a bearing surface;
• wherein at least a portion of the PCD table exhibits at least one of:
• a coercivity of 125 Oersteds (“Oe”) or more;
• a specific magnetic saturation of about 14 Gauss·cm3/grams (“G·cm3/g”) or less;
• or
• an electrical conductivity of less than 1200 siemens per meter (“S/m”);
• selecting another plurality of PCD bearing elements, the another plurality of PCD bearing elements each comprising a second PCD table, wherein the second PCD table exhibits a specific magnetic saturation or an electrical conductivity that is greater than the PCD table;
• and
• mounting the plurality of PCD bearing elements to a support ring, each of the plurality of PCD bearing elements positioned between bearing elements of the another plurality of PCD bearing elements.