Bi-metallic drill bit mandrel utilizing precipitation hardened material pre-joined to a drill bit mandrel suitable for infiltration

A drilling tool for a downhole drill string comprising:

• a casting mandrel portion comprising an amount of steel;
• a drill string connection portion comprising an amount of precipitation hardenable steel, wherein the amount of steel is distinct from the amount of precipitation hardenable steel;
• a cutting structure fabricated in a metal matrix composite formed about the casting mandrel portion, wherein the metal matrix composite comprises a reinforcing powder infiltrated with a binder in contact with the casting mandrel portion;
• and
• a bimetallic member comprising the amount of steel and the amount of precipitation hardenable steel metallurgically bonded together before the reinforcing powder is infiltrated with the binder.

A directional drilling system comprising:

• a directional drilling tool integrated in a drill string;
• and
• a drill bit coupled to the directional drilling tool, wherein the drill bit comprises:
• a casting mandrel portion comprising an amount of steel;
• a drill string connection portion comprising an amount of precipitation hardenable steel for coupling the drill bit to the drill string wherein the amount of steel is distinct from the amount of precipitation hardenable steel;
• a cutting structure fabricated in a metal matrix composite formed about the casting mandrel portion, wherein the metal matrix composite comprises a reinforcing powder infiltrated with a binder in contact with the casting mandrel portion;
• and
• a bimetallic member comprising the amount of steel and the amount of precipitation hardenable steel metallurgically bonded together before the reinforcing powder is infiltrated with the binder.

A method of performing a drilling operation comprising:

• coupling a drill bit to a drill string, wherein the drill bit comprises:
• a casting mandrel portion comprising an amount of steel;
• a drill string connection portion comprising an amount of precipitation hardenable steel for coupling the drill bit to the drill string wherein the amount of steel is distinct from the amount of precipitation hardenable steel;
• a cutting structure fabricated in a metal matrix composite formed about the casting mandrel portion, wherein the metal matrix composite comprises a reinforcing powder infiltrated with a binder in contact with the casting mandrel portion;
• and
• a bimetallic member comprising the amount of steel and the amount of precipitation hardenable steel metallurgically bonded together before the reinforcing powder is infiltrated with the binder;
• and
• operating the drill string with the drill bit in a downhole environment to perform the drilling operation.

A method comprising:

• obtaining an amount of precipitation hardenable steel;
• obtaining an amount of another steel, wherein the amount of another steel is distinct from the amount of precipitation hardenable steel;
• metallurgically bonding the amount of precipitation hardenable steel to the amount of the another steel, thereby forming a blank bimetallic member comprising a casting mandrel portion and a drill string connection portion;
• storing the blank bimetallic member as one of an inventory comprising a plurality of blank bimetallic members;
• retrieving the blank bimetallic member out of the inventory of a plurality of blank bimetallic members;
• infiltrating a reinforcing powder with a binder in contact with the casting mandrel portion of the blank bimetallic member to form a metal matrix composite about the casting mandrel portion, after the amount of precipitation hardenable steel is metallurgically bonded to the amount of steel;
• and
• fabricating a cutting structure in the metal matrix composite.