# US 2014/0190752 A1 · Impregnated bit with improved cutting structure and blade geometry > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190752 A1 - Document ID: US20140190752A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/203,069 - Filed: 2014-03-10 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2009-03-02 - Assignees: Baker Hughes Incorporated - Applicants: Baker Hughes Incorporated - Inventors: Michael L. Doster - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190752A1 ## CPC - E21B 10/567: with preformed cutting elements mounted on a distinct support, e.g. polycrystalline inserts - B23P 15/28: cutting tools (sawing tools B23D63/00, B23D65/00; files or rasps B23D73/00) - E21B 10/43: characterised by the arrangement of teeth or other cutting elements - E21B 10/55: with preformed cutting elements - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - B23P: METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q) ## Abstract A rotary drag bit for drilling subterranean formations includes a bit body having a face extending from a centerline to a gage. A plurality of blades may be disposed on the face, and may generally extend radially outwardly toward the gage. The bit may further include a plurality of discrete impregnated cutting posts, each of which may extend outwardly from an associated blade. Each discrete impregnated cutting post angles generally toward a front edge of the associated blade and generally toward the intended direction of rotation of the bit. The rotary drag bit may further include a plurality of matrix pockets disposed on the blades. The discrete impregnated cutting posts may be housed within corresponding matrix pockets. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rotary drag bit for drilling subterranean formations comprising: a bit body having a face extending from a centerline to a gage; a plurality of blades on the face generally extending radially outwardly toward the gage, each blade of the plurality of blades having a front edge and a trailing edge; a plurality of discrete impregnated cutting posts, each discrete impregnated cutting post of the plurality of discrete impregnated cutting posts extending outwardly from at least one blade of the plurality of blades generally in a direction of intended rotation of the rotary drag bit, each discrete impregnated cutting post having a longitudinal axis oriented at an acute angle between about 10 degrees and about 80 degrees with respect to the direction of intended rotation of the rotary drag bit, and each discrete impregnated cutting post located proximate the front edge of the at least one blade. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The rotary drag bit of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of a surface of the at least one blade between the front edge of the at least one blade and the trailing edge of the at least one blade is recessed behind at least one discrete impregnated cutting post of the plurality of discrete impregnated cutting posts. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The rotary drag bit of claim 1, wherein a top surface of at least one blade of the plurality of blades tapers toward the face of the bit body from a front edge of the at least one blade to a trailing edge of the at least one blade. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The rotary drag bit of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of discrete impregnated cutting posts is set at a backrake angle different than a backrake angle of at least one other of the plurality of discrete impregnated cutting posts. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The rotary drag bit of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of discrete impregnated cutting posts is set at a different backrake angle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The rotary drag bit of claim 1, wherein at least one of the discrete impregnated cutting posts has an outermost end extending rotationally forwardly beyond the front edge of an associated blade of the plurality of blades and over a junk slot between the blade and an adjacent blade. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The rotary drag bit of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of discrete impregnated cutting posts has an outermost end extending rotationally forwardly beyond the front edge of an associated blade of the plurality of blades on which each of the plurality of discrete impregnated cutting posts is located and over an adjacent junk slot. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The rotary drag bit of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of matrix pockets disposed on the plurality of blades, wherein each discrete impregnated cutting post is housed within an associated one of the plurality of matrix pockets. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The rotary drag bit of claim 8, wherein a shape of each matrix pocket of the plurality of matrix pockets determines the acute angle between the longitudinal axis of each associated discrete impregnated cutting post and the direction of intended rotation of the rotary drag bit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The rotary drag bit of claim 8, wherein each matrix pocket of the plurality of matrix pockets comprise diamond grit dispersed within a matrix of wear-resistant material. ### Claim 11 A method of forming a rotary drag bit for drilling subterranean formations, the method comprising: forming a bit body having a face extending from a centerline to a gage; forming a plurality of blades on the face generally extending radially outwardly toward the gage, each blade of the plurality of blades having a front edge and a trailing edge; forming a plurality of discrete impregnated cutting posts, each discrete impregnated cutting post of the plurality of discrete impregnated cutting posts extending outwardly from at least one blade of the plurality of blades generally in a direction of intended rotation of the rotary drag bit, each discrete impregnated cutting post having a longitudinal axis oriented at an acute angle between about 10 degrees and about 80 degrees with respect to the intended direction of rotation of the rotary drag bit, and each discrete impregnated cutting post located proximate the front edge of the at least one blade. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein forming a plurality of blades on the face comprises forming at least a portion of a surface of the at least one blade between the front edge and the trailing edge of the at least one blade having a recess behind at least one discrete impregnated cutting post of the plurality of discrete impregnated cutting posts. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein forming a plurality of blades on the face comprises forming a top surface of at least one blade of the plurality of blades tapering toward the face of the bit body from a front edge of the at least one blade to a trailing edge of the at least one blade. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein forming a plurality of discrete impregnated cutting posts comprises forming at least one of the plurality of discrete impregnated cutting posts at a backrake angle different than a backrake angle of at least one other of the plurality of discrete impregnated cutting posts. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein forming a plurality of discrete impregnated cutting posts comprises forming each of the plurality of discrete impregnated cutting posts at a different backrake angle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein forming a plurality of discrete impregnated cutting posts comprises forming at least one of the discrete impregnated cutting posts having an outermost end extending rotationally forwardly beyond the front edge of an associated blade of the plurality of blades and over a junk slot between the blade and an adjacent blade. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein forming a plurality of discrete impregnated cutting posts comprises forming each of the plurality of discrete impregnated cutting posts having an outermost end extending rotationally forwardly beyond the front edge of an associated blade of the plurality of blades on which each of the plurality of discrete impregnated cutting posts is located and over an adjacent junk slot. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: forming a plurality of matrix pockets disposed on the plurality of blades; and disposing each discrete impregnated cutting post within an associated one of the plurality of matrix pockets. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein a shape of each matrix pocket of the plurality of matrix pockets determines the acute angle between the longitudinal axis of each associated discrete impregnated cutting post and the direction of intended rotation of the rotary drag bit. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein each matrix pocket of the plurality of matrix pockets comprise diamond grit dispersed within a matrix of wear-resistant material.