Underreamer cutter block

Abstract

A downhole cutting apparatus includes a cutter block. The cutter block includes a formation facing surface with cutting elements coupled thereto. The cutting elements are arranged such that at least one cutting element has a different exposure relative to the formation facing surface than at least one other cutting element. In some embodiments, a row of cutting elements may have a gradually changing exposure. The exposure may change such that cutting elements nearer the gauge of the cutter block have less exposure than cutting elements farther from the gauge of the cutter block. In additional embodiments, an underreamer may include multiple cutter blocks. The cutter blocks may each have a different configuration in a backreaming portion, gauge portion, underreaming portion, any part thereof, or in a combination of the foregoing.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.