Tommy G Ray

US Patent:

6823952, Nov 30, 2004

Filed:

Oct 26, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/697789

Inventors:

Graham Mensa-Wilmot - Houston TX
Tommy G. Ray - Houston TX
Youhe Zhang - Houston TX

Assignee:

Smith International, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 1052

US Classification:

175432, 175428, 175434

Abstract:

A method for forming a drill bit body is disclosed which comprises infiltrating powdered tungsten carbide with a binder alloy in a mold. The mold has therein at least one displacement adapted to form a mounting pad for a cutting element. The displacement comprises a substantially cylindrical body having a diameter selected to substantially conform to a radius of the cutting element and a projection adapted to form a relief groove under a position of a diamond table in the cutting element when the cutting element is mounted on the pad. The width of the relief groove is selected so that the relief groove extends back from an outer surface of the bit body at least about 40 percent of that portion of a thickness of the diamond table which does not extend past the outer surface.

US Patent:

7159487, Jan 9, 2007

Filed:

Jun 26, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/606931

Inventors:

Graham Mensa-Wilmot - Houston TX, US
Tommy G. Ray - Houston TX, US
Youhe Zhang - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Smith International, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

B21K 5/02
E21B 10/52

US Classification:

761082, 175432

Abstract:

A method for forming a drill bit body is disclosed which comprises infiltrating powdered tungsten carbide with a binder alloy in a mold. The mold has therein at least one displacement adapted to form a mounting pad for a cutting element. The displacement comprises a substantially cylindrical body having a diameter selected to substantially conform to a radius of the cutting element and a projection adapted to form a relief groove under a position of a diamond table in the cutting element when the cutting element is mounted on the pad. The width of the relief groove is selected so that the relief groove extends back from an outer surface of the bit body at least about 40 percent of that portion of a thickness of the diamond table which does not extend past the outer surface.

US Patent:

7234550, Jun 26, 2007

Filed:

Oct 29, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/696535

Inventors:

Michael George Azar - The Woodlands TX, US
Jonathan Craig Thiele - Katy TX, US
Tommy Gene Ray - Houston TX, US
Gary Chunn - Conroe TX, US

Assignee:

Smith International, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 10/573

US Classification:

175432, 175434

Abstract:

An insert for a drill bit which includes a diamond impregnated body, and a shearing portion disposed on said body is shown. In addition, a method for forming a drill bit that includes (a) forming a shearing portion on a diamond-impregnated insert body to form a cutting insert, (b) forming a bit body having a plurality of sockets sized to receive a plurality of the cutting inserts, and (c) mounting the plurality of cutting inserts in the bit body and affixing the plurality of cutting inserts to the bit body; wherein steps (a)–(c) are carried out such that a total exposure of the diamond-impregnated insert to temperatures above 1000 F. is greater than a total exposure of the shearing portion to temperatures above 1000 F.

US Patent:

8550188, Oct 8, 2013

Filed:

Sep 29, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/893652

Inventors:

Navish Makkar - Houston TX, US
Tommy G. Ray - Houston TX, US
Manoj Mahajan - Houston TX, US
Dwayne P. Terracina - Spring TX, US
Sameer Bhoite - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Smith International, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 10/00

US Classification:

175265, 175267

Abstract:

A cutting structure for use with a reamer in enlarging a borehole in a subterranean formation includes a plurality of cutter blocks, radially extendable from a reamer body away from a central axis of the reamer body, each of the plurality of cutter blocks comprising at least one cutter blade thereon, wherein an angular spacing about the central axis of the reamer body between the at least one cutter blade on each of the plurality of cutter blocks is unequal.

US Patent:

20060032677, Feb 16, 2006

Filed:

Aug 30, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/215309

Inventors:

Michael Azar - The Woodlands TX, US
Jonathan Thiele - Katy TX, US
Tommy Ray - Houston TX, US
Gary Chunn - Conroe TX, US
Shelton Alsup - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Smith International, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 10/36

US Classification:

175430000, 175432000

Abstract:

This invention provides an improved cutting element for downhole cutting tools including a support element and a beveled shearing element disposed on the support element and a drill bit including the cutting element; a cutting element including a support element and a shearing element disposed on the support element, wherein the shearing element includes TSP, a sharpened cutting edge, and at least one blended edge that forms part of an interface with the support element and a drill bit including the cutting element. Cutting inserts including an insert body and the shearing elements disclosed above are provided. Also provided are methods for forming the cutting elements and drill bit inserts and a method for drilling mixed earth formations using the improved downhole cutting tools of the present invention.

US Patent:

20070215390, Sep 20, 2007

Filed:

May 22, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/752151

Inventors:

Michael Azar - The Woodlands TX, US
Jonathan Thiele - Katy TX, US
Tommy Ray - Houston TX, US
Gary Chunn - Conroe TX, US

Assignee:

SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 10/46

US Classification:

175426000, 175434000

Abstract:

An insert for a drill bit which includes a diamond impregnated body, and a shearing portion disposed on said body is shown. In addition, a method for forming a drill bit that includes (a) forming a shearing portion on a diamond-impregnated insert body to form a cutting insert, (b) forming a bit body having a plurality of sockets sized to receive a plurality of the cutting inserts, and (c) mounting the plurality of cutting inserts in the bit body and affixing the plurality of cutting inserts to the bit body; wherein steps (a)-(c) are carried out such that a total exposure of the diamond-impregnated insert to temperatures above 1000 F. is greater than a total exposure of the shearing portion to temperatures above 1000 F.

US Patent:

20110000718, Jan 6, 2011

Filed:

Jul 2, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/497389

Inventors:

Steve Bankes - Willis TX, US
Gary Chunn - Conroe TX, US
Tommy Gene Ray - Houston TX, US
Darrell Vantreese - Houston TX, US
Kenneth Scholwinski - Conroe TX, US

Assignee:

SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 10/54
E21B 10/42
E21B 10/00
B21K 5/02

US Classification:

175434, 175425, 175426, 761082

Abstract:

A drill bit including a bit body and an upper portion, wherein the bit body and the upper portion are comprised of a matrix material, and wherein the upper portion includes a threaded connection comprised of a machineable matrix material is disclosed.

US Patent:

20110284233, Nov 24, 2011

Filed:

May 20, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/112326

Inventors:

Jian Wu - Spring TX, US
Jianbing Hu - Houston TX, US
Tommy G. Ray - Spring TX, US
Dwayne Terracina - Spring TX, US

Assignee:

SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 34/00
E21B 10/36

US Classification:

166321, 175428

Abstract:

A downhole tool assembly is configured for repeated and selective hydraulic actuation and deactuation. A piston assembly is configured to reciprocate axially in a downhole tool body. The piston assembly reciprocates between a first axial position and second and third axial positions that axially oppose the first position. The downhole tool is actuated when the piston assembly is in the third axial position and deactuated when the piston assembly is in either of the first or second axial positions. A spring member biases the piston assembly towards the first axial position while drilling fluid pressure in the tool body urges the piston assembly towards the second and third axial positions. Downhole tool actuation and deactuation may be controlled from the surface, for example, via cycling the drilling fluid flow rate.