Bearing blocks for drill bits, drill bit assemblies including bearing blocks and related methods

Abstract

Methods of drilling subterranean formations include coupling at least one bearing block having an initial thickness to a drill bit, engaging a formation with the drill bit within an initial depth of cut range, and reducing the initial thickness of the bearing block by contacting the formation to cause the initial depth of cut range to be at least partially increased. Methods of forming drill bits for drilling subterranean formations include forming at least one rubbing surface of at least one bearing block from at least one material exhibiting a reduced coefficient of friction and coupling the at least one bearing block to the drill bit. Drill bit assemblies include at least one bearing block having a distal portion configured to provide an initial depth of cut range and a base portion configured to provide an increased depth of cut range greater than the initial depth of cut range.

1 . A method of drilling a subterranean formation, the method comprising:
 coupling at least one bearing block having at least one rubbing surface and an initial thickness to a drill bit;   engaging a formation with at least one cutter of the drill bit within an initial depth of cut range; drilling the formation with the drill bit; and   reducing the initial thickness of the bearing block by contacting the formation with the at least one rubbing surface to cause the initial depth of cut range to be at least partially increased.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising forming the at least one bearing block at least partially from a material selected for wear. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein forming the at least one bearing block at least partially from a material selected for wear comprises forming the at least one bearing block at least partially from at least one of a relatively soft carbide material, a steel material, an alloy material, and a particle-matrix composite material. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising forming the at least one bearing block from a first material selected for wear and a second material selected to exhibit a wear resistance greater than the first material. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein forming the at least one bearing block from a first material selected for wear and a second material selected to exhibit a wear resistance greater than the first material comprises forming a rubbing surface of the at least one bearing block with the first material and forming a base portion of the at least one bearing block with the second material. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein forming the at least one bearing block from a first material selected for wear and a second material selected to exhibit a wear resistance greater than the first material comprises forming a rubbing surface of the at least one bearing block with the second material and forming a base portion of the at least one bearing block with the first material. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein forming the at least one bearing block from a first material selected for wear and a second material selected to exhibit a wear resistance greater than the first material comprises:
 selecting the first material from at least one of a relatively soft carbide material, a steel material, a metal alloy material, and a particle-matrix composite material; and   selecting the second material from at least one of a diamond material, a thermally stable polycrystalline material, a ceramic material, and a tungsten carbide material.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein drilling the formation with the drill bit comprises drilling a first formation using the drill bit with a first average depth of cut and further comprising drilling a second, subsequent formation using the drill bit with a second, substantially greater average depth of cut. 
     
     
         9 . A method of forming a drill bit for drilling a subterranean formation, the method comprising:
 forming at least one rubbing surface of at least one bearing block from at least one material exhibiting a reduced coefficient of friction as compared to another rubbing surface of the drill bit when the at least one rubbing surface is rotated by the drill bit in contact with the subterranean formation; and   coupling the at least one bearing block having the at least one rubbing surface to the drill bit.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein forming at least one rubbing surface of at least one bearing block from at least one material exhibiting a reduced coefficient of friction comprises selecting the at least one material from at least one of a diamond material, a ceramic material, a hardened steel material, an alloy material, and a material having a polished surface. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein forming at least one rubbing surface of at least one bearing block from at least one material exhibiting a reduced coefficient of friction comprises selecting the at least one material to exhibit a coefficient of friction of less than 0.2. 
     
     
         12 . A drill bit assembly for subterranean drilling, comprising:
 a drill bit comprising a plurality of blades, a plurality of cutting elements disposed on the plurality of blades, and at least one receptacle located in at least one blade of the plurality of blades; and   at least one bearing block disposed in the at least one receptacle, the at least one bearing block comprising:
 a distal portion configured to provide at least one cutting element of the plurality of cutting elements with an initial depth of cut range; and 
 a base portion configured to provide the at least one cutting element of the plurality of cutting elements with an increased depth of cut range greater than the initial depth of cut range. 
   
     
     
         13 . The drill bit assembly for subterranean drilling of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one bearing block further comprises at least one of a tapered shape and a concave shape. 
     
     
         14 . The drill bit assembly for subterranean drilling of  claim 12 , wherein the distal portion of the at least one bearing block extends laterally outward from the base portion of the at least one bearing block. 
     
     
         15 . The drill bit assembly for subterranean drilling of  claim 14 , wherein the distal portion of the at least one bearing block comprises a convex shape. 
     
     
         16 . The drill bit assembly for subterranean drilling of  claim 12 , wherein the distal portion of the at least one bearing block comprises a first material selected for wear and the base portion of the at least one bearing block comprises a second material exhibiting a wear resistance greater than the first material. 
     
     
         17 . The drill bit assembly for subterranean drilling of  claim 16 , wherein the distal portion of the at least one bearing block comprises at least one of a relatively soft carbide material, a steel material, an alloy material, and a particle-matrix composite material and the base portion of the at least one bearing block comprises at least one of a diamond material, a thermally stable polycrystalline material, a ceramic material, and a tungsten carbide material. 
     
     
         18 . The drill bit assembly for subterranean drilling of  claim 12 , wherein the distal portion of the at least one bearing block comprises a first material comprising a wear resistant material and the base portion of the at least one bearing block comprises a second material exhibiting a wear resistance less than the first material. 
     
     
         19 . The drill bit assembly for subterranean drilling of  claim 18 , wherein the distal portion of the at least one bearing block comprises at least one of a diamond material, a thermally stable polycrystalline material, a ceramic material, and a tungsten carbide material and the base portion of the at least one bearing block comprises at least one of a relatively soft carbide material, a steel material, an alloy material, and a particle-matrix composite material. 
     
     
         20 . The drill bit assembly for subterranean drilling of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the distal portion of the at least one bearing block and the base portion of the at least one bearing block comprise a material exhibiting a coefficient of friction between 0.01 and 0.20.