Downhole Outer Drill Bit

Abstract

A downhole drill bit, of the type used to bore into the earth when searching for or extracting subterranean resources, may comprise a working face opposite an attachment end and an opening passing from the attachment end through to the working face. A protrusion on one end of a bottom hole assembly may extend through the opening and be exposed at the working face when the drill bit is attached to the end of the bottom hole assembly. In various embodiments the exposed portion of the protrusion may house conduits or nozzles for handling fluids; sensors, transmitters or wires for handling electrical signals; or mechanical hammers, motors or cutters for degrading an earthen formation. In this way, the protrusion may bring such elements from the bottom hole assembly to the working face of the drill bit.

1 . A downhole drilling assembly, comprising:
 a bottom hole assembly comprising an elongate shape and a protrusion on an end thereof; and   a drill bit comprising a working face opposite an attachment end and an opening passing from the working face to the attachment end; wherein   when the attachment end of the drill bit is attached to the end of the bottom hole assembly the protrusion extends through the opening and is exposed at the working face.   
     
     
         2 . The downhole drilling assembly of  claim 1 , wherein when the attachment end of the drill bit is attached to the end of the bottom hole assembly an exposed portion of the protrusion is generally flush with the working face. 
     
     
         3 . The downhole drilling assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the working face comprises at least one blade extending therefrom that continues on the exposed portion of the protrusion. 
     
     
         4 . The downhole drilling assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a conduit disposed within the protrusion allowing drilling fluid passing through the bottom hole assembly to exit at the working face through an exposed portion of the protrusion. 
     
     
         5 . The downhole drilling assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a wire disposed within the protrusion capable of communicating an electrical signal from the bottom hole assembly to an exposed portion of the protrusion at the working face. 
     
     
         6 . The downhole drilling assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor disposed on an exposed portion of the protrusion at the working face. 
     
     
         7 . The downhole drilling assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a transmitter disposed on an exposed portion of the protrusion at the working face. 
     
     
         8 . The downhole drilling assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one cutter comprising superhard material disposed on an exposed portion of the protrusion at the working face. 
     
     
         9 . The downhole drilling assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising a hammer disposed within the bottom hole assembly capable of vibrating the at least one cutter. 
     
     
         10 . The downhole drilling assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising a motor disposed within the bottom hole assembly capable of rotating the at least one cutter about an axis. 
     
     
         11 . The downhole drilling assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the cutter disposed on the exposed portion of the protrusion is positioned within an organized pattern with other cutters comprising superhard material disposed on the working face. 
     
     
         12 . The downhole drilling assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the end of the bottom hole assembly comprises a threaded pin and the attachment end of the drill bit comprises a threaded box. 
     
     
         13 . The downhole drilling assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the protrusion is surrounded by threads of the threaded pin. 
     
     
         14 . The downhole drilling assembly of  claim 12 , wherein an exposed portion of the protrusion comprises a generally circular exposed surface. 
     
     
         15 . The downhole drilling assembly of  claim 1 , wherein an exposed portion of the protrusion comprises a noncircular exposed surface. 
     
     
         16 . The downhole drilling assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the protrusion comprises a periphery surface extending from a boundary of the noncircular exposed surface parallel with a central axis of the bottom hole assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The downhole drilling assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the working face comprises a cutter comprising superhard material disposed on the working face and encroaching on a boundary of the noncircular exposed surface. 
     
     
         18 . The downhole drilling assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable retainer holding the protrusion on the end of the bottom hole assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The downhole drilling assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the removable retainer comprises a snap ring. 
     
     
         20 . The downhole drilling assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is attached to the bottom hole assembly by a spider allowing drilling fluid passing through the bottom hole assembly to pass the protrusion.