SUPERABRASIVE CUTTING ELEMENTS WITH ENHANCED DURABILITY AND INCREASED WEAR LIFE, AND DRILLING APPARATUS SO EQUIPPED

摘要

A cutting element for use in drilling subterranean formations. The cutting elementincludes a superabrasive table mounted to a supporting substrate. The superabrasivetable includes a two-dimensional cutting face having a cutting edge along atleast a portion of its periphery, and a surface comprising a chamfer extendingforwardly and inwardly from proximate a peripheral cutting edge at a first acuteangle of orientation of greater than about 45° with respect to the longitudinalaxis of the cutting element, and to no greater than a selected depth. The chamfermay be arcuate or planar, and of a dimension sufficient to ensure that a wear flatgenerated during use of the cutting element remains outside the inner boundaryof the chamfer within the chamfer envelope, and small enough to maintain aggressivecutting characteristics for the cutter. Drill bits and drilling tools bearingthe cutting elements are also disclosed.