Patent ID: 9551191
Date: 2017-01-24
CPC Classifications: B23P,E21B,Y10T

Claim:
1. A method of forming a downhole tool, comprising: forming a topographical pattern on a bottom surface of a fluid course located between a rotationally leading surface of a first blade and a rotationally trailing surface of a second, adjacent blade of a bit body, the topographical pattern comprising at least one of a plurality of recesses extending into the bottom surface and a plurality of protrusions protruding from the bottom surface, the topographical pattern disposed between the first blade carrying a first plurality of cutting elements and the second blade carrying a second plurality of cutting elements; and providing an anti-balling material on at least a portion of the topographical pattern, the topographical pattern configured to improve retention of the anti-balling material on the bit body during drilling, wherein the anti-balling material has a composition selected to reduce accumulation of formation cuttings thereon when the downhole tool is used to remove formation material from a subterranean formation.