Apparatus and methods for detecting performance data in an earth-boring drilling tool

Methods and associated tools and components related to generating and obtaining performance data during drilling operations of a subterranean formation is disclosed. Performance data may include thermal and mechanical information related to earth-boring drilling tool during a drilling operation are disclosed. For example, a cutting element of an earth-boring drilling tool may include a substrate with a cutting surface thereon. The cutting element may further include at least one thermistor sensor coupled with the cutting surface, and a conductive pathway operably coupled with the at least one thermistor sensor. The at least one thermistor sensor may be configured to vary a resistance in response to a change in temperature. The conductive pathway may be configured to provide a current path through the at least one thermistor sensor in response to a voltage. Other methods, tools and components are provided.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure generally relates to earth-boring drill bits, cutting elements attached thereto, and other tools that may be used to drill subterranean formations. More particularly, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to obtaining diagnostic measurements of components of an earth-boring drill bit.

BACKGROUND

The oil and gas industry expends sizable sums to design cutting tools, such as downhole drill bits including roller cone rock bits and fixed cutter bits, which have relatively long service lives, with relatively infrequent failure. In particular, considerable sums are expended to design and manufacture roller cone rock bits and fixed cutter bits in a manner that minimizes the opportunity for catastrophic drill bit failure during drilling operations. The loss of a roller cone or a polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) from a fixed cutter bit during drilling operations can impede the drilling operations and, at worst, necessitate rather expensive fishing operations.

Diagnostic information (e.g., temperature) related to a drill bit and certain components of the drill bit may be linked to the durability, performance, and the potential failure of the drill bit. For example, obtaining thermal measurements of a cutting element has been conventionally constrained to the use of one or more embedded thermocouples within the cutting element. The embedded thermocouples may be relatively large and may require careful implementation and placement of partially drilled holes through the substrate and into the diamond table adjacent the cutting surface of a cutting element. The drilled portions through the substrate and diamond table for housing the thermocouples may compromise the mechanical strength of the cutter.

Thermocouples may also require the use of relatively large voltage drivers, which may limit the downhole usefulness in obtaining accurate and representative temperature measurements during actual rock cutting during a subterranean drilling operation or, at the least, in a drilling simulator. As a result of these and other issues, conventional thermal measurements have been limited to laboratory experiments rather than obtaining real-time performance data during rock cutting.

In view of the above, the inventors have appreciated a need in the art for improved apparatuses and methods for obtaining measurements related to the diagnostic and actual performance of a cutting element of an earth-boring tool. More particularly, there is a need in the art for improved apparatuses and methods of performance measurements of a cutting element during drill bit operations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In one embodiment, a cutting element of an earth-boring drilling tool is disclosed. The cutting element comprises a substrate with a cutting surface thereon, at least one thermistor sensor coupled with the cutting surface, and a conductive pathway operably coupled with the at least one thermistor sensor. The at least one thermistor sensor is configured to vary a resistance in response to a change in temperature. The conductive pathway is configured to provide a current path through the at least one thermistor sensor in response to a voltage.

Another embodiment comprises a method for forming a cutting element for an earth-boring drilling tool. The method comprises forming a substrate with a cutting surface on an external portion of the substrate, disposing an amount of a thermistor material on the cutting surface to form a thermistor sensor, and disposing a conductive pathway on the cutting surface coupling the thermistor sensor with the conductive pathway.

Another embodiment comprises a method for measuring temperature of a component of an earth-boring drilling tool. The method comprises applying a voltage to a thermistor material coupled with a component of the earth-boring tool, generating a current through the thermistor material responsive to the voltage, wherein the current varies with a temperature of the thermistor material, measuring the current, and determining the temperature of the component in response to the current measured through the thermistor material.

Yet another embodiment comprises an earth-boring drilling tool. The earth-boring drilling tool comprises a bit body including a plurality of components, and a thermistor sensor coupled with a least one of the bit body and a component of the plurality. The thermistor sensor is configured for generating performance data related to the earth-boring drilling tool during a drilling operation.

These features, advantages, and alternative aspects of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in combination with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The illustrations presented herein are not meant to be actual views of any particular material, apparatus, system, or method, but are merely idealized representations which are employed to describe the present disclosure. Additionally, elements common between figures may have a similar numerical designation.

As used herein, a “drill bit” means and includes any type of bit or tool used for drilling during the formation or enlargement of a wellbore in subterranean formations and includes, for example, fixed cutter bits, rotary drill bits, percussion bits, core bits, eccentric bits, bi-center bits, reamers, mills, drag bits, roller cone bits, hybrid bits and other drilling bits and tools known in the art.

As used herein, the term “polycrystalline material” means and includes any material comprising a plurality of grains or crystals of the material that are bonded directly together by inter-granular bonds. The crystal structures of the individual grains of the material may be randomly oriented in space within the polycrystalline material.

As used herein, the term “polycrystalline compact” means and includes any structure comprising a polycrystalline material formed by a process that involves application of pressure (e.g., compaction) to the precursor material or materials used to form the polycrystalline material.

As used herein, the term “hard material” means and includes any material having a Knoop hardness value of about 3,000 Kgf/mm2(29,420 MPa) or more. Hard materials include, for example, diamond and cubic boron nitride.

FIG. 1illustrates a cross-sectional view of an exemplary earth-boring drill bit100. Earth-boring drill bit100includes a bit body110. The bit body110of an earth-boring drill bit100may be formed from steel. Alternatively, the bit body110may be formed from a particle-matrix composite material.

The earth-boring drill bit100may include a plurality of cutting elements154attached to the face112of the bit body110. Generally, the cutting elements154of a fixed-cutter type drill bit have either a disk shape or a substantially cylindrical shape. A cutting element154includes a cutting surface155located on a substantially circular end surface of the cutting element154. The cutting surface154may be formed by disposing a hard, super-abrasive material, such as mutually bound particles of polycrystalline diamond formed into a diamond table under high pressure, high temperature conditions, on a supporting substrate. Conventionally, the diamond table may be formed onto the substrate during the high pressure, high temperature process, or may be bonded to the substrate thereafter. Such cutting elements154are often referred to as a polycrystalline compact or a “polycrystalline diamond compact” (PDC) cutting element154. The cutting elements154may be provided along the blades150within pockets156formed in the face112of the bit body110, and may be supported from behind by buttresses158, which may be integrally formed with the crown114of the bit body110. Cutting elements154may be fabricated separately from the bit body110and secured within the pockets156formed in the outer surface of the bit body110. If the cutting elements154are formed separately from the bit body110, a bonding material (e.g., adhesive, braze alloy, etc.) may be used to secure the cutting elements154to the bit body110.

The bit body110may further include wings or blades150that are separated by junk slots152. Internal fluid passageways (not shown) extend between the face112of the bit body110and a longitudinal bore140, which extends through the steel shank120and partially through the bit body110. Nozzle inserts (not shown) also may be provided at the face112of the bit body110within the internal fluid passageways.

The earth-boring drill bit100may be secured to the end of a drill string (not shown), which may include tubular pipe and equipment segments coupled end to end between the earth-boring drill bit100and other drilling equipment at the surface of the formation to be drilled. As one example, the earth-boring drill by100may be secured to the drill string with the bit body110being secured to a steel shank120having a threaded connection portion125and engaging with a threaded connection portion of the drill string. An example of such a threaded connection portion is an American Petroleum Institute (API) threaded connection portion. The bit body110may further include a crown114and a steel blank116. The steel blank116is partially embedded in the crown114. The crown114may include a particle-matrix composite material such as, for example, particles of tungsten carbide embedded in a copper alloy matrix material. The bit body110may be secured to the shank120by way of a threaded connection122and a weld124extending around the drill bit100on an exterior surface thereof along an interface between the bit body110and the steel shank120. Other methods for securing the bit body110to the steel shank120exist.

During drilling operations, the drill bit100is positioned at the bottom of a well bore hole such that the cutting elements154are adjacent the earth formation to be drilled. Equipment such as a rotary table or top drive may be used for rotating the drill string and the drill bit100within the bore hole. Alternatively, the shank120of the drill bit100may be coupled directly to the drive shaft of a down-hole motor, which then may be used to rotate the drill bit100. As the drill bit100is rotated, drilling fluid is pumped to the face112of the bit body110through the longitudinal bore140and the internal fluid passageways (not shown). Rotation of the drill bit100causes the cutting elements154to scrape across and shear away the surface of the underlying formation. The formation cuttings mix with, and are suspended within, the drilling fluid and pass through the junk slots152and the annular space between the well bore hole and the drill string to the surface of the earth formation.

When the cutting elements scrape across and shear away the surface of the underlying formation, a significant amount of heat and mechanical stress may be generated. Components of the drill bit100(e.g., cutting elements154) may be configured for detection of performance data during drilling operations, as will be discussed herein with respect toFIGS. 2-5. For example, embodiments of the present disclosure may include materials coupled with one or more cutting elements154of an earth-boring drill bit100. The materials may be used to obtain real-time data related to the performance of the cutting element154, such as thermal and mechanical (e.g., stresses and pressures) data. Diagnostic information related to the actual performance of the drill bit110may be obtained through analysis of certain properties of the materials. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, each cutting element154of the drill bit100may be configured to provide such data. Although cutting elements154are illustrated and described herein as exemplary, embodiments of the present disclosure may include other components within the drill bit100being configured for obtaining diagnostic information related to the actual performance of the drill bit100.

FIGS. 2A and 2Billustrate a cutting element200according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Cutting element200may be included in an earth-boring drill bit, such as, for example an earth-boring drill bit similar to the one described in reference toFIG. 1. As shown inFIG. 2A, cutting element200includes one or more sensors210, conductive paths220, and terminations230. Sensors210may be formed from a thermistor material, and may be referred to as a thermistor sensor210. Each thermistor sensor210is operably coupled to a corresponding termination230through a conductive path220.

The thermistor sensors210may be configured for providing temperature measurements during the rock cutting process. Thermistor sensors210may comprise at least one of a variety of thermistor materials that may be sensitive to a temperature of the cutting element200. Thermistor materials may include any material having an electrical resistivity which varies as a function of its temperature sufficiently to enable suitable measurement of the temperature. Thermistor materials may be categorized into two classes, positive temperature coefficient (PTC) and negative temperature coefficient (NTC) materials.

Thermistor sensors210may be operably coupled with terminations230through conductive pathways220. Terminations230are configured to receive a voltage signal, which is applied across ends222,224of the conductive pathway220. Thus, a continuous path is formed from one end (e.g.,222) of the conductive pathway220to the other end (e.g.,224) of the conductive pathway220through the thermistor sensor210. Data may also be read at the terminations230. The terminations230may be conveniently located proximate a periphery of the cutting element200in order to carry an analog data signal from the thermistor sensors210away from the cutting element200to a data acquisition module (not shown).

In operation, a voltage may be applied to the terminations230. As a result of the continuous path, when a voltage is applied, a closed circuit is formed, and current flows through the thermistor sensors210through conductive pathways220. Because the thermistor sensors210include a thermistor material, the resistance of the thermistor sensors210may vary with a change in temperature. As a result, the current drawn by the thermistor sensor210may be measured at the terminations230by a data acquisition module and converted to a corresponding temperature based on the known properties of the thermistor materials in the thermistor sensors210.

Examples of thermistor materials which may be used to form a thermistor sensor210may include semiconducting materials (e.g., semiconductors with the spinel structure). Certain semiconductor materials may be configured as a thermistor material for particular applications by controlling the material chemistry of the semiconductor material. For example, a thermistor may be formed by controlling the ratio of conducting to non-conducting components in the semiconductor material. Examples of such semiconductor materials may include Zn2TiO4, MgCr2O4, and MgAl2O4. Other thermistor materials may be used, including those based on semiconducting materials such as silicon and germanium.

Another example of a thermistor material suitable for a thermistor sensor210may include a doped diamond material. An example of a possible dopant may include boron; however, other dopants may be used. Due to the harsh and abrasive environment during drilling operations, it may be desirable to have a thermistor material with a relative hardness and/or toughness. For example, using a diamond based material as a thermistor material may be desirable as other thermistor materials may be relatively soft, especially relative to diamond. Additionally, as diamond is often be used as a material in cutting elements200(e.g., PDC cutting elements), using a diamond based material as a thermistor material may improve the matching of the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) for the thermistor material to that of the material used to form the cutting surface205of cutting element200. Improving the matching of CTE may decrease residual stresses in the materials and promote the successful deposition and adherence of the thermistor material with the cutting element200.

The thermistor materials may be deposited on the cutting surface205of the cutting element200to form thermistor sensors210through conventional masking and patterning techniques as are known by those of ordinary skill in the art. The thermistor sensors210may be positioned at various locations on the cutting surface205of a cutting element200. For example, inFIG. 2A, the thermistor sensors210of cutting element200are arranged in an orthogonal grid configuration, in which at least one of the grid axes is aligned parallel (e.g., horizontal axis inFIG. 2A) to the anticipated cutting direction. The thermistor sensors210may be positioned in other patterns (e.g., circular configuration ofFIGS. 3A and 3B), or even randomly dispersed on the cutting surface205of the cutting element200in order to obtain various desired temperature profiles of the cutting element200.

During a drilling operation, cutting element200may experience wear when engaging with a rock formation. Wear region250represents an area for estimated wear of the cutting element200during the rock cutting process. Due to the friction with rock during drilling operations, the areas of the cutting element200proximate the wear region250may experience a temperature increase before other regions of the cutting element200. As shown inFIG. 2A, the thermistor sensors210may be positioned proximate the wear region250. One or more thermistor sensors210may be positioned within the wear region250. As a result, one or more thermistor sensors210may be damaged or completely removed from the cutting element200when the wear region250is removed. Thus, additional thermistor sensors210may be employed for redundancy in case of damage or other failure of one or more thermistor sensors210.

The conductive pathways220may be formed from an electrically conductive material sufficient to activate the thermistor sensors210upon application of a voltage. For example, the material used to form conductive pathways220may be the same material used to form the thermistor sensors210. The terminations230may also formed from a conductive material (e.g., metal, metal alloy, etc.).

WhileFIG. 2Aillustrates thermistor sensors210positioned in the upper portion of the face of the cutting element200(i.e., within, or proximate, the wear region250), embodiments of the present disclosure are not so limited. For example, thermistor sensors210may be located at any location of the cutting element, including areas in the lower portion of the face of the cutting element200(i.e., away from the wear region250). Thus, additional thermistor sensors210may also be employed for obtaining a temperature profile of different areas of the cutting element200.

FIG. 2Billustrates a side view of a cutting element200according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Cutting element200may include a substrate207and a cutting surface205. As previously discussed, for PDC cutting elements the cutting surface205may be formed from a PDC. In such an embodiment, the cutting surface205may be the surface (i.e., face) of the diamond table204. For some cutting elements200, the substrate207and the cutting surface205may be integrally formed from the same material.

As previously described, the thermistor sensors210, conductive pathways220, and terminations230may be deposited on the cutting surface205of the cutting element200. Alternatively, the thermistor sensors210, conductive pathways220, and terminations230may be at least partially embedded within the cutting surface205of cutting element200. For example,FIG. 2Bshows the metal terminations230at least partially embedded within the cutting surface205of the cutting element200. Embedding may be accomplished by forming depressions (e.g., grooves, trenches) in the cutting surface205and depositing the appropriate materials for the thermistor sensors210, conductive pathways220, and terminations230within the depressions. Depositing the appropriate materials within the depressions may result in the thermistor sensors210, conductive pathways220, and terminations230forming a substantially smooth (i.e., flush) surface with the outer face, or cutting face, of the cutting surface205. Forming the depressions may be accomplished during formation of the cutting element200or through machining, such as electro-discharge machining, or EDM, laser etching or machining, or other similar techniques as known by those of ordinary skill in the art, after formation of the cutting element200. One or more thermistor sensors210, conductive pathways220, and terminations230may be positioned at other locations of the cutting element200, such as, for example, on or within the substrate207, at the interface206between the cutting surface205and the substrate207, among other possible locations.

FIG. 2Balso illustrates that the terminations230may be coupled to a port240, which may include a plurality of channels242for communication of data signals to a data collection module (not shown). The terminations230may operably couple to the port240with conductive elements235(e.g., electrical wiring, patterned metallization). Conductive elements235may extend along the surface of the cutting element200, or be at least partially buried (i.e., embedded) within the cutting element200. Because of durability concerns it may be desirable to include encapsulation of the conductive elements235, for example, by diamond, diamond-like carbon, boron carbide, boron nitride, silicon nitride, AlMgB14or AlMgB14+TiB2(also known as BAM nanoceramics), metals, ceramics, refractory metals, thermally sprayed composites, or combinations thereof. It is noted that conductive elements235are shown as single lines for simplicity, but such each of conductive elements235may include two-way conductive paths.

In operation, the port240may receive data signals from the thermistor sensors210through conductive pathways220, terminations230, and conductive elements235, and transmit the data signals to a data collection module. The data collection module may include components such as, for example, an analog-to-digital converter, analysis hardware/software, displays, and other components for collecting and/or interpreting data generated by the thermistor sensors210. Such data transmission from the port240to the data acquisition module may include wired or wireless communication.

Port240may be common to each of the terminations230with a channel242corresponding to each termination230, as is shown inFIG. 2B; however, a cutting element200may include a plurality of ports, wherein one or more ports of the plurality of ports receives data from a subset of thermistor sensors210rather than being common to the entire group of thermistor sensors210. Additionally, port240is shown inFIG. 2Bas being located within the substrate207and below the cutting surface205; however, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that port240may be located in any number of locations, such as at or proximate the bottom portion of the substrate207, partially or entirely within the cutting surface205, or in some embodiments external to the cutting element200.

Port240, conductive elements240, or both, may be interfaced with a processing module within the drill bit itself. For example, some earth-boring drill bits including such a processing module may be termed a “Data Bit” module-equipped bit, which may include electronics for obtaining and processing data related to the bit and the bit frame, such as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,604,072 which issued Oct. 20, 2008 and entitled Method and Apparatus for Collecting Drill Bit Performance Data, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by this reference.

FIGS. 3A and 3Billustrate a cutting element300according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, which cutting element300may be used in an earth-boring drill bit. For example,FIG. 3Ashows a potential placement pattern for thermistor sensors310associated with the surface305of cutting element300. Placement reference lines360-367are shown to illustrate one contemplated placement of thermistor sensors310in relation to each other, and are not intended to represent any physical feature of cutting element300. Other circular placement lines are shown for the same purpose; however, these other circular placement reference lines are not numbered in order not to obscure the figure.

FIG. 3Billustrates the placement of thermistor sensors310of cutting element300ofFIG. 3Awithout placement reference lines360-367.FIG. 3Bfurther illustrates the thermistor sensors310being operably coupled to corresponding terminations330through conductive pathways320. Although the number of thermistor sensors310is shown in the various examples (FIGS. 2-3) is shown to be nine, it is recognized that a cutting element300may include more or fewer thermistor sensors310.

As previously described, the thermistor sensors310may be located at any location of the cutting element300. For example, the number and locations of the thermistor sensors310may be chosen so as to model the thermal diffusivity of the cutting element300(i.e., how the thermal properties diffuse across the cutting element300).

In operation, each data signal generated by the thermistor sensors310may be viewed by a data acquisition module individually and/or collectively, in order to analyze the temperature of the cutting element300as the temperature diffuses across the cutting element300in a distributed way. In other words, each thermistor sensor310may detect a different temperature over a given time, such that a thermal model may be reconstructed to model the thermal diffusivity of the cutting element300during drilling operations.

FIG. 4illustrates a zoomed-in, greatly enlarged view of a cutting element400according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Cutting element400may be used in an earth-boring drill bit. Cutting element400includes a thermistor sensor410and conductive pathway420disposed on a cutting surface405of the cutting element400.

Cutting element400may further include an insulating layer415disposed between at least a portion of the conductive pathway420and the cutting surface405of the cutting element405. Insulating layer415may extend along the conductive pathway420to the termination (FIGS. 2 and 3). Insulating layer415may be configured to isolate the conductive pathway420from the thermal flux through the cutting surface405. Insulating layer415may include a thermally insulating material with a lower thermal conductivity relative to the material chosen for the conductive pathway420. Examples of suitable materials for insulating layer415include zirconium oxide, aluminum oxide, mullite, glass and silicon carbide.

The thermistor sensor410is shown with a particular pattern at its distal end configured to lengthen the current path through the thermistor sensor410. For example, it may be desirable to lengthen the current path through the thermistor sensor410in order to increase the sensitivity of the thermistor material and improve the experienced signal to noise ratio. In other words, a desirable characteristic of the thermistor sensor410may be to have a relatively long current path in a relatively small area. However, embodiments of the disclosure may not be so limited, and longer or shorter length and larger smaller and larger diameters of area covered for thermistor sensors410are contemplated. Other patterns for the thermistor sensor410may exist, including a uniform dot

FIGS. 5A and 5Beach illustrate respective cross-sectional side views of a cutting element500,500′ according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For example,FIG. 5Ashows a thermistor510applied to the cutting surface505of cutting element500. Cutting surface505may be the surface (i.e., face) of a diamond table504. Thermistor sensor510is operably coupled with a conductive pathway520, which may further couple to a termination (see, e.g.,FIGS. 2-3). The conductive pathway520and the thermistor sensor510may be formed from the same material. The cutting element500may further include an insulating layer515disposed between the cutting surface505of the cutting element500and at least a portion of the conductive pathway520. The insulating layer515may extend along the entire conductive pathway520to the termination (FIGS. 2 and 3).

Cutting element500, may further include a hardened layer525disposed over the thermistor sensor510and conductive pathway520, such that the surface (i.e., face) of the hardened layer525becomes the new cutting surface506. As previously described, during a drilling operation of an earth-boring drill bit, rock cutting and the drilling environment may wear upon the face of the cutting element500. The wear upon the face of the cutting element500may damage other materials that may be deposited on the surface of the cutting element, such as many thermistor materials that may be used in embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the materials used for layers510,520,515may be removed by abrasion, chipping, or flaking off during operation. Therefore, it may be desirable to dispose the hardened layer525to the exterior surface of the thermistor sensor510. For example, the entire cutting surface505of cutting element500may have hardened layer525disposed thereon, including over the thermistor sensors510, conductive pathways520, insulating layer515, portions of the surface of cutting element500that are exposed, or any combination thereof. The hardened layer525may include a diamond film or other hard material. The hardened layer525may be applied by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), physical vapor deposition (PVD), or other deposition techniques known to those of ordinary skill in art.

As previously described, layers510,520,515may be disposed on a cutting surface505of the cutting element500. Layers510,520,515may also be at least partially embedded within depressions (e.g., grooves, trenches) formed in the cutting surface505(e.g., in the diamond table504) of the cutting element500. For example, layers510,520,515may be deposited within the depressions such that layers510,520,515may form a substantially smooth (i.e., flush) surface with the cutting surface505. A cutting element with one or more embedded layers510,520,515may also include hardened layer525disposed thereon.

Likewise, inFIG. 5B, cutting element500′ may include thermistor sensor510, conductive pathway520, insulating layer515, and hardened layer525configured as before with respect toFIG. 5A; however, inFIG. 5Bthe various layers (510,520,515,525) of cutting element have rounded edges500B rather than the edges500A comprising substantially distinct corners illustrated inFIG. 5A. Rounded edges500B may be desirable from a stress concentration standpoint. The rounded edges500B may be formed either as materials are deposited or through post-deposition processing.

Cutting elements500,500′ may further include one or more additional layers (not shown) located below or between the layers described herein in order promote deposition and/or adhesion of one material to another in formation of the layered structures.

It is noted that the relative thicknesses of the different layers ofFIGS. 5A and 5Bmay not be to scale. Thus, the relative thicknesses may vary. For example, the thermistor sensor510, and conductive pathway520layers may comprise a relatively thin film of thermistor materials. Additionally, it may be desirable for the hardened layer525to be relatively thick in comparison to the other layers.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure may include a cutting element with thermistor sensors as described herein, and further including embedded thermocouples within the cutting surface and/or the substrate.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure may include the thermistor sensor being configured as a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device, which MEMS device may include one or more elements integrated on a common substrate. Such elements may include sensors, actuators, electronic and mechanical elements. The MEMS device may comprise a thermistor material, such as diamond. The MEMS device may be configured to detect temperature or mechanical properties (e.g., pressure) of the cutting element. The MEMS device may be operably coupled with conductive pathways. Such an embodiment including one or more MEMS device may also include insulating layers and hardened layers as described herein.

The present disclosure has been made with respect to the use of the thermistor on the cutting element. This is not to be construed as a limitation and other types of sensors could also be used. These could include a sensor configured to generate information relating to (i) a pressure associated with the drill bit, (ii) a strain associated with the drill bit; (iii) a formation parameter, and (iv) vibration. Each of the sensor types generates information relating to the parameter of interest when the cutting element is drilling a borehole. Sensors may be disposed on two cutting elements and used to measure a property of material (cuttings) from the earth formation between the two cutting elements.

Although the foregoing description contains many specifics, these are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure, but merely as providing certain exemplary embodiments. Similarly, other embodiments of the disclosure may be devised which do not depart from the scope of the present disclosure.