About 30 years ago Sandia Labs developed polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) bits for geothermal drilling. Today nearly two-thirds of the oil we use comes from wells drilled using the (PDC) bits.

Howard Hughes Sr. revolutionized the drill bit more than 100 years ago to accelerate the oil boom that made Houston and Texas the nation's energy capital. Today, his legacy company is aiming to make ...

Solving a problem a customer experienced when drilling in abrasive rock conditions has led to a groundbreaking new design for drill bits. The resulting Sandvik top center drill bits, which incorporate ...

Longer life, higher penetration rates and cleaner holes are among the benefits of a new generation of Sandvik GT60 button bits called RT300. Thanks to a new super-grade of cemented-carbide called XT48 ...

Tungsten carbide drill bits will grind through miles of ultra-hard igneous seafloor rock in hopes of reaching the mantle. Image via IODP One of the strangest facets of modern exploration is that we ...

The saying "patience is a virtue" is certainly true when it comes to drilling through rock. Whether it is sandstone, volcanic rock, coral, or granite, these mineral masses can frustrate contractors ...