One cone bit with interchangeable cutting structures, a box-end connection, and integral sensory devices

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6814162
  • Patent Number
    6,814,162
  • Date Filed
    Friday, August 9, 2002
    21 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, November 9, 2004
    19 years ago
Abstract
A drill bit, comprising a bit body, a sensor disposed in the bit body, a single journal removably mounted to the bit body, and a roller cone rotatably mounted to the single journal.
Description




BACKGROUND OF INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The invention relates generally to single roller cone drill bits for drilling boreholes in earth formations. More specifically, the invention relates to a single cone bit with interchangeable cutting structures, a box-end connection, and integral sensory devices for evaluation of the formation and bit health.




2. Background Art




One aspect of drilling technology relates to roller cone drill bits are used to drill boreholes in earth formations. The most common type of roller cone drill bit is a three-cone bit, with three roller cones attached at the end of the drill bit. When drilling smaller boreholes with smaller bits, the radial bearings in three-cone drill bits become too small to support the weight on the bit that is required to attain the desired rate of penetration. In those cases, a single cone drill bit is desirable. A single cone drill bit has a larger roller cone than the roller cones on a similarly sized three cone bit. As a result, a single cone bit has bearings that are significantly larger that those on a three cone bit with the same drill diameter.





FIG. 1A

shows a prior art single cone drill bit. The single cone bit


1


includes one roller cone


4


rotatably attached to a bit body


16


such that the cone's drill diameter is concentric with the axis of rotation


6


of the bit


1


. The roller cone


4


has a hemispherical shape and typically drills out a bowl shaped bottom hole geometry. The drill bit


1


includes a threaded connection


14


that enables the drill bit


1


to be connected to a drill string (not shown). The male connection shown in

FIG. 1A

is also called a “pin” connection. A typical single cone bit is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,167,975, issued to Estes.





FIG. 1B

shows a cross section of a prior art drill bit


1


drilling a bore hole


3


in an earth formation


2


. The roller cone


4


is rotatably mounted on a journal


5


that is connected to the bit body


16


.




Another aspect of drilling technology involves formation evaluation using sensors that detect the properties of the formation, such as resistivity, porosity, and bulk density. Formation evaluation allows a well operator to know the properties of the formation at various depths so that the well can be developed in the most economical way. Three of the sensors known in the art that are used for formation include button resistivity sensors, density logging sensors, and neutron logging sensors, each of which will now be described.




A button resistivity tool includes a number of electrode buttons, for example three buttons, that are placed into contact with the borehole wall. One of the buttons injects an electrical current into the formation, and the potential difference is measured between the other two buttons. The potential difference is related to the resistivity of the formation. Button resistivity tools are described with more detail below in the discussion of measurement-while-drilling applications.




A density logging tool uses back scattered radiation to determine the density of a formation. A typical density logging tool is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,048,495, issued to Ellis, and is shown in FIG.


2


. The density logging tool


20


is shown disposed in a borehole


3


on a wireline


10


. The tool


20


includes a caliper


5


that positions the tool


20


so that the source


24


and sensors


21


,


22


of the tool


20


are pressed into the mud-cake layer


23


, as close as possible to the borehole wall


12


.




The density logging tool


20


contains a gamma ray source


24


, typically Cesium-137, that emits medium energy gamma rays into the formation. The source


24


is enclosed in shielding


26


that shields the detectors


21


,


22


from gamma rays coming directly from the source


24


. The front face


29


of the tool includes a window


25


that enables a collimated beam of gamma rays to be transmitted into the formation


2


. Through a process called “Compton scattering,” the gamma rays scatter back into the borehole and into the detectors


21


,


22


.




Compton scattering is the interaction of a gamma ray with electrons. When a gamma ray interacts with an electron, it imparts part of its energy to the electron, and the gamma ray changes direction. Through one or more Compton scattering events, gamma rays can be scattered back into the borehole. The number of scattering events that occur depends on the density of electrons in the material into which the gamma rays are transmitted. Because the density of electrons depends on the density of the material, a density logging tool can measure the density of a formation by measuring the number of gamma rays that are back scattered in the formation and return to the borehole where they can be detected by the tool.




A typical density logging tool


20


contains two gamma ray detectors, a short-spaced detector


22


, and a long-spaced detector


21


. The long-spaced detector


21


is located about 36 cm from the source


24


. Because of the distance between the source and the long-spaced detector


21


, the long-spaced detector receives gamma rays that are mostly scattered deep in the formation


2


. Further, the front face


27


of the density tool has a window


28


over the long-spaced detector


21


. The window


28


is shaped to collimate the gamma rays so that those gamma rays that are received in the detector


21


are even more likely to have scattered relatively deep in the formation


2


and not the mud-cake layer


23


. Even with the location of the long-spaced detector


21


and the collimating window


28


, the density computed by the long-spaced detector


21


is still affected by the density of the mud-cake layer


23


, which the gamma rays must pass through twice. Thus, the density value computed from the long-spaced detector


21


is strongly affected by the density of the mud-cake layer


23


.




The density measured by the long-spaced detector


21


can be corrected using the short-spaced detector


22


, which is typically located about 11 cm from the source. The short-spaced detector


22


receives back scattered gamma rays that have scattered in materials close to the borehole wall


3


, like the mud-cake layer


23


. Again, a window


29


in the front face


27


of the tool


20


collimates the incoming gamma rays so as to increase the chance that detected gamma rays were scattered in the mud-cake layer


23


. By combining the measurements of the two detectors


21


and


22


, a corrected value for the formation density can be computed, as is known in the art.




A neutron logging tool makes a measurement corresponding to the porosity of a formation. A typical neutron logging tool is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,035,639 issued to Boutemy et al. A neutron logging tool contains a neutron source, typically an Americium-Beryllium source, and a neutron detector. The source emits high energy neutrons, also called “fast” neutrons, into the formation. The fast neutrons lose energy as they collide with atoms in the formation, eventually becoming slow neutrons, also called “thermal” neutrons. Thermal neutrons will randomly migrate in the formation. Some of the migrating thermal neutrons will migrate back into the borehole. A neutron logging tool detects the thermal neutrons that randomly migrate back into the borehole.




Hydrogen atoms, with an atomic number of one, have approximately the same mass as a neutron. Because of their similar mass, a neutron loses much more energy in collisions with hydrogen atoms than it does in collisions with any other atom. Thus, the rate at which fast neutrons become thermal is related to the number of hydrogen atoms in the moderating material. As a result, the number of thermal neutrons detected by the neutron logging tool is related to the number of hydrogen atoms in the formation. Because water and hydrocarbons have a similar amount of hydrogen atoms, the neutron logging tool measures how much of the formation is occupied by water and hydrocarbons. In non-gas bearing formations, a measurement from a neutron logging tool is related to the formation's porosity.





FIG. 3

shows a wireline neutron logging tool


30


. A source


31


is located in the tool


30


surrounded by shielding


32


. The example neutron logging tool


30


in

FIG. 3

shows two detectors,


33


and


34


, that are used to detect thermal neutrons and ultimately to calculate the formation porosity. The two detectors


33


,


34


are spaced apart on the neutron logging tool


30


. Using the known spacing of the detectors, a ratio of the count rates can be used to correct the porosity calculation for borehole shape effects.




The neutron logging tool


30


also includes a caliper


35


that serves two purposes. First, it pushes the source


32


and sensors


33


,


34


into the opposite face


12


of the formation


2


. Second, the distance that the caliper


35


extends to the wall


36


can be added to the tool size to compute the borehole diameter, which affects the neutron measurement.




To improve on the formation evaluation by wireline tools, well logging tools can be disposed on a drill string and measurements can be made while drilling. Such measurements are called measurement-while-drilling (“MWD”), or logging-while-drilling (“LWD”). In MWD, sensors are disposed on the drill string and used for formation evaluation during drilling operations. MWD enables formation evaluation before the drilling fluid (“mud”) invades the drilled formation and before a mud-cake layer is formed on the borehole wall.





FIG. 4

shows a prior art drilling system with an MWD tool


42


, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,036 issued to Clark et al. A drilling rig


40


is positioned over a bore hole


3


that is drilled into an earth formation


2


. Typically, sensors are located in subs


41


that are positioned a few feet above the drill bit


43


on the drill string


44


. In that position, the sensors can evaluate the formation


2


before significant invasion of the formation by the drilling fluid takes place.




Drilling fluid


45


is pumped down through the drill string


44


and ejected through ports in the drill bit


43


. The drilling fluid


45


is used to lubricated the drill bit


43


and to carry away formation cuttings, but it also can interfere with formation evaluation. Because of the hydrostatic pressure of the drilling fluid


45


at the drilling depth, the drilling fluid


45


seeps into the formation


2


. This process is called invasion. Sensors on a wireline tool (as shown in

FIGS. 2 and 3

) can be moved through the borehole only after drilling is stopped and the drill bit and drill string have been removed from the borehole. Often, the drilling fluid is pumped out of the borehole before a wireline tool is used. Wireline tools are often affected by the properties of the drilling fluid


45


that has invaded the formation


2


. By disposing sensors in a sub or MWD collar


41


and performing formation evaluation while drilling, the measurements can be made before there is significant invasion, thereby enabling more accurate measurements.





FIG. 5

shows a cross-section of a MWD collar


50


on a drill string


44


. The collar


50


surrounds the drill pipe


44


. A button resistivity tool is disposed in the drill collar


50


. Three button electrodes


53


,


54


and


55


are shown on a blade


56


that extends radially from the collar


51


. The blade


56


places the electrodes


53


,


54


, and


55


in contact with a borehole wall (not shown in FIG.


5


), enabling accurate formation evaluation. One of the electrodes injects a electrical current into the formation, while the other two electrodes measure the potential difference between them. The measured potential difference and the distance between the two measuring electrodes are related to the formation resistivity.




By way of example only, electrode


53


in

FIG. 5

could be used as the injecting electrode. Electrodes


54


and


55


would measure the potential difference that exists between them.




Even using MWD, however, there is still some invasion of the mud filtrate into the formation that causes errors in the measurements. Because the drilling fluid is pumped through ports in the drill bit, the formation is exposed to the drilling fluid for the time it takes the drill to penetrate the distance between the bit and the MWD collar. Many of these errors can be avoided if the sensors are disposed in the drill bit itself, thereby enabling the formation to be evaluated at, and even ahead of, the point where drilling is occurring.




One example of a drill bit with integral sensors is disclosed U.S. Pat. No. 5,475,309 to Hong et al.

FIG. 6A

shows a drill bit


61


with an integral sensor


60


. Sensor


60


is a dielectric tool that measures the water content of the formation near the drill bit. The sensor


60


can evaluate the formation


2


at the drilling depth


62


, before the formation


2


is penetrated by the bit


60


. A sensor


60


disposed in the drill bit enables more accurate measurements because the formation is evaluated before any significant invasion of drilling fluid into the formation


2


.




Another drill bit with integral sensors is shown in

FIG. 6B

, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,480 issued to Zaleski, Jr., et al.

FIG. 6B

shows a three cone drill bit


68


with temperature sensors


65


located in the journal


67


. The temperature sensors


65


transmit data to a telemetry or data storage system by way of a wire


68


that runs through the journal


65


and the bit body


66


. If the temperature in the journal begins to rise and exceed normal operating conditions, that is a signal that the journal bearings are beginning to fail. Corrective steps, like replacing the drill bit, can be taken before a catastrophic failure occurs.




SUMMARY OF INVENTION




One aspect of the invention relates to a drill bit with a bit body adapted to be coupled to a drill string. The bit body also has a sensor disposed therein. A single journal is removably mounted to the bit body, and a roller cone is rotatably mounted to the journal. In some embodiments, the bit body also includes a box-end connection.




Another aspect of the invention relates to a bit body comprising a box-end connection on one end of the bit body and a journal connection on an opposite end from the box-end connection, the journal connection adapted to receive a removably mounted journal. The bit body includes a sensor mounted therein.




Yet another aspect of the invention relates to a drill bit comprising a bit body adapted to be coupled to a drill string, a single journal removably mounted to the bit body, a temperature sensor disposed in the single journal, and a roller cone rotatably mounted on the single journal. In some embodiments, the drill bit includes a sensor disposed in the bit body.




Another aspect of the invention relates to a drill bit comprising a bit body, at least one sensor disposed in the bit body, a short-hop telemetry transmitter disposed in the bit body, and a box end connection adapted to connect the drill bit to a rotary steerable system. The drill bit in this aspect of the invention also includes a single journal removably mounted to the bit body and a roller cone rotatably mounted on the journal.




Yet another aspect on the invention relates to a drill bit comprising a bit body, a box-end connection adapted to connect the drill bit to a drill string, and a sensor disposed in the bit body.




Other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS





FIG. 1A

shows a prior art single cone drill bit.





FIG. 1B

shows a cross section of a prior art single cone drill bit.





FIG. 2

shows a cross section of a prior art density logging tool.





FIG. 3

shows a cross section of a prior art neutron logging tool.





FIG. 4

shows a cross section of a prior art drilling system with a measurement-while-drilling tool.





FIG. 5

shows a cross section of a prior art measurement-while-drilling resistivity tool.





FIG. 6A

shows a cross section of a prior art drill bit with an integral sensor.





FIG. 6B

shows a cross section of a prior art roller cone with integral temperature sensors.





FIG. 7

shows an exploded view of a bit body, a removable journal, and a roller cone according to one embodiment of the invention.





FIG. 8A

shows a cross section of one embodiment of a drill bit according to the invention, having a resistivity sensor mounted in the bit body.





FIG. 8B

shows a cross section of one embodiment of a drill bit according to the invention, having a temperature sensor mounted in the journal





FIG. 8C

shows a cross section of one embodiment of a drill bit according to the invention, having a density logging sensor mounted in the bit body.





FIG. 8D

shows a cross section of one embodiment of a drill bit according to the invention, having a neutron logging sensor mounted in the bit body.





FIG. 9

shows a perspective view of a drill bit in accordance with one embodiment of the invention on a drill string with a rotary steerable system and a measurement-while-drilling collar.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION





FIG. 7

shows an exploded view of one embodiment of the invention. A removable journal


72


is attached at a lower end of the bit body


73


with bolts


75


. A single roller cone


71


can be rotatably mounted on the journal


73


. A complete drill bit


70


is formed by the bit body


73


, the removable journal


72


attached to the bit body


73


, and a roller cone


71


rotatably mounted on the journal


72


.




In this disclosure, “rotatably mounted” in intended to indicate that the roller cone is fixed on the journal, but in such a way that it is able to freely rotate.




The removable journal


72


can be attached to the bit body


73


by any suitable means.

FIG. 7

shows bolts


75


that fasten the journal


72


in place, although one having skill in the art could devise other suitable ways to attach a removable journal without departing from the scope of this invention. The invention is not intended to be limited by the method of journal attachment.




The bit body


71


in this embodiment is reusable and can include various sensors therein, as will be explained below with reference to

FIGS. 8A

,


8


B,


8


C, and


8


D. Advantageously, the reusable bit body


73


, and any sensors mounted therein, can be used with more than one roller cone. Even when the roller cone


71


experiences failure or wears to the point that it must be replaced, the bit body


73


, and any sensors mounted therein, can be reused by removing the journal


72


and the roller cone


71


and attaching a new journal and roller cone. The reusable bit body


73


provides for an economical deployment of sensors, because the bit body


73


and any sensors mounted therein can be used with a plurality of different drill cones. This deployment of the sensors saves the cost of having to replace the bit body having sensors still well within their life cycle, because the roller cone of bearing journal has worn out or failed.




Another element of a bit in accordance with one aspect of the invention, also shown in

FIG. 7

, includes a reusable bit body


73


with a box end connection


76


. Instead of the typical male threaded connection at the upper end of the bit body (shown at element


14


in FIG.


1


), the bit body


73


according to this aspect of the invention has a female box-end connection


76


. That is, the lower end of the drill string has a connection (not shown) that is threaded into the bit body


73


. The box-end connection


76


is located on the bit body


73


on the end opposite from the removable journal


72


.





FIG. 8A

shows the box-end connection


76


in a cross section view. A threaded connection on the drill string (not shown) is inserted into the box-end


76


of the bit body


73


at


81


.

FIGS. 8A-8D

also show a mud channel located in the bit body


73


that delivers drilling fluid from the drill string, through the bit body


73


, through the journal


72


, so the drilling fluid can be discharged near the roller cone (not shown in FIGS.


8


A-


8


D).




Advantageously, the box-end connection


76


according to this aspect of the invention provides for more space in the bit body


73


to locate additional sensors. The added space gained with a box-end connection also enables the bit body to be adapted to house measurement devices that require spacing of sensor components for proper operation. Such devices include the density and neutron devices described on the foregoing Background section, where the sensor components require spacing from a source for proper operation and depth of investigation.





FIG. 8A

shows another aspect of the invention, wherein the bit body


73


includes sensors used for MWD. Resistivity buttons


811


,


812


, and


813


are disposed in bit body to measure the resistivity of a formation. The resistivity buttons can operate the same as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,036 issued to Clark et al., as described in the foregoing Background section. Advantageously, the single roller cone bit body allows the resistivity buttons mounted therein to be in contact with the borehole wall, where, as can be seen in

FIG. 6B

, the shirttail


66


of a three cone bit trails away from the borehole wall.




Here, in

FIG. 8A

, the buttons


811


,


812


, and


813


are connected, via a wire


802


, to a short-hop telemetry device


801


. The short-hop telemetry device


801


is located in the bit body


73


. It receives signals corresponding to the resistivity measured between the buttons


811


,


812


, and


813


and transmits the signals via a radio frequency to a telemetry or a receiver having a data storage unit located further up on the drill string.




The short-hop telemetry device


801


shown in

FIG. 8A

may be any of a number of devices known in the art. For example, the drill bit could include a data storage device, which stores the measurement until the tool is removed from the hole, instead of a short-hop telemetry device. Further, a data analysis device may be used. A data storage, analysis, or telemetry system will be described below in the section regarding rotary steerable systems and MWD collars.





FIG. 8B

shows a cross section of yet another embodiment of the invention. The removable journal includes temperature sensors


821


. The temperature sensors


821


monitor the temperature of the journal for temperature spikes that might indicate a bearing failure. In this embodiment, the bit body


73


has a connector


822


that is adapted to connect with wires


823


in the removable journal


72


. The connector


822


is in turn connected to the short-hop telemetry device


801


, where the temperature data is transmitted to a data analysis or storage collar or a telemetry collar.





FIG. 8C

shows a cross section of one embodiment of the invention where the bit body


73


includes an integral density logging sensor. The bit body


73


includes a gamma ray source


831


. The bit body itself is used to shield the detectors


832


,


833


from any direct gamma rays, and has a hole


834


to collimate the gamma rays that are transmitted into the formation


2


. A short-spaced detector


832


is located in the bit body


73


, above the source


831


. The long-spaced detector


833


is shown located much higher in the bit body


73


. The box-end connection


76


enables the long-spaced detector


833


to be located farther away from the source than it could be in a typical threaded pin bit. The box-end connection


76


enables the long-spaced detector


833


to receive gamma rays scattered mostly in the formation. The bit body


73


also includes collimating holes


836


and


837


that collimate the gamma rays received in the short and long spaced detectors


832


and


833


, respectively. The collimating hole


836


in front of the short-spaced detector


832


increases the probability that gamma rays received in the short-spaced detector were scattered in the mud-cake layer


23


. Similarly, collimating hole


837


ensures gamma rays received in the long-spaced detector


833


were scattered deep in the formation


2


. The source and the detectors can be connected with wires


853


. Advantageously, the box-end connection enables a bit-body with enough space to house short and long spaced detectors for a density logging sensor.





FIG. 8D

shows a cross section of one embodiment of the invention where the bit body


73


includes an integral neutron logging sensor. A neutron source


841


is located in the bit body


73


, the material of the bit body


73


acts to shield the neutron detectors


842


,


843


from the source


841


. One of the neutron detectors


842


is located in the bit body


73


above the source


841


. The second detector


843


can be located in the box-end connection


76


, with enough separation from the first detector


842


so that the count rates will provide an accurate measurement. The source and the detectors can be connected with wires


853


. Advantageously, the box-end connection provides the bit-body with enough axial space to house two neutron detectors.




Those having skill in the art will realize that other sensors can be included in the drill bit without departing from the scope of the invention. The sensors illustrated in this disclosure may be of particular use in a drill bit, but the invention is not intended to be limited by the type of sensor. Further, the invention is not limited to a drill bit with only one sensor. For example, the journal temperature sensors could be combined in the same drill bit body with a neutron sensor or a density sensor. Those having skill in the art will be able to devise other combinations of sensors to be used in a drill bit, without departing from the scope if the invention.




Referring to

FIG. 9

, the box-end connection


93


used in one or more embodiments of the invention also enables the drill bit


91


to be mounted closer to a rotary steerable system (“RSS”)


92


than a male threaded (pin) connection would allow. A typical RSS device includes a looking down pin connection. When both the RSS and the drill bit have a pin connection, a cross-over sub is required to connect the RSS and the drill bit. A drill bit with a box-end connection enables the drill bit to be connected to the RSS without a cross-over sub.




The drill string


95


is connected to an RSS


92


. The drill string


44


and the RSS


92


are connected to the drill bit


91


by a threaded connection


94


on the drill string that is inserted into the box-end connection


93


on the bit body.




An RSS device allows an operator to change the direction of the drill bit, or steer the drill bit, during drilling. By steering a drill bit, an operator can avoid obstacles, direct the drill bit to the desired target reservoir, and drill a horizontal borehole through a reservoir to maximize the length of the borehole penetrating the reservoir.




Advantageously, when the drill bit


91


is located closer to the RSS


92


, the torque and vibration created by the RSS


92


are reduced. This enables the RSS


92


and the drill bit


91


to have longer operating lives. Further, the reduced torque and vibrations enables the operator to have better directional control of the RSS


92


and the drill bit


91


, resulting in a more accurate well path to the desired target.




The combination of sensors mounted in the drill bit and a bit body with a box-end connection also has advantages. When sensors are located in the drill bit, they do not have to be located in a MWD collar above the drill bit. Typically, the MWD collar would be located behind the drill bit and the RSS, thereby increasing the distance between the drill bit and the MWD collar. Because the sensors can be mounted in the drill bit having a box-end connection, measurements are made at the drilling face, thereby eliminating some of the interference from the drilling fluid.




The advantages of the box-end connection can be gained by connecting the drill bit with other downhole devices. For example, it is known in the art to locate drive devices above the drill bit. Drive devices, such as a positive displacement motor or a mud turbine, convert the pressure of the drilling fluid into mechanical rotation. A box-end connection enables the drill bit to be located closer to such drive devices than with a pin connection. Advantageously, the vibrations and stresses associated with transmitting rotational motion to the drill bit are reduced when the drill bit is located closer to the drive device.





FIG. 9

also shows an MWD collar


96


located above the RSS


92


on the drill string


44


. The MWD collar


96


in this location has a short-hop telemetry receiver


97


used to receive short-hop data transmissions from the short-hop transmitter


98


located in the drill bit


91


. The MWD collar


96


can be adapted for several purposes. The MWD collar


96


can be adapted to analyze the data from the sensors in the drill bit


91


and make adjustments to the drilling parameters. Alternatively, the MWD collar


96


can transmit the data to the surface via “mud-pulse telemetry,” or by any other method known in the art. The MWD collar


96


can also be adapted to store the data measured by the sensors. One having skill in the art will realize that the MWD collar


96


can be adapted to perform any combination of these functions, and any other functions known in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention.




While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.



Claims
  • 1. A drill bit, comprising:a bit body adapted to be coupled to a drill string; a sensor disposed in the bit body; a single journal removably mounted to the bit body; and a roller cone rotatably mounted to the single journal.
  • 2. The drill bit of claim 1, further comprising a short-hop telemetry transmission device adapted to transmit data from the sensor to a measurement-while-drilling device located above the drill bit on the drill string.
  • 3. The drill bit of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a resistivity sensor.
  • 4. The drill bit of claim 1, further comprising a box-end connection on an end of the bit body opposite from the removable journal and adapted to connect the drill bit to the drill string.
  • 5. The drill bit of claim 4, wherein the sensor comprises a density logging sensor.
  • 6. The drill bit of claim 4, wherein the sensor comprises a neutron logging sensor.
  • 7. The drill bit of claim 4, wherein the drill bit is adapted to be paired with a rotary steerable system.
  • 8. The drill bit of claim 4, wherein the drill bit is adapted to be paired with a drive device.
  • 9. The drill bit of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor mounted in the single journal.
  • 10. A bit body, comprising:a box-end connection located on one end of the bit body and adapted to connect the bit body to a drill string; a journal connection located at an opposite end from the box-end connection and adapted to receive a removably mounted journal; and a sensor mounted in the bit body.
  • 11. The bit body of claim 10, wherein the sensor comprises a density logging sensor.
  • 12. The bit body of claim 10, wherein the sensor comprises a neutron logging sensor.
  • 13. A drill bit, comprising:a bit body adapted to be coupled to a drill string; a single journal removably mounted to the bit body; a temperature sensor disposed in the single journal; and a roller cone rotatably mounted on the single journal.
  • 14. The drill bit of claim 13, further comprising a sensor disposed in the bit body.
  • 15. The drill bit of claim 14, wherein the sensor is a density logging sensor.
  • 16. The drill bit of claim 14, wherein the sensor is a neutron logging sensor.
  • 17. A drill bit, comprising:a bit body; at least one sensor disposed in the bit body; a short-hop telemetry transmitter disposed in the bit body; a box end connection adapted to connect the bit body to a rotary steerable system; a single journal removably mounted to the bit body; and a roller cone rotatably mounted to the single journal.
  • 18. The drill bit of claim 17, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a density logging sensor.
  • 19. The drill bit of claim 17, wherein the at least on sensor comprises a neutron logging sensor.
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