US 12,168,266 B2
Methods of making a cutting element for an earth-boring tool, methods of reprocessing cutting elements, and associated cutting elements
Marc Bird, Houston, TX (US); John A. Bomidi, Spring, TX (US); Andrew Robertson, The Woodlands, TX (US); Nicholas J. Lyons, Houston, TX (US); Amir Rabani, London (GB); Paul Butler-Smith, Kent (GB); and Jair Leal, Spring, TX (US)
Assigned to Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed by Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Oct. 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/048,916.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/367,799, filed on Jul. 6, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 2115411 (GB), filed on Oct. 26, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0126964 A1, Apr. 27, 2023
Int. Cl. E21B 10/567 (2006.01); B23K 26/36 (2014.01); B23K 101/00 (2006.01)
CPC B23K 26/36 (2013.01) [E21B 10/567 (2013.01); B23K 2101/002 (2018.08)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
11. A method of reprocessing a cutting element, the method comprising:
removing a used cutting element from an earth-boring tool, the cutting element being formed from a superabrasive polycrystalline material in the presence of a catalyst;
grinding a cutting surface of the cutting table to substantially remove raised portions of the cutting surface of the cutting table;
polishing the cutting surface of the cutting table until the cutting surface of the cutting table is substantially smooth; and
treating the cutting surface of the polycrystalline superabrasive cutting table of the cutting element by non-thermal fracturing through pulsing a laser onto the cutting surface of the cutting table and vaporizing the catalyst remaining on the cutting surface after the grinding of the cutting surface of the cutting table and polishing the cutting surface of the cutting table;
wherein the laser is focused to have a cross-sectional diameter between about 20 μm and about 100 μm.