Cutting elements comprising sensors, earth-boring tools comprising such cutting elements, and methods of forming wellbores with such tools
An earth-boring tool includes a cutting element comprising a hard material and at least one of a signal generator configured to provide an electromagnetic or acoustic signal to an interface between a surface of the hard material and a surface of a subterranean formation, and a sensor configured to receive an electromagnetic or acoustic signal from the interface. A method of forming a wellbore includes rotating the earth-boring tool within a wellbore and cutting formation material with a cutting element, transmitting a signal through the cutting element to an interface between the cutting element and the formation material, and measuring a response received at a sensor. A cutting element includes a transmitter oriented and configured to dispense a signal to an interface between the cutting surface and a surface of a formation and a sensor oriented and configured to measure a signal from the interface.
1. An earth-boring tool, comprising:
at least one cutting element comprising a hard material;
at least one of a signal generator and a sensor; and
at least one diamond fiber extending from the at least one of the signal generator and the sensor, through the hard material of the at least one cutting element, and to an interface between a surface of the hard material and a subterranean formation in contact with at least a portion of the surface, wherein the signal generator is configured to provide an acoustic signal at least partially through the at least one diamond fiber to the interface, and wherein the sensor is configured to receive a return acoustic signal from the interface.
2. The earth-boring tool of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of a signal generator and a sensor comprises an acoustic transducer.
3. The earth-boring tool of claim 1 , wherein the earth-boring tool comprises a transceiver comprising both a signal generator and a sensor.
4. The earth-boring tool of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of a signal generator and a sensor is configured to generate or detect an acoustic wave having a frequency between 15 Hz and 1 GHz.
5. The earth-boring tool of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of a signal generator and a sensor is configured to generate or detect an acoustic wave having a frequency between 50 kHz and 100 MHz.
6. The earth-boring tool of claim 1 , further comprising a bit body, wherein the at least one cutting element is secured to the bit body.
7. The earth-boring tool of claim 6 , wherein the bit body comprises at least one blade, and wherein the at least one cutting element is secured to the at least one blade.