Baker Hughes Corporation

Brian E Miller

Van Jordan Brackin

Mathews George

Danny Eugene Scott

Craig Hodges Cooley

Wayne Rollins Hansen

Daniel Beeman

A method of designing a rotary drill bit includes selecting and positioning a plurality of cutting elements on a rotary drill bit. At least one substantially helically extending feature is selected and positioned to rotationally follow at least one of the plurality of cutting elements, the at least one substantially helically extending feature exhibiting a selected maximum Helical Pitch.

Methods of designing rotary drill bits including at least one substantially helically extending feature

A rotary drill bit is disclosed, including at least one cutting element affixed thereto and configured to form a distinct borehole surface in response to drilling a subterranean formation. At least one substantially helically extending feature associated with the at least one cutting element may be formed upon the leading end of the rotary drill bit. Alternatively, a rotary drill bit may include a plurality of substantially helically extending features. Methods of operating a rotary drill bit are also disclosed. Specifically, a subterranean formation may be drilled with a rotary drill bit to form an on-center bottomhole pattern, which may be at least partially contacted by at least one substantially helically extending feature of the rotary drill bit. Alternatively, a subterranean formation may be contacted with at least one substantially helically extending feature of the rotary drill bit. A method of designing a rotary drill bit is disclosed.

Rotary drill bits including at least one substantially helically extending feature and methods of operation

An earth boring drill bit including replaceable gage pads. The gage pads and the corresponding surface of the earth boring drill bit may include complementary securing elements which mutually engage one another. The gage pad may be removably affixed to the earth boring drill bit by an affixation element, such as a bolt, a mechanical locking element, brazing, welding, mechanical affixation, or another known technique. The invention also includes a method of testing differently configured gage pads employing a single earth boring drill bit, a method of replacing the gage pads of an earth boring drill bit at the drilling site, a method of customizing an earth boring drill bit to include one or more gage pads of desired configuration, and a method of altering the balance or net imbalance of an earth boring drill bit by replacing at least one gage pad thereof.

Growing community of inventors

The Woodlands, TX, United States of America

Brian E Miller