Baker Hughes Corporation

Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC

Baker Hughes, a Ge Compnay, LLC

Bruce Stauffer

Steven R Radford

Suresh G Patel

Chaitanya K Vempati

Timothy King Marvel

George I Butler

Johannes Witte

John Gerard Evans

Khoi Q Trinh

Jason R Habernal

R Keith Glasgow, Jr

Alan J Massey

David Keith Luce

Kenneth E Gilmore

William Heuser

Keith L Nehring

Steven R Redford

Jim L Jacobsen

An apparatus for use downhole is disclosed that, in one configuration includes a downhole tool configured to operate in an active position and an inactive position and an actuation device, which may include a control unit. The apparatus includes a telemetry unit that sends a first pattern recognition signal to the control unit to move the tool into the active position and a second pattern recognition signal to move the tool into the inactive position. The apparatus may be used for drilling a subterranean formation and include a tubular body and one or more extendable features, each positionally coupled to a track of the tubular body, and a drilling fluid flow path extending through a bore of the tubular body for conducting drilling fluid therethrough. A push sleeve is disposed within the tubular body and coupled to the one or more features. A valve assembly is disposed within the tubular body and configured to control the flow of the drilling fluid into an annular chamber in communication with the push sleeve; the valve assembly comprising a mechanically operated valve and/or an electronically operated valve. Other embodiments, including methods of operation, are provided.

Remotely controlled apparatus for downhole applications and methods of operation

Earth-boring tools may comprise rotatable cutting elements rotatably connected to protruding journals, which may be at least partially located within inner bores extending through the rotatable cutting elements. A rotationally leading end of one of the protruding journals may not extend beyond a cutting face of its associated rotatable cutting element. Alternatively, a protruding journal may comprise a chip breaker protruding from a cutting face of a rotatable cutting element. Methods of removing an earth formation may include directing cuttings forward, away from a cutting face of a rotatable cutting element when the cuttings reach an inner bore of the rotatable cutting element, and rotating the rotatable cutting element around a protruding journal at least partially located in the inner bore.

Rotatable cutting elements and related earth-boring tools and methods

Downhole tools with a topographical pattern, and anti-balling material over the topographical pattern. The topographical pattern may be defined by at least one of a plurality of recesses extending into a surface of a body of the tool and a plurality of protrusions protruding from the surface. Downhole tools include an insert disposed within a recess in a body, and the insert comprises an anti-balling material having a composition selected to reduce accumulation of formation cuttings on the tools when the tools are used to form or service a wellbore. Downhole tools include anti-balling material disposed over a porous mass provided over the surfaces of the tools. Methods of forming downhole tools include providing anti-balling material over features on and/or in a surface of a body of a tool. Methods of repairing downhole tools include removing an insert therefrom and disposing a replacement insert therein.

Methods of forming downhole tools having features for reducing balling

Downhole tools are provided with a topographical pattern, and anti-balling material is provided over the topographical pattern. The topographical pattern may be defined by at least one of a plurality of recesses extending into a surface of a body of the tool and a plurality of protrusions protruding from the surface. Downhole tools include an insert disposed within a recess in a body, and the insert comprises an anti-balling material having a composition selected to reduce accumulation of formation cuttings on the tools when the tools are used to form or service a wellbore. Downhole tools include anti-balling material disposed over a porous mass provided over the surfaces of the tools. Methods of forming downhole tools include providing anti-balling material over features on and/or in a surface of a body of a tool. Methods of repairing downhole tools include removing an insert therefrom and disposing a replacement insert therein.

Earth-boring tools may comprise rotatable cutting elements rotatably connected to protruding journals, which may be at least partially located within inner bores extending through the rotatable cutting elements. A rotationally leading end of one of the protruding journals may not extend beyond a cutting face of its associated rotatable cutting element. Alternatively, a protruding journal may comprise a chip breaker protruding from a cutting face of a rotatable cutting element. Methods of removing an earth formation may include directing cuttings forward, away from a cutting face of a rotatable cutting element then the cuttings reach an inner bore of the rotatable cutting element, and rotating the rotatable cutting element around a protruding journal at least partially located in the inner bore.

Downhole tools having features for reducing balling, and methods of forming such tools

An apparatus for use downhole is disclosed. The apparatus includes a downhole device and an actuation device that includes: a housing including an annular chamber configured to house a first fluid therein and a piston in the annular chamber that divides the annular chamber into a first section and a second section. The piston is to a biasing member. A control unit enables movement of the first fluid from the first section to the second section to supply a second fluid under pressure to the tool to move the tool into an active position and from the second section to the first section to stop the supply of the second fluid to the tool to cause the tool to move into an inactive position.

Remotely-controlled downhole device and method for using same

Downhole tools having features for reducing balling and methods of forming such tools

The present invention relates to a system and method for automated or 'robotic' application of hardfacing to the surface of a steel-toothed cutter of a standard earth-boring rock bit or a hybrid-type rock bit. In particular, the system incorporates a grounded adapter plate and chuck mounted to a robotic arm for grasping and manipulating a rock bit cutter, particularly a hybrid rock bit cutter, beneath an electrical or photonic energy welding source, such as a plasma arc welding torch manipulated by a positioner. In this configuration, the torch is positioned substantially vertically and oscillated along a horizontal axis as the cutter is manipulated relative along a target path for the distribution of hardfacing. Moving the cutter beneath the torch allows more areas of more teeth to be overlayed, and allows superior placement for operational feedback, such as automatic positioning and parameter correction. In the preferred embodiment, sensors provide data to the control system for identification, positioning, welding program selection, and welding program correction. The control system, aided by data from the sensors, manipulates the robotically held cutter while controlling the operation and oscillation of the torch. These systems and methods can be applied to hardfacing steel teeth of the rolling cutters of both standard tri-cone or di-cone type rolling cone bits, as well as to hybrid-type earth boring drill bits.

Method and apparatus for automated application of hardfacing material to rolling cutters of hybrid-type earth boring drill bits, hybrid drill bits comprising such hardfaced steel-toothed cutting elements, and methods of use thereof

Walk characteristics of an earth-boring rotary drill bit may be predicted by measuring locations and orientations of cutting elements thereof and calculating the magnitude and direction of an imbalance force of the drill bit using the measurements obtained. The calculated imbalance force may be compared to the imbalance force of at least one other drill bit having a calculated imbalance force and observed walk characteristics. An earth-boring rotary drill bit may be designed by constructing a database including the magnitude and direction of a calculated imbalance force and observed walk characteristics for a number of drill bits. Desired walk characteristics are selected, the database is referenced, and the bit may be configured to exhibit an imbalance force selected to impart desired walk characteristics to the drill bit. Drill bits are configured to exhibit an imbalance force oriented in a predetermined direction relative to a blade of the drill bit. A system may be employed to monitor the imbalance force of an operating drill bit and to provide or implement desirable operational parameters to compensate for same.

Methods for designing and fabricating earth-boring rotary drill bits having predictable walk characteristics and drill bits configured to exhibit predicted walk characteristics

A roller cone bit is provided that includes a companion ring positioned exterior to a seal, wherein the companion ring includes a textured surface where the inner diameter of the companion ring contacts the bearing pin.

Growing community of inventors

Spring, TX, United States of America

Bruce Stauffer