Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Kelley Leigh Plunkett

Kevin Clark

Van Jordan Brackin

Curtis Clifford Lanning

Trung Quoc Huynh

Andrew D Lake

John William Varner

Jeffrey Gerard Thomas

William Brian Atkins

Daniel Brendan Voglewede

Bradley David Dunbar

Robert W Arfele

Douglas Caraway

John Benjamin Hankins

Nicholas Allison

Rob Arfele

Chris Propes

Randy T Howell

Darien Louis Gurka, Jr

Jordan Olear

Nicholas Grant Allison

A variety of methods, systems, and apparatus are disclosed, including, in one embodiment, a drill bit, comprising: a bit body defining a rotational axis and having a plurality of cutter pockets formed thereon, each cutter pocket shaped to receive a respective substrate of a cutter with a cutting table secured thereon, wherein the substrate of at least one cutter has an outer profile defining an area of increased braze gap; and a braze interface comprising a braze alloy disposed in each cutter pocket between the inner profile of the cutter pocket and the outer profile of the respective substrate, such that a thickness of the braze alloy is greater at the area of increased braze gap.

Drill bit cutter with stress reducing features

A fixed cutter drill bit may include a bit body defining a bit axis and having a plurality of blades extending therefrom. A plurality of cutters are secured to the blades at different circumferential positions relative to the bit axis. Each cutter may define a cutter sweep profile as the bit body rotates about the bit axis. One or more of the cutters may form overlapping cutter sweep profiles to define a kerf therebetween. The cutters include a shaped cutter comprising a cutting face and a shaped portion on the cutting face aligned for engaging and removing the kerf.

Drill bit cutter with shaped portion matched to kerf

In general, in one aspect, embodiments relate to a drill bit, that includes a bit body, a plurality of cutters secured to the bit body, an axial reciprocating assembly, a lateral reciprocating assembly, and a sliding interface that includes a first contact surface and a second contact surface in direct sliding engagement with the first contact surface inside the bit body, such that an exposure of the first borehole engagement member varies with an exposure of the second borehole engagement member.

Depth of cut control responsive to borehole trajectory

A drill bit has a plurality of cutters secured to the bit body, including a gauge cutter defining a gauge diameter of the drill bit. A reciprocating gauge assembly on the bit comprises a cavity defined in the bit body, a piston reciprocably disposed in the cavity, a wear element on an outwardly facing end of the piston, a piston retainer for moveably retaining the piston in the cavity, and a spring biasing the piston outwardly to a neutral position of the wear element with respect to the gauge diameter. The wear element and piston may be urged inwardly in response to an applied load at the drill bit gauge pad, increasing the lateral depth of cut and thereby controlling the aggressiveness of the bit in response to the load.

Drill bit with reciprocating gauge assembly

A depth of cut control (DOCC) assembly includes a DOCC element positioned in a retainer pocket along a drill bit blade to limit a depth of cut of one or more fixed cutters. A retention member initially retains the DOCC element within the retainer pocket at a first exposure position. The retention member is configured to release the DOCC element downhole to allow one-way movement of the DOCC element to a second exposure position.

One-time activation or deactivation of rolling DOCC

A drill bit and method incorporate backup assemblies that limit depth of engagement of cutters with the formation. The backup assemblies dynamically adjust exposure relative to a cutting profile in response to downhole loading conditions. In an example, cutters are secured to the cone, nose, shoulder, and/or gage regions of the bit body. One or more backup assemblies are provided on the cone, nose, or shoulder region, and optionally, on the gauge region. A backup element on an outwardly facing end of the piston limits a depth of cut of one or more of the cutters. The backup element may be rigidly secured or rotatably secured to the piston. The piston may be biased outwardly to a neutral position aligned with or overexposed relative to the cutting profile.

Piston-based backup assembly for drill bit

The disclosure provides a drill bit including a bit body and a blade extending from the bit body. The blade includes a first element protruding from a surface of the blade and a second element protruding from the surface of the blade. The first element and the second element are each configured to extend or retract relative to the surface of the blade and are coupled to each other such that when the second element retracts relative to the surface of the blade, the first element extends relative to the surface of the blade. The first element is disposed within a first pocket formed in the surface of the blade, and the second element is disposed within a second pocket formed in the surface of the blade. A communication channel is formed between the first pocket and the second pocket.

Depth of cut control activation system

A rolling depth of cut controller (DOCC) includes a first retainer including a body portion having an arcuate inner surface. The body portion extends partially around a central axis between the inner surface and an outer surface from a mating surface to an engagement surface. Further, the body portion extends axially along the central axis. The rolling DOCC also includes a second retainer secured to the first retainer at the mating surface via at least one fastening feature. Additionally, the rolling DOCC includes a rolling element disposed at least partially within a cavity formed between the first retainer and the second retainer. The rolling element is configured to rotate within the cavity about the central axis, and an exposed portion of the rolling element is configured to provide depth-of-cut control for a drill bit.

Rolling depth of cut controller with clamshell retainer and solid diamond rolling element

An earth-boring drill bit with brazed-in rolling elements for depth-of-cut control. The earth-boring drill bit includes a bit body, a blade having an exterior surface and defining at least one pocket, and a DOCC element positioned within the blade. The DOCC element includes a walled retainer positioned within the pocket. The walled retainer includes retainer side walls and an endcap attached to the retainer side walls at an end of the walled retainer. The DOCC element further includes a rolling element positioned within and partially enclosed by walled retainer, with a portion thereof extending above the exterior surface of the blade. The disclosure further includes the DOCC element and a method of installing it in the pocket defined by the blade.

Earth-boring drill bit with a depth-of-cut control (DOCC) element including a rolling element

A rotating cutter for a fixed cutter type bit includes an annular sleeve with a retainer having a plurality of inwardly extending tabs and a spindle cutter rotatably coupled to the annular sleeve. The spindle cutter includes a spindle extending into the annular sleeve and rotatable about a central axis of the annular sleeve, a base portion positioned between the retainer and a proximal end of the annular sleeve, and a cutter portion coupled to the spindle. The rotating cutter further includes at least one pin disposed between adjacent tabs of the plurality of tabs of the retainer to prevent axial movement of the base portion through the retainer.

Cutter retention for rotatable cutter

A method may comprise placing a plug in a chamber of a housing, sending a carbide powder through the one or more access ports such that the carbide power is directed around the plug and deposited on the inner surface, and removing the plug from the chamber. A rolling element assembly may comprise a housing having an outer surface and inner surface, carbide powder on the inner surface, and a rolling element attached in the chamber with a portion of the rolling element extends from the chamber, wherein the rolling element is in contact with the carbide powder deposited on the inner surface.

Growing community of inventors

The Woodlands, TX, United States of America

Kelley Leigh Plunkett