National Oilwell Dht, L.p.

National Oilwell Varco, L.p.

Reza Rahmani

Ryan Basson Graham

Navid Omidvar

Afshin Babaie Aghdam

John Francis Bradford, Iii

Olivia Pacheco

Brad Ivie

Alejandro Castillo

Olivia N Pacheco

Iii Bradford John Francis

An insert for a drill bit includes a base portion. In addition, the insert includes a formation engaging portion extending from the base portion. The formation engaging portion has a longitudinal axis and includes a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first lateral side extending from the first end to the second end, and a second lateral side extending from the first end to the second end, and an elongate crown extending longitudinally from the first end to the second end and laterally from the first lateral side to the second lateral side. The first lateral side comprises a first curved surface having a first radius of curvature in top view of the insert and the second lateral side includes a second curved surface having a second radius of curvature in top view of the insert. The first radius of curvature of the first curved surface is different than the second radius of curvature of the second curved surface.

Drill bit inserts and drill bits including same

A cutter element for a drill bit includes a base portion having a central axis, a first end, a second end, and a radially outer surface extending axially from the first end to the second end. In addition, the cutter element includes a cutting layer fixably mounted to the first end of the base portion. The cutting layer includes a cutting face distal the base portion and a radially outer surface extending axially from the cutting face to the radially outer surface of the base portion. The cutting face includes a planar central region centered relative to the central axis and disposed in a plane oriented perpendicular to the central axis. Further, the cutting face includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced cutting regions disposed about the planar central region. Still further, the cutting face includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced relief regions disposed about the planar central region. The plurality of cutting regions and the plurality of relief regions are circumferentially arranged in an alternating manner such that one relief region is circumferentially disposed between two circumferentially adjacent cutting regions of the plurality of cutting regions. Each relief region is defined by a first edge at an intersection of the relief region and one circumferentially adjacent cutting region and a second edge at an intersection of the relief region and another circumferentially adjacent cutting region. The first edge and the second edge of each relief region are angularly spaced apart about the central axis by an angle &#x3b1; that ranges from 45&#xb0; to 75&#xb0;.

Drill bit cutter elements and drill bits including same

A method includes receiving a drill bit design. The design specifies a design parameter for a plurality of cutter elements of a drill bit. The method also includes estimating a temperature value for the cutter elements based on the design parameter and a drilling parameter; estimating a wear value for the cutter elements based on the design parameter and the temperature value; updating a value of the design parameter for at least one of the cutter elements based on the wear value and a time period; and using the updated design parameter value, repeating the steps of estimating the temperature value, estimating the wear value, and updating the design parameter value until the design parameter value for the at least one of the cutter elements reaches a threshold value.

Wear analysis of drill bits

A cutter element for a drill bit includes a base portion having a central axis, a first end, and a second end. In addition, the cutter element includes a cutting layer fixably mounted to the first end of the base portion. The cutting layer includes a cutting face distal the base portion. The cutting face includes an elongate raised ridge having a first end at a radially outer surface of the cutting layer and a second end at the radially outer surface of the cutting layer. The raised ridge defines a maximum height of the cutter element measured axially from the second end of the base portion to the cutting face. The cutting face also includes a first planar lateral side surface and a second planar lateral side surface. Each planar lateral side surface extends from the raised ridge to the radially outer surface of the cutting layer.

A nozzle for distributing drilling fluid from a drill bit has a central axis and includes a first end, a second end, and a radially inner surface extending axially from the first end to the second end. The radially inner surface defines a flow passage extending from the first end to the second end. The flow passage has a central axis, an inlet at the first end, an outlet at the second end, a first section extending from the inlet, and a second section extending from the outlet to the first section. In addition, the nozzle includes a side outlet extending radially from the radially outer surface to the radially inner surface. The side outlet extends axially from the second end and is contiguous with the outlet. The second section of the flow passage at least partially overlaps with the side outlet. The first section of the flow passage is curved as viewed in a cross-section of the nozzle taken in a reference plane containing the central axis of the nozzle and bisecting the side outlet. The second section of the flow passage is curved as viewed in the cross-section of the nozzle taken in the reference plane. The second section of the flow passage is configured to direct at least a portion of the drilling fluid flowing through the flow passage toward the side outlet.

Fixed cutter drill bits including nozzles with end and side exits

An insert for a drill bit includes a base portion having a central axis and a formation engaging portion. The formation engaging portion includes an elongate peaked ridge, a first flanking surface extending from the peaked ridge, and a second flanking surface extending from the peaked ridge. The first flanking surface is defined by a first curve rotated about a first axis and the second flanking surface is defined by a second curve rotated about a second axis. The first axis and the second axis are disposed in a reference plane that bisects the base portion and contains the central axis of the base portion. The first axis is disposed at a first radius measured in the reference plane and the second axis is disposed at a second radius measured in the reference plane. The first radius is different from the second radius.

A cutter element includes a base portion having a central axis, a first end, and a second end. In addition, the cutter element includes a cutting layer fixably mounted to the first end of the base portion. The cutting layer includes a cutting face distal. The cutting face includes a planar central region centered relative to the central axis and disposed in a plane oriented perpendicular to the central axis. The cutting face also includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced cutting regions disposed about the planar central region. Each cutting region extends from the planar central region to the radially outer surface of the cutting layer. Each cutting region slopes axially toward the base portion moving radially outward from the planar central region to the radially outer surface of the cutting layer. Further, the cutting face includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced relief regions disposed about the planar central region. Each relief region extends from the planar central region to the radially outer surface. Each relief region slopes axially toward the base portion moving radially outward from the planar central region to the radially outer surface of the cutting layer. The plurality of cutting regions and the plurality of relief regions are circumferentially arranged in an alternating manner such that one relief region is circumferentially disposed two circumferentially adjacent cutting regions of the plurality of cutting regions.

A drill bit includes a bit body and an internal plenum in the bit body. In addition, the drill bit includes a first flow passage extending from the internal plenum to a bit face. Still further, the drill bit includes a nozzle assembly secured to the bit body at a downhole end of the flow passage. The nozzle assembly has a central axis and includes an outer sleeve and an inner nozzle extending axially through the outer sleeve. The inner nozzle has a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a radially inner surface extending axially from the first end to the second end. The radially inner surface defines a second flow passage. The inner nozzle also includes a choke disposed along the second flow passage and a side outlet extending radially from the outer surface to the inner surface.

A cutting element for a drill bit includes a PCD cutting face having a ridge that extends away from the periphery towards the center of the cutting face, terminating in a curved, central most ridge end. The cutting face further includes a surrounding surface consisting of the entire cutting face except for the ridge. The surrounding surface is free of flats and includes two side regions and a ramp region therebetween. The surrounding surface is continuously curved along a curved path that extends from the first side region to the ramp region to the other side region. In profile views, the surrounding surface may be linear moving from the top surface of the ridge to the periphery at every location along the curved path.

Extrudate-producing ridged cutting element

A drill bit with individually-balanced cutting elements. The working surface of the cutters includes a balancing feature, such as an elongate ridge, and a balancing line that extends along the length of the feature, and through the center of the working surface. The cutters are positioned in the bit so that the working surface of each cutter removes formation material in an area of cut, and so that the cutter's balancing line passes through a centroid of its area of cut. A method for making a bit with individually-balanced cutters includes positioning cutters in the bit so that a cutter's balancing line passes through a selected centroid of the cutter's area of cut.

Downhole drill bit with balanced cutting elements and method for making and using same

A cutting element for a drill bit includes a body having a face at an end thereof. The face includes a ramp, a first side region, a second side region, and a ridge thereon. The ramp has a curved edge along a periphery of the face, a first side, and a second side. The first side and the second side extend from opposite ends of the curved edge and converge at a location along the face. The ridge extends along the face from a chamfer along a peripheral edge of the face to the location. The ridge is positioned between the first side region and the second side region. The first side region extends between the periphery, the ridge, and the first side. The second side region extends between the periphery, the ridge, and the second side. The ramp extends from the first side region to the second side region.

Downhole drill bit cutting element with chamfered ridge

A cutting element for a drill bit is advanceable into a subterranean formation to form a wellbore. The cutting element includes an element body having a face at an end thereof, and a ridge. The element body has a face at an end thereof. The face has a ramp and a pair of side regions thereon. The ramp has a curved edge along a periphery of the face and two sides. Each of the two sides extends from opposite ends of the curved edge and converges at a location along the face. The face has a chamfer along a peripheral edge thereof. The ridge is between the chamfer and the location. Each of the pair of side regions is positioned on opposite sides of the ridge and extends between the periphery, the ridge, and one of the two sides of the ramp whereby the chamfer engages a wall of the wellbore and extrudate is drawn along the pair of side regions.

Growing community of inventors

Spring, TX, United States of America

Reza Rahmani