APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING TEMPERATURE DATA OF A COMPONENT OF AN EARTH-BORING DRILLING TOOL

• US 20120312598A1
• Filed: 06/13/2011
• Published: 12/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Holdings LLC (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Cheng, Xiaomin C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,807,242 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 175/50
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 10/62 characterised by parts, e.g. cutting elements, which are detachable or adjustable E21B10/64 takes precedence; for roller bits E21B10/20; for augers E21B10/44
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 12/02 Wear indicators
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/07 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/00 Special methods or apparatus for drilling
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 11/24 of the velocity of propagation of sound
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/004 Mounting transducers, e.g. provided with mechanical moving or orienting device mountings specially adapted to a particular sound-producing device, see the preceding groups G10K1/00 - G10K9/00, e.g. G10K1/26, G10K1/28, G10K9/22; arrangements of sonic watch equipment on submarines B63G8/39; buoys B63B22/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Components, such as a cutting element for an earth-boring drilling tool include an ultrasonic transducer coupled therewith, and configured to transmit an acoustic signal therethrough, and transmit a data signal to a data acquisition unit in response to receiving a returning echo of the acoustic signals. An earth-boring drilling tool, comprises a bit body including a plurality of components, an ultrasonic transducer, and a data acquisition unit operably coupled with the ultrasonic transducer. The data acquisition unit may be configured to receive the data signal and determine a temperature distribution of the component based, at least in part, on a time-of-flight of the acoustic signals and the returning echoes. Methods for forming such components and measuring a temperature of such components may relate to coupling and implementing such an ultrasonic transducer with a component of an earth-boring drilling tool.

Claims

1. A cutting element for an earth-boring drilling tool, the cutting element comprising:

a cutting element body having a cutting surface thereon; and

an ultrasonic transducer coupled with the cutting element body, and configured to transmit an acoustic signal through the cutting element body and transmit a data signal to a data acquisition unit in response to receiving a returning echo of the acoustic signal.

2. The cutting element of claim 1, further comprising a waveguide coupled between the ultrasonic transducer and the cutting element body.

3. The cutting element of claim 2, wherein the waveguide is an at least substantially solid material.

4. The cutting element of claim 3, wherein the at least substantially solid material is selected from the group consisting of a metal, a ceramic, and a plastic material.

5. The cutting element of claim 3, wherein the at least substantially solid material is formed as one of a rod, a coiled foil, and a plurality of concentric tubes.

6. The cutting element of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer directly abuts the cutting element body.

7. The cutting element of claim 1, wherein the acoustic signal comprises at least one ultrasonic pulse.

8. The cutting element of claim 1, further comprising a diamond table coupled with the cutting element body, the diamond table having the cutting surface thereon.

9. A method for forming an element for an earth-boring drilling tool, the method comprising:

forming a cutting element having a cutting element body and a cutting surface; and

coupling an ultrasonic transducer with the cutting element body opposite the cutting surface.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising forming an earth-boring drill bit having the cutting element disposed in a blade of the earth-boring drill bit.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein forming the earth-boring drill bit includes forming a waveguide located between the ultrasonic transducer and the cutting element body.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein forming a waveguide located between the ultrasonic transducer and the cutting element includes:

positioning a tube extending to the cutting element body;

forming a bit body around the tube; and

inserting the waveguide into the tube.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein forming the waveguide comprises forming a rod and embedding the rod within a particle-matrix crown of the earth-boring drill bit.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein coupling the ultrasonic transducer with the cutting element body comprises directly abutting the ultrasonic transducer with the cutting element body opposite the cutting surface.

15. A method for measuring a temperature of a component of an earth-boring drilling tool, the method comprising:

transmitting at least one acoustic signal through a component of an earth-boring drill bit;

receiving at least one returning echo of the at least one acoustic signal through the component; and

determining a temperature distribution of the component based, at least in part, on a time-of-flight of the at least one acoustic signal and the at least one returning echo.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining a heat flux at an interface of the component of the earth-boring drill bit and a subterranean formation.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the component is a cutting element of the earth-boring drill bit.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein transmitting at least one acoustic signal through a component of the earth-boring drill bit includes transmitting the at least one acoustic signal through a waveguide prior to the cutting element.

19. An earth-boring drilling tool, comprising:

a bit body including a plurality of components;

an ultrasonic transducer configured to generate and transmit acoustic signals through a component of the plurality and generate a data signal in response to receiving returning echoes of the acoustic signals; and

a data acquisition unit operably coupled with the ultrasonic transducer, the data acquisition unit configured to receive the data signal and determine a temperature distribution of the component based, at least in part, on a time-of-flight of the acoustic signals and the returning echoes.

20. The earth-boring drilling tool of claim 19, wherein the component is a cutting element of the bit body.

21. The earth-boring drilling tool of claim 20, wherein the cutting element includes a cutting element body having a cutting surface thereon.

22. The earth-boring drilling tool of claim 21, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is coupled directly with a back side of the cutting element body.

23. The earth-boring drilling tool of claim 21, further comprising a waveguide within the bit body between the ultrasonic transducer and the cutting element body.

24. The earth-boring drilling tool of claim 23, wherein the waveguide extends through at least one blade of the bit body.

25. The earth-boring drilling tool of claim 23, wherein the waveguide extends through at least a portion of a shank attached to the bit body.

26. The earth-boring drilling tool of claim 23, further comprising a tube surrounding the waveguide.

27. The earth-boring drilling tool of claim 23, wherein the ultrasonic sensor is positioned in a cut out location in one of a depression and a cut-out portion of the bit body that is capped and sealed to protect the ultrasonic sensor.

28. The earth-boring drilling tool of claim 20, wherein the cutting element is a polycrystalline diamond compact cutting element.

29. The earth-boring drilling tool of claim 20, wherein the bit body is attached to a drill string.