Method of altering a balance characteristic and moment configuration of a drill bit and drill bit

• US 6,186,251 B1
• Filed: 07/27/1998
• Issued: 02/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Butcher, Trent N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Neuder, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walker, Zakiya
• Application Number:
  US09/123,167
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 175/393, 175/400, 175/424, 175/339, 175/340, 239/390, 239/397, 239/380, 239/251, 239/587.1, 239/587.4, 731/524.9, 731/525.6
• US Class Current: 175/393
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 10/602 the bit being a rotary drag type bit with blades
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 10/61 characterised by the nozzle structure

Abstract

A method of altering the force balance characteristic or moment configuration of an earth-boring rotary-type drill bit by altering the net hydraulic direction vector of drilling fluid exiting from the drill bit and, therefore, the accompanying net hydraulic force exerted on the drill bit. The method includes replacing at least one nozzle of the drill bit with a differently sized nozzle to alter the amount of hydraulic force that is exerted on a particular portion of the drill bit. Alternatively, the orientation of at least one nozzle of the drill bit may be changed to alter the direction in which drilling fluid flows from a particular portion of the drill bit and, thus, alter the direction of the hydraulic force on the drill bit. The method may be employed to counteract a net force imbalance of a drill bit, to alter a direction of net force imbalance, or to vary the magnitude of net force imbalance.

Claims

1. A method of altering a moment configuration of a rotary-type earth-boring drill bit, comprising:

predicting the moment configuration of the drill bit during drilling by mathematically modeling;

evaluating the moment configuration; and

modifying a drilling fluid flow characteristic of the drill bit based at least in part on said evaluating.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said modifying said drilling fluid flow characteristic comprises replacing at least one nozzle of the drill bit with a differently sized nozzle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said modifying said drilling fluid flow characteristic comprises changing an orientation of at least one nozzle of the drill bit to alter a direction in which a quantity of drilling fluid flows from said at least one nozzle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said mathematical modeling comprises mathematically modeling rotation of the drill bit.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising evaluating an effect of a jet of a quantity of drilling fluid on the moment configuration as said jet contacts a surface of a borehole of a formation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said evaluating is based on a weight of a quantity of drilling fluid to flow through the drill bit.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said evaluating is based on a rate at which a quantity of drilling fluid flows through the drill bit.

8. A method of altering a balance characteristic vector of a rotary-type earth-boring drill bit, comprising:

evaluating the balance characteristic vector by mathematically modeling rotation of the drill bit to predict the balance characteristic vector of the drill bit; and

modifying a net hydraulic force vector of a quantity of drilling fluid flowing from the drill bit based at least in part on said evaluating.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said modifying said net hydraulic force vector comprises replacing at least one nozzle of the drill bit with a differently sized nozzle.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said modifying said net hydraulic force vector comprises changing a direction in which a quantity of drilling fluid flows from at least one nozzle of the drill bit.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said modified net hydraulic force vector offsets the balance characteristic vector.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said modified net hydraulic force vector enhances the balance characteristic vector.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein said modified net hydraulic force vector alters a direction of the balance characteristic vector.

14. A method of altering a balance characteristic of a rotary-type earth-boring drill bit, comprising:

evaluating an effect of cutting element-induced force vectors on a moment configuration of the drill bit by mathematical modeling to predict said effect of said cutting element-induced force vectors on the moment configuration; and

changing the moment configuration by;

selecting at least one nozzle sized to provide a particular hydraulic force on a portion of the drill bit as drilling fluid flows through said at least one nozzle; and

orienting said at least one nozzle to orient said particular hydraulic force against said drill bit portion in a particular direction.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising evaluating an angle at which a jet of a quantity of a drilling fluid material contacts a surface of a borehole of a formation.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising altering a weight of a quantity of drilling fluid to flow through the drill bit.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising altering a rate of a quantity of drilling fluid to flow through the drill bit.

18. A method of refining a moment configuration of a rotary-type earth-boring drill bit, the method comprising:

predicting an angle at which a jet of a quantity of a drilling fluid will contact a surface of a borehole of a formation to be drilled during drilling to predict an initial moment configuration of the drill bit during drilling of a formation;

comparing said initial moment configuration to a desired moment configuration;

configuring a nozzle organization to adjust the drill bit from said initial moment configuration to said desired moment configuration;

selecting at least one nozzle based at least in part on said comparing and said configuring said nozzle organization; and

disposing said at least one nozzle on the drill bit.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said configuring said nozzle organization comprises altering a weight of a quantity of drilling fluid to flow through said at least one nozzle.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said configuring said nozzle organization comprises altering a flow rate of a quantity of drilling fluid to flow through said at least one nozzle.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein said predicting comprises predicting at least one cutting element-induced vector as at least one cutting element of the drill bit cuts said formation.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein said configuring said nozzle organization comprises orienting the at least one nozzle to direct a quantity of drilling fluid in a direction to impart the drill bit with said desired moment configuration.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein said selecting the at least one nozzle comprises selecting the at least one nozzle on a basis of size.

24. A method of configuring a hydraulic organization of a rotary-type earth-boring drill bit, the method comprising:

determining an initial moment configuration of the drill bit;

selecting a desired moment configuration of the drill bit;

evaluating an effect of a surface of a borehole of a formation adjacent the drill bit said desired moment configuration and at least one cutting element-induced force vector as at least one cutting element of the drill bit cuts said formation to determine a hydraulic force vector of at least one nozzle of the drill bit required to adjust the drill bit from said initial moment configuration to said desired moment configuration; and

configuring an orientation of said at least one nozzle to bring a moment configuration of the drill bit closer to said desired moment configuration.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said evaluating said hydraulic force vector comprises evaluating a weight of a quantity of drilling fluid to flow through said at least one nozzle.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein said evaluating said hydraulic force vector comprises evaluating a flow rate of a quantity of drilling fluid to flow through said at least one nozzle.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein said evaluating said effect comprises evaluating said effect of said surface on a hydraulic force vector of a quantity of drilling fluid exiting the drill bit.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising selecting said at least one nozzle on a basis of size.

29. The method of claim 24, further comprising configuring an orientation of said at least one nozzle.

30. A method of refining a moment configuration of a rotary-type earth-boring drill bit, the method comprising:

predicting an initial moment configuration of the drill bit during drilling of a formation;

comparing said initial moment configuration to a desired moment configuration;

configuring a nozzle organization to adjust the drill bit from said initial moment configuration to said desired moment configuration;

selecting at least one nozzle based at least in part on said comparing and said configuring said nozzle organization;

orienting said at least one nozzle to direct a quantity of drilling fluid in a direction to impart the drill bit with said desired moment configuration; and

disposing said at least one nozzle on the drill bit.

31. A method of configuring a hydraulic organization of a rotary-type earth-boring drill bit, the method comprising:

determining an initial moment configuration of the drill bit;

selecting a desired moment configuration of the drill bit;

evaluating a hydraulic force vector of at least one nozzle of the drill bit required to adjust the drill bit from said initial moment configuration to said desired moment configuration; and

configuring an orientation of said at least one nozzle.