Roller bit rearing wear detection system and method

• US 6,631,772 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2001
• Issued: 10/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Palaschenko, Yuri A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stephenson, Daniel P
• Application Number:
  US09/934,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20020092680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 175/39, 175/339, 175/371, 175/331, 175/327
• US Class Current: 175/39
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 12/02 Wear indicators
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 17/246 related to wear, e.g. sensors for measuring wear

Abstract

A system and method for detecting the wear of a roller bit bearing between a roller drill bit body and a roller bit rotatably attached to the roller drill bit body. A valve-plug is placed between the roller drill bit body and roller bit such that the valve-plug is removably fitted in a drilling fluid outlet in the roller drill bit body, and the valve-plug extends into a channel in the roller bit whereby uneven rotation or vibration of the roller bit causes the valve-plug to impact the sides of the channel which removes the valve-plug from the drilling fluid outlet to cause drilling fluid to flow through the drilling fluid outlet. The drop in pressure from the drilling fluid flowing through the drilling fluid outlet indicates that the roller bit is worn and may fail.

Claims

1. A system for detecting the wear of a roller bit bearing, comprising:

a roller drill bit body having at least one bearing and a drilling fluid outlet selectively having drilling fluid flow therethrough;

a roller bit rotatably attached to the roller drill bit body at the bearing and adjacent the drilling fluid outlet, wherein the roller bit includes a channel therein; and

a valve-plug removably fitted in the drilling fluid outlet of the roller drill bit body and extending into the channel of the roller bit, wherein uneven rotation of the roller bit causes the valve-plug to impact the sides of the channel and removal of the valve-plug from the drilling fluid outlet thereby causing drilling fluid to flow through the drilling fluid outlet.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the drilling fluid outlet includes a seat; and

the valve-plug includes a head and a shaft, and wherein the valve-plug head is removably seated in the seat of the drilling fluid outlet of the roller drill bit body and the valve-plug shaft extends into the channel of the roller bit, wherein uneven rotation of the roller bit causes the valve-plug shaft to impact the sides of the channel and to unseat the valve-plug head from the drilling fluid outlet.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the valve-plug head and the valve-plug shaft are comprised of the same material.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the valve-plug head is comprised of a different material than the valve-plug shaft.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein uneven rotation of the roller bit causes the valve-plug shaft to impact the sides of the channel which causes the valve-plug head to deform and unseat from the drilling fluid outlet thereby causing drilling fluid to flow through the drilling fluid outlet.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the valve-plug head includes at least a rim comprised of a brittle material.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein uneven rotation of the roller bit causes the valve-plug shaft to impact the sides of the channel which causes the rim of the valve-plug head to fracture and unseat from the drilling fluid outlet thereby causing drilling fluid to flow through the drilling fluid outlet.

8. A method for detecting the wear of a roller bit bearing on a roller drill bit body having at least one bearing and a drilling fluid outlet selectively having drilling fluid flow therethrough, and a roller bit rotatably attached to the roller drill bit body at the bearing and adjacent the drilling fluid outlet, wherein the roller bit includes a channel therein, the method comprising the steps of:

placing a valve-plug between the roller drill body and roller drill bit such that the valve-plug is removably fitted in the drilling fluid outlet of the roller drill bit body and extending into the channel of the roller bit;

rotating the roller bit;

removing the valve-plug from the drilling fluid outlet through the valve-plug impacting the sides of the channel, thereby causing drilling fluid to flow through the drilling fluid outlet; and

detecting the drop in drilling fluid pressure attributable to drilling fluid flowing through the drilling fluid outlet due to the removing of the valve-plug.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the drilling fluid outlet includes a seat, and the valve-plug includes a head and shaft; and

the step of placing a valve-plug between the roller drill body and roller drill bit is placing a valve-plug between the roller drill body and roller drill bit such that the valve-plug head is removably seated in the seat of the drilling fluid outlet of the roller drill bit body and the valve-plug shaft extends into the channel of the roller bit, wherein uneven rotation of the roller bit causes the valve-plug shaft to impact the sides of the channel and to unseat the valve-plug head from the drilling fluid outlet.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the step of rotating the roller bit is rotating the roller bit wherein the sides of channel do not significantly impact the valve-plug shaft during even rotation of the roller bit; and

the step of unseating the valve-plug head is unseating the valve-plug head wherein uneven rotation of the roller bit causes the through the valve-plug shaft impacting the sides of the channel, the impact sufficient to unseat the valve-plug head from the drilling fluid outlet to thereby cause drilling fluid to flow through the drilling fluid outlet.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the valve-plug head is comprised of a different material than the valve-plug shaft, and wherein the step of unseating the valve-plug head is unseating the valve-plug head through the valve-plug shaft impacting the sides of the channel which causes the valve-plug head to deform and unseat from the drilling fluid outlet thereby causing drilling fluid to flow through the drilling fluid outlet.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the valve-plug head includes at least a rim comprised of a brittle material and wherein the step of unseating the valve-plug head is unseating the valve-plug head through the valve-plug shaft impacting the sides of the channel which causes the rim of the valve-plug head to fracture and unseat from the drilling fluid outlet thereby causing drilling fluid to flow through the drilling fluid outlet.

13. A system for detecting the wear of a roller bit bearing, comprising:

a roller drill bit body having at least one bearing and a drilling fluid outlet, and the drilling fluid outlet selectively having drilling fluid flow therethrough;

a roller bit rotatably attached to the roller drill bit body at the bearing and adjacent the drilling fluid outlet, wherein the roller bit includes a channel therein; and

a valve-plug means for detecting the wear of the roller bit, the valve-plug means positioned between the drilling fluid outlet of the roller drill bit body and the channel of the roller bit, wherein the valve-plug means selectively opens the drilling fluid outlet.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the drilling fluid outlet includes a seat; and

the valve-plug means is a valve-plug having a head and a shaft, the valve-plug head removably seated in the seat of the drilling fluid outlet of the roller drill bit body and the valve-plug shaft extending into the channel of the roller bit, wherein uneven rotation of the roller bit causes the valve-plug shaft to impact the sides of the channel and to unseat the valve-plug head from the drilling fluid outlet.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the valve-plug means is a single elongate body.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the valve-plug means is a generally frustoconical body.