Apparatus and methods for detecting performance data in an earth-boring drilling tool

• US 8,746,367 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2011
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Holdings LLC (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: DiGiovanni, Anthony A., Sullivan, Eric C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephenson, Daniel P
• Application Number:
  US13/093,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20110266055A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,142 Days
• Field of Search: 175/50, 175/428, 175/39, 175/327, 175/374, 175/433, 295/921, 295/99, 296/12, 296/20
• US Class Current: 175/50
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 10/08 Roller bits E21B10/26 takes precedence; roller core bits E21B10/06; characterised by wear resisting parts E21B10/50
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 10/567 with preformed cutting elements mounted on a distinct support, e.g. polycrystalline inserts
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 10/5735 Interface between the substrate and the cutting element
• 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 47/00 Survey of boreholes or wells monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid E21B21/08
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/002 by visual inspection
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/013 Devices specially adapted for supporting measuring instruments on drill bits
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/024 of devices in the borehole determining slope or direction of the borehole E21B47/022
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/06 Measuring temperature or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/07 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/13 by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/00 Testing the nature of borehole walls; Formation testing; Methods or apparatus for obtaining samples of soil or well fluids, specially adapted to earth drilling or wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/08 Obtaining fluid samples or testing fluids, in boreholes or wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/0875 determining specific fluid parameters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

Methods and associated tools and components related to generating and obtaining performance data during drilling operations of a subterranean formation is disclosed. Performance data may include thermal and mechanical information related to earth-boring drilling tool during a drilling operation are disclosed. For example, a cutting element of an earth-boring drilling tool may include a substrate with a cutting surface thereon. The cutting element may further include at least one thermistor sensor coupled with the cutting surface, and a conductive pathway operably coupled with the at least one thermistor sensor. The at least one thermistor sensor may be configured to vary a resistance in response to a change in temperature. The conductive pathway may be configured to provide a current path through the at least one thermistor sensor in response to a voltage. Other methods, tools and components are provided.

Claims

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

a substrate with a cutting surface thereon;

at least one thermistor sensor coupled with the cutting surface, the at least one thermistor sensor configured to generate an output in response to a change in temperature relating to a parameter of interest of the cutting element when the cutting element is drilling a borehole.

2. The cutting element of claim 1, wherein the at least one thermistor sensor is configured to vary a resistance in response to a change in temperature;

and wherein the cutting element further comprises a conductive pathway operably coupled with the at least one thermistor sensor, the conductive pathway configured to provide a current path through the at least one thermistor sensor in response to a voltage.

3. The cutting element of claim 2, further comprising a termination operably coupled with the at least one thermistor sensor through the conductive pathway, the termination configured to transmit temperature data from the at least one thermistor sensor to a data acquisition module.

4. The cutting element of claim 2, further comprising an insulating layer located between at least a portion of the conductive pathway and the cutting surface.

5. The cutting element of claim 2, further comprising a hardened layer disposed on the cutting surface, wherein the hardened layer covers at least a portion of the at least one thermistor sensor and the conductive pathway.

6. The cutting element of claim 2, wherein the at least one thermistor sensor is configured as a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device including a thermistor material.

7. The cutting element of claim 1, wherein the thermistor sensor includes a doped diamond material.

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

forming a substrate with a cutting surface on an external portion of the substrate;

disposing an amount of a thermistor sensor material on the cutting surface to form a thermistor sensor; and

disposing a conductive pathway on the cutting surface coupling the thermistor sensor with the conductive pathway.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein disposing the thermistor sensor material further comprises disposing a doped diamond material.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising disposing an insulating material on the cutting surface before disposing the conductive pathway thereon.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein forming the substrate with the cutting surface includes forming depressions in the cutting surface such that disposing the amount of thermistor sensor material and the conductive pathway forms a smooth surface flush with a cutting face of the cutting surface.

12. A method for measuring a property of a cutting element of an earth-boring drilling tool, the method comprising:

coupling a thermistor sensor with a cutting surface of the cutting element of the earth-boring tool;

using the thermistor sensor to provide an output indicative of the property in response to a change in temperature relating to the property when the cutting element is drilling a borehole; and

determining the property of the component in response to the output of the thermistor sensor.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the property comprises a temperature.

14. An earth-boring drilling tool, comprising:

a bit body including a cutting element; and

a thermistor sensor coupled with a cutting surface of the cutting element configured to generate performance data related to the cutting element in response to a change in temperature of the cutting element during a drilling operation.

15. The earth-boring drilling tool of claim 14, wherein the thermistor sensor is configured to generate temperature data.

16. The earth-boring drilling tool of claim 14, further comprising an additional sensor coupled to the bit body configured to provide temperature data related to the bit body during a drilling operation.