Drill bit having rotational cutting elements and method of drilling

• US 8,973,684 B1
• Filed: 05/23/2014
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: US Synthetic Corporation (ChampionX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: US Synthetic Corporation (ChampionX Corporation)
• Inventors: Cooley, Craig H., Lund, Jeffrey B., Gonzalez, Jair J.
• Primary Examiner(s): WRIGHT, GIOVANNA COLLINS
• Application Number:
  US14/286,550
• Time in Patent Office: 291 Days
• Field of Search: 175382-384, 175/413
• US Class Current: 175/382
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 10/55 with preformed cutting elements
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 10/567 with preformed cutting elements mounted on a distinct support, e.g. polycrystalline inserts
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 10/573 characterised by support details, e.g. the substrate construction or the 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 10/627 with plural detachable cutting elements
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 10/633 independently detachable

Abstract

A rotary drill bit is disclosed. The rotary drill bit may include a bit body, a cutting pocket defined in the bit body, and a cutting element rotatably coupled to the bit body. The cutting element may be positioned at least partially within the cutting pocket. The rotary drill bit may also include a rotation-inducing member adjacent to the cutting element for inducing rotation of the cutting element relative to the cutting pocket. The rotation-inducing member may include a resilient member or a vibrational member. The rotary drill bit may also include protrusions extending from an interior of the cutting pocket adjacent to an outer diameter of the cutting element. A method of drilling a formation is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of drilling a subterranean formation, the method comprising:

engaging a subterranean formation with the drill bit having a bit body, a cutting pocket defined in the bit body, and a cutting element positioned at least partially within the cutting pocket;

positioning a resilient support member between a portion of the cutting element and a surface of the cutting pocket, the resilient support member having a natural frequency of between approximately 200 hertz and approximately 1,000 hertz;

effecting rotation of the cutting element relative to the cutting pocket in a first direction.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising disposing the resilient support member between a peripheral side surface of the cutting element and the cutting pocket.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein rotation of the cutting element relative to the cutting pocket is responsive to application of cutting forces applied to the cutting element.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing a gap between the cutting element and the cutting pocket.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the resilient support member comprises a spring element.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the resilient support member is configured to vibrate responsive to cutting forces applied to the cutting element.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the resilient support member comprises at least one of the wave spring washer, a curved spring washer, or of Belleville spring washer.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising compressing the resilient support member responsive to cutting forces applied to the cutting element.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising alternately compressing and decompressing the resilient support member responsive to variations in cutting forces applied to the cutting element.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising configuring the cutting element to include polycrystalline diamond bonded to a substrate comprising cemented tungsten carbide.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein engaging a subterranean formation includes rotating the bit body relative to the subterranean formation about a first axis and wherein rotating the cutting element relative to the cutting pocket in a first direction includes rotating the cutting element about a second axis, different from the first axis.

12. A method of drilling a subterranean formation, the method comprising:

engaging a subterranean formation with the drill bit having a bit body, a cutting pocket defined in the bit body, and a cutting element positioned at least partially within the cutting pocket;

contacting the cutting element with a rotation inducing member;

actuating the rotation inducing member to rotate the cutting element relative to the cutting pocket in a first direction;

inhibiting rotation of the cutting element in a second direction, the second direction being opposite of the first direction; and

establishing a line contact between a surface of the cutting pocket and a portion of a circumferential surface of the cutting element.