Improving drill bit stability using track-set depth of cut control elements

• US 9,828,808 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2013
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Chen, Shilin
• Primary Examiner(s): Hutchins, Cathleen R
• Application Number:
  US14/413,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20150198029A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 10/43 characterised by the arrangement of teeth or other cutting elements
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric

Abstract

A drill bit using track-set depth of cut control elements to provide improved stability is disclosed. A drill bit for drilling a wellbore includes a bit body with a rotational axis extending therethrough. The drill bit further includes a plurality of blades disposed on exterior portions of the bit body. The drill bit includes a first group of track set depth of cut controllers (DOCCs) disposed on exterior portions of a first set of the plurality of blades. The first group of track set DOCCs configured to be placed within a first radial swath of a bit face of the drill bit and configured to provide a first critical depth of cut (CDOC).

Claims

1. A drill bit designed for drilling a wellbore, comprising:

a bit body with a rotational axis extending therethrough;

a plurality of blades disposed on exterior portions of the bit body; and

a first group of track set depth of cut controllers (DOCCs) disposed on exterior portions of a first set of the plurality of blades, the first group of track set DOCCs configured to;

be placed within a first radial swath of a bit face of the drill bit such that at least two of the track set DOCCs in the first group are located at a first radial position with respect to the rotational axis; and

provide a first critical depth of cut (CDOC);

a second group of track set DOCCs disposed on exterior portions of a second set of the plurality of blades, the second group of track set DOCCs configured to;

be placed within the first radial swath of the bit face such that at least two of the track set DOCCs in the second group are located at a second radial position with respect to the rotational axis, the first radial swath of the bit face located outside of a cone zone of a bit profile; and

provide a second CDOC greater than the first CDOC.

2. The drill bit of claim 1, further comprising a third group of track set DOCCs disposed on exterior portions of the first set of the plurality of blades, the third group of track set DOCCs configured to:

be placed in a second radial swath of the bit face such that at least two of the track set DOCCs in the third group are located at a third radial position with respect to the rotational axis; and

provide the first CDOC.

3. The drill bit of claim 2, wherein the second radial swath is proximate the first radial swath such that the second radial swath partially overlaps the first radial swath on the bit face.

4. The drill bit of claim 2, wherein the second radial swath is proximate the first radial swath such that the second radial swath is located adjacent to the first radial swath on the bit face.

5. The drill bit of claim 2, wherein the second radial swath is located outside of a cone zone of a bit profile.

6. The drill bit of claim 1, wherein the first group of DOCCs are configured to balance the lateral forces of the drill bit.

7. A method of configuring a plurality of depth of cut controllers (DOCCs) of a drill bit comprising:

determining a first critical depth of cut (CDOC) for a first radial swath associated with a bit face of the drill bit;

identifying a first set of a plurality of blades located on the bit face that each include a portion located within the first radial swath; and

configuring a first group of track set DOCCs for placement on exterior portions of the first set of the plurality of blades based on the first CDOC, the first group of track set DOCCs configured to;

be placed within the first radial swath such that at least two of the track set DOCCs in the first group are located at a first radial position with respect to a rotational axis of the drill bit; and

provide the first CDOC;

determining a second CDOC for the first radial swath associated with the bit face of the drill bit, the second CDOC being greater than the first CDOC;

identifying a second set of the plurality of blades located on the bit face that each include a portion located with the first radial swath; and

configuring a second group of track set DOCCs for placement on exterior portions of the second set of the plurality of blades based on the second CDOC, the second group of track set DOCCs configured to;

be placed within the first radial swath such that at least two of the track set DOCCs in the second group are located at a second radial position with respect to the rotational axis of the drill bit, the first radial swath of the bit face located outside of a cone zone of a bit profile; and

provide the second CDOC.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

identifying the first set of the plurality of blades located on the bit face that each include a portion located within the second radial swath; and

configuring a third group of track set DOCCs disposed on exterior portions of the first set of the plurality of blades, the third group of track set DOCCs configured to;

be placed within a second radial swath of the bit face such that at least two of the track set DOCCs in the third group are located at a third radial position with respect to the rotational axis of the drill bit; and

provide the first CDOC.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the second radial swath is proximate the first radial swath such that the second radial swath partially overlaps the first radial swath on the bit face.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the second radial swath is proximate the first radial swath such that the second radial swath is located adjacent to the first radial swath on the bit face.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the second radial swath is located outside of a cone zone of a bit profile.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the first group of DOCCs are configured to balance the lateral forces of the drill bit.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

calculating a CDOC control curve associated with the first radial swath;

comparing the CDOC control curve with the first CDOC; and

determining whether the first group of track set DOCCs adequately controls the depth of cut of the drill bit within the first radial swath based on the CDOC control curve.

14. A method of configuring a drill bit comprising:

determining a first depth of cut for a first radial swath associated with an area of a bit face of the drill bit;

identifying cutting elements located on the bit face that each include at least a portion located within the first radial swath;

configuring a first depth of cut controller (DOCC) of a first group of DOCCs for placement on the bit face within the first radial swath based on the first depth of cut for the first radial swath, the first radial swath having a width based on a width of the first DOCC; and

configuring a second DOCC of the first group of DOCCs for placement within the first radial swath based on the first depth of cut for the first radial swath, the second DOCC of the first group track set with the first DOCC of the first group such that the first DOCC and the second DOCC of the first group are located at a first radial position with respect to a rotational axis of the drill bit;

determining a second depth of cut for the first radial swath, the second depth of cut being greater than the first depth of cut;

configuring a first DOCC of a second group of DOCCs for placement on the bit face within the first radial swath based on the second depth of cut for the first radial swath; and

configuring a second DOCC of the second group of DOCCs for placement within the first radial swath based on the second depth of cut for the first radial swath, the first radial swath of the bit face is outside of a cone zone of a bit profile, the second DOCC of the second group track set with the first DOCC of the second group such that the first DOCC and the second DOCC of the second group are located at a second radial position with respect to the rotational axis of the drill bit.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining a second radial swath associated with the bit face of the drill bit;

configuring a first DOCC of a third group of DOCCs for placement on the bit face within a second radial swath based on the first depth of cut; and

configuring a second DOCC of the third group of DOCCs for placement within the second radial swath based on the first depth of cut, the second DOCC of the third group track set with the first DOCC of the third group such that the first DOCC and the second DOCC of the third group are located at a third radial position with respect to the rotational axis of the drill bit.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the second radial swath is proximate the first radial swath such that the second radial swath partially overlaps the first radial swath on the bit face.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the second radial swath is proximate the first radial swath such that the second radial swath is located adjacent to the first radial swath on the bit face.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the second radial swath is located outside of a cone zone of a bit profile.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the first group of DOCCs are configured to balance the lateral forces of the drill bit.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

calculating a CDOC control curve associated with the first radial swath;

comparing the CDOC control curve with the first depth of cut; and

determining whether the first group of DOCCs adequately controls the depth of cut of the drill bit within the first radial swath based on the CDOC control curve.