Drill bit with self-adjusting pads

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10000977-B2
Application number	US-201514864436-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 24, 2015
Priority date	Apr 17, 2013
Publication date	Jun 19, 2018
Grant date	Jun 19, 2018

Abstract

A drill bit includes a bit body; a pad associated with the bit body; and a rate control device coupled to the pad that extends from a bit surface at a first rate and retracts from an extended position to a retracted position at a second rate in response to external force applied onto the pad. The rate control device includes a piston for applying a force on the pad; a biasing member that applies a force on the piston to extend the pad at the first rate; a fluid chamber associated with the piston; and a pressure management device for controlling a fluid pressure within the fluid chamber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A downhole rotary drilling tool, comprising:
a tool body;
a self-adjusting extendible and retractable element associated with the tool body and at least partially projecting from a surface of the tool body;
a rate control device coupled to the element, the rate control device configured to cause the element to extend outward relative to the tool body from a retracted position to an extended position at a first rate in the absence of an external force applied to the element, the rate control device configured to cause the element to retract inward relative to the tool body from the extended position to the retracted position at a second rate in response to external force applied to the element, the second rate differing from the first rate, the rate control device including:
a piston for applying a force on the element;
a biasing member that applies a force on the piston to extend the element;
a fluid chamber associated with the piston; and
a pressure management device for controlling a fluid pressure within the fluid chamber.

2. The drilling tool of claim 1 , wherein the second rate is less than the first rate.

3. The drilling tool of claim 1 , wherein the fluid chamber is divided by the piston into a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber.

4. The drilling tool of claim 1 , wherein the pressure management device is a multi-stage orifice.

5. The drilling tool of claim 1 , wherein the pressure management device comprises a gap disposed between the piston and the fluid chamber.

6. The drilling tool of claim 5 , wherein the fluid chamber comprises a triple-walled cylinder having a first wall, a second wall and a third wall, wherein at least one of the first wall, the second wall, and the third wall includes the gap.

7. The drilling tool of claim 1 , wherein the piston is one piston of a plurality of hydraulically linked pistons.

8. The drilling tool of claim 1 , wherein the element is a pad or a cutting element.

9. The drilling tool of claim 1 , wherein the rate control device is oriented at an angle relative to a direction of intended rotation of the drilling tool so as to reduce a tangential component of a frictional force, if any, experienced by the piston.

10. The drilling tool of claim 1 , wherein the rate control device is a self-contained cartridge.

11. The drilling tool of claim 10 , wherein the self-contained cartridge is retained within the drilling tool via a press fit or a retainer.

12. A method of drilling a wellbore, comprising:
incorporating a drilling tool in a drill string, the drilling tool including a tool body, a self-adjusting extendible and retractable element associated with the tool body and at least partially projecting from a surface of the tool body, and a rate control device, wherein the rate control device includes a piston for applying a force on the element, a biasing member that applies a force on the piston toward the element, a fluid chamber associated with the piston, and a pressure management device for controlling a fluid pressure within the fluid chamber;
conveying the drill string into a formation;
allowing outward extension of the element relative to the tool body from a retracted position to an extended position at a first rate controlled by the rate control device in the absence of an external force applied to the element;
allowing retraction of the element from the extended position to the retracted position at a second rate controlled by the rate control device in response to external force applied to the element by the formation, the second rate differing from the first rate;
controlling the fluid pressure within the fluid chamber via a pressure management device; and
drilling the wellbore using the drill string.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising reducing vibrations in the drill string using the self-adjusting extendible and retractable element.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising adjusting maneuverability of the drilling tool using the self-adjusting extendible and retractable element.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the second rate is less than the first rate.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the fluid chamber is divided by the piston into a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the pressure management device is a multi-stage orifice.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the piston is one piston of a plurality of hydraulically linked pistons.

19. A downhole rotary drilling tool, comprising:
a tool body;
a contact element associated with the tool body and exterior to the tool body; and
a rate control device disposed within the tool body, the rate control device configured to cause the contact element to move from a first orientation to a second orientation in the absence of an external force applied to the element, the rate control device comprising:
a shaft attached to the contact element and extending from the contact element and into to the tool body;
a rotary seal at a mud-oil interface of the tool body of the drilling tool, the shaft extending through the rotary seal;
a first cam member coupled to the shaft within the tool body;
a piston for rotating the first cam member;
a follower member attached to the piston and in contact with the first cam member;
a biasing member that applies a force on the piston to rotate the first cam member;
a fluid chamber associated with the piston; and
a second cam member configured to rotate the shaft and the first cam member upon experiencing an external load on the second cam member.

20. A method of forming a downhole rotary drilling tool, the method comprising:
forming a tool body;
coupling a self-adjusting extendible and retractable element to a rate control device configured to cause the element to extend outward relative to the tool body from a retracted position to an extended position at a first rate in the absence of an external force applied to the element, the rate control device configured to cause the element to retract inward relative to the tool body from the extended position to the retracted position at a second rate in response to external force applied to the element, the second rate differing from the first rate, the rate control device comprising:
a piston for applying a force on the element;
a biasing member that applies a force on the piston to extend the element;
a fluid chamber associated with the piston; and
a pressure management device for controlling a fluid pressure within the fluid chamber; and

disposing the rate control device within the tool body such that the element at least partially projects from a surface of the tool body.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the second rate is less than the first rate.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the fluid chamber is divided by the piston into a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber.

23. The method of claim 20 , wherein the piston is one piston of a plurality of hydraulically linked pistons.

24. The method of claim 20 , wherein the rate control device is a self-contained cartridge.

25. The method of claim 20 , wherein the self-contained cartridge is retained within the drilling tool via a press fit or a retainer.

26. The method of claim 20 , wherein disposing the rate control device within the tool body comprises orienting the rate control device at an angle relative to a direct

Assignees

• Baker Hughes Inc
• Baker Hughes A Ge Co Llc

Inventors

• Jain Jayesh R
• Baxter Benjamin
• Vempati Chaitanya K
• Radford Steven R
• Peters Volker
• Ricks Gregory L
• Bilen Miguel
• Stibbe Holger
• Curry David A

Classifications

• E21B10/54

  the bit being of the rotary drag type, e.g. fork-type bits · CPC title

• E21B10/627

  with plural detachable cutting elements · CPC title

• E21B10/62 Primary

  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 title

• E21B2010/622

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic

• E21B3/00

  Rotary drilling · CPC title