Earth-boring tools, depth-of-cut limiters, and methods of forming or servicing a wellbore

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10487589-B2
Application number	US-201615002230-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 20, 2016
Priority date	Jan 20, 2016
Publication date	Nov 26, 2019
Grant date	Nov 26, 2019

Abstract

An earth-boring tool includes a bit body and an actuator coupled to the bit body. The actuator includes at least one shape memory material configured to transform from a first shape to a second shape to move a bearing pad or a cutting element with respect to the bit body in response to a stimulus. A transformation from the first shape to the second shape includes a phase change from a first solid phase to a second solid phase. A depth-of-cut limiter includes a bearing element and at least one shape memory material coupled to the bearing element. A method of forming or servicing a wellbore includes rotating an earth-boring tool within a wellbore, applying a stimulus to an actuator to convert at least one shape memory material from a first shape to a second shape, and continuing to rotate the earth-boring tool within the wellbore after applying the stimulus.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An earth-boring tool, comprising:
a body;
an actuator mechanically coupled to the body and comprising at least one shape memory material configured to transform from a first shape to a second shape;
the actuator further mechanically coupled to at least one of a blade or a gage pad to change a position of at least one of a bearing pad, a cutting element, a blade, a nozzle member, or a sensor with respect to the body in response to a stimulus, wherein a transformation from the first shape to the second shape comprises a phase change in the at least one shape memory material from a first solid phase to a second solid phase; and
a resistive heating element or thermoelectric heater thermally coupled to the actuator to provide the stimulus, the resistive heating element or thermoelectric heater comprising a sleeve surrounding the actuator and configured to adjust a temperature of the actuator.

2. The earth-boring tool of claim 1 , wherein the at least one shape memory material is configured to transform from the first shape to the second shape when the stimulus comprising an electrical stimulus.

3. The earth-boring tool of claim 1 , wherein the at least one shape memory material comprises an alloy selected from the group consisting of Ni-based alloys, Cu-based alloys, Co-based alloys, Fe-based alloys, Ti-based alloy, Al-based alloys, and mixture thereof.

4. The earth-boring tool of claim 1 , wherein the at least one shape memory material comprises a polymer.

5. The earth-boring tool of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to change an exposure of a cutting element coupled to the actuator in response to the stimulus.

6. The earth-boring tool of claim 1 , wherein the at least one blade or gage pad is mechanically coupled to the body by a pivot connection such that a change in shape of the actuator changes a position of the at least one blade or gage pad relative to the body and causes the at least one blade or gage pad to rotate about an axis through the pivot connection.

7. The earth-boring tool of claim 1 , wherein surfaces of the at least one blade or gage pad are shaped to allow movement of the at least one blade or gage pad only in two directions such that a change in shape of the actuator changes a position of the at least one blade or gage pad relative to the body and causes the at least one blade or gage pad to slide along corresponding surfaces of the body.

8. A depth-of-cut limiter for an earth-boring tool, comprising:
a bearing element configured to contact an exposed surface of a subterranean formation when the depth-of-cut limiter is used in an earth-boring tool to form or service a wellbore;
at least one shape memory material mechanically coupled to the bearing element, the at least one shape memory material configured to transform from a first shape to a second shape in response to a stimulus, wherein a transformation from the first shape to the second shape comprises a phase change in the at least one shape memory material from a first solid phase to a second solid phase;
the at least one shape memory material further mechanically coupled to a body of an earth boring tool; and
a resistive heating element or thermoelectric heater thermally coupled to the at least one shape memory material to provide the stimulus, the resistive heating element or thermoelectric heater comprising a sleeve surrounding the at least one shape memory material and configured to adjust a temperature of the at least one shape memory material.

9. The depth-of-cut limiter of claim 8 , wherein the bearing element has an ovoid exterior surface.

10. The depth-of-cut limiter of claim 8 , wherein the at least one shape memory material comprises a generally cylindrical rod.

11. The depth-of-cut limiter of claim 8 , wherein the at least one shape memory material is configured to transform from the first shape to the second shape when heated above a preselected temperature.

12. The depth-of-cut limiter of claim 8 , wherein the at least one shape memory material is configured to transform from the second shape to the first shape when cooled below a preselected temperature.

13. The depth-of-cut limiter of claim 8 , wherein the at least one shape memory material is configured to transform from the first shape to the second shape when the stimulus comprising an electrical stimulus.

14. The depth-of-cut limiter of claim 8 , wherein the at least one shape memory material comprises an alloy selected from the group consisting of Ni-based alloys, Cu-based alloys, Co-based alloys, Fe-based alloys, Ti-based alloy, Al-based alloys, and mixture thereof.

15. The depth-of-cut limiter of claim 8 , wherein the at least one shape memory material comprises a polymer.

16. A method of forming or servicing a wellbore, comprising:
rotating an earth-boring tool within a wellbore, the earth-boring tool comprising:
a body; and
an actuator mechanically coupled to the body and comprising at least one shape memory material configured to transform from a first shape to a second shape;
the actuator further mechanically coupled to at least one of a blade or a gage pad to change a position of at least one of a bearing pad, a cutting element, a blade, a nozzle member, or a sensor with respect to the body in response to a stimulus, wherein a transformation from the first shape to the second shape comprises a phase change in the at least one shape memory material from a first solid phase to a second solid phase;

applying a stimulus to the actuator to convert the at least one shape memory material from the first shape to the second shape utilizing a resistive heating element or thermoelectric heater thermally coupled to the actuator, the resistive heating element or thermoelectric heater comprising a sleeve surrounding the actuator and configured to adjust a temperature of the actuator; and
continuing to rotate the earth-boring tool within the wellbore after applying the stimulus.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein applying a stimulus to the actuator comprises heating the at least one shape memory material above a preselected temperature.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the at least one shape memory material comprises at least one alloy, and wherein applying a stimulus to the actuator comprises converting the at least one alloy from a martensitic phase to an austenitic phase.

Assignees

• Baker Hughes A Ge Co Llc

Inventors

• Yu Bo
• Bilen Juan Miguel
• Stevens John H
• Cao Wanjun

Classifications

• E21B10/55

  with preformed 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

• E21B10/42

  Rotary drag type drill bits with teeth, blades or like cutting elements, e.g. fork-type bits, fish tail bits (characterised by wear resisting parts E21B10/46; by conduits or nozzles for drilling fluid E21B10/60; by detachable or adjustable parts E21B10/62) · CPC title