Fixed cutter drill bits including nozzles with end and side exits

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11377911-B2
Application number	US-202117169720-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 8, 2021
Priority date	Jan 21, 2016
Publication date	Jul 5, 2022
Grant date	Jul 5, 2022

Abstract

A nozzle for distributing drilling fluid from a drill bit has a central axis and includes a first end, a second end, and a radially inner surface extending axially from the first end to the second end. The radially inner surface defines a flow passage extending from the first end to the second end. The flow passage has a central axis, an inlet at the first end, an outlet at the second end, a first section extending from the inlet, and a second section extending from the outlet to the first section. In addition, the nozzle includes a side outlet extending radially from the radially outer surface to the radially inner surface. The side outlet extends axially from the second end and is contiguous with the outlet. The second section of the flow passage at least partially overlaps with the side outlet. The first section of the flow passage is curved as viewed in a cross-section of the nozzle taken in a reference plane containing the central axis of the nozzle and bisecting the side outlet. The second section of the flow passage is curved as viewed in the cross-section of the nozzle taken in the reference plane. The second section of the flow passage is configured to direct at least a portion of the drilling fluid flowing through the flow passage toward the side outlet.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A nozzle for distributing drilling fluid from a drill bit, the nozzle having a central axis and comprising:
a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a radially outer surface extending axially from the first end to the second end, and a radially inner surface extending axially from the first end to the second end;
wherein the radially inner surface defines a flow passage extending through the nozzle from the first end to the second end;
wherein the flow passage has a central axis, an inlet at the first end, an outlet at the second end, a first section extending from the inlet, and a second section extending from the outlet to the first section;
a side outlet extending radially from the radially outer surface to the radially inner surface, wherein the side outlet extends axially from the second end and is contiguous with the outlet, and wherein the second section of the flow passage at least partially overlaps with the side outlet;
wherein the first section of the flow passage is curved as viewed in a cross-section of the nozzle taken in a first reference plane containing the central axis of the nozzle and bisecting the side outlet, and wherein the second section of the flow passage is curved as viewed in the cross-section of the nozzle taken in the first reference plane;
wherein the flow passage has a first width measured perpendicular to the central axis of the flow passage in the cross-section of the nozzle taken in the first reference plane, wherein the first width of the flow passage is constant moving axially relative to the central axis of the flow passage from the inlet of the flow passage along the first section and the second section to the outlet of the flow passage;
wherein the second section of the flow passage is configured to direct at least a portion of the drilling fluid flowing through the flow passage toward the side outlet.

2. The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the central axis of the flow passage along the first section of the flow passage is not oriented parallel to the central axis of the nozzle, and the central axis of the flow passage along the second section of the flow passage is not oriented parallel to the central axis of the nozzle.

3. The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein a tangent to the central axis of the flow passage in the second section is oriented at an acute angle σ relative to the central axis of the nozzle.

4. The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the second section of the flow passage curves toward the side outlet moving along the central axis of the flow passage toward the outlet.

5. The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the flow passage is C-shaped as viewed in the cross-section of the nozzle taken in the first reference plane.

6. The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the side outlet is V-shaped in a cross-section oriented perpendicular to the central axis of the nozzle.

7. The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the side outlet spans an angle β measured about the central axis of the nozzle at the second end of the inner nozzle, wherein the angle β is less than 180°.

8. The nozzle of claim 7 , wherein the angle β is 90°.

9. The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the flow passage has a second width measured perpendicular to the central axis of the flow passage in a cross-section of the nozzle taken in a second reference plane containing the central axis of the nozzle and oriented perpendicular to the first reference plane, wherein the second width of the flow passage decreases moving axially relative to the central axis of the flow passage from the inlet along the first section to the second section and decreases moving axially relative to the central axis of the second flow passage from the outlet along the second section to the first section.

10. A drill bit for drilling a borehole in earthen formations, the bit having an uphole end and a downhole end, the bit comprising:
a bit body having a bit axis, a cutting direction of rotation about the bit axis, and bit face disposed at the downhole end, wherein the bit face includes a concave cone region extending radially outward from the bit axis, a convex shoulder region radially adjacent the concave cone region;
wherein the bit face comprises a cutting structure including a plurality of circumferentially-spaced blades and a plurality of cutter elements mounted to the blades in the cone region and the shoulder region, wherein each cutter element has a forward-facing cutting face;
an internal plenum extending from the uphole end into the bit body;
a first flow passage extending from the internal plenum to the bit face;
a nozzle assembly secured to the bit body at a downhole end of the first flow passage in the shoulder region of the bit face, wherein the nozzle assembly is configured to distribute drilling fluid about the shoulder region of the bit face;
wherein the nozzle assembly has a central axis and comprises:
an outer sleeve;
an inner nozzle extending axially through the outer sleeve, wherein the inner nozzle has a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a radially outer surface extending axially from the first end to the second end, and a radially inner surface extending axially from the first end to the second end;
wherein the radially inner surface defines a second flow passage extending from the first end to the second end, wherein the second flow passage has a central axis, an inlet at the first end, an outlet at the second end, a first section extending from the inlet, and a second section extending from the outlet to the first section;
wherein the central axis of the second flow passage along the first section is not oriented parallel to the central axis of the nozzle assembly and the central axis of the second flow passage along the second section is not oriented parallel to the central axis of the nozzle assembly;

wherein the inner nozzle comprises:
a side outlet extending radially from the radially outer surface to the radially inner surface, and wherein the side outlet extends axially from the outlet at the second end of the inner nozzle;

wherein the second flow passage has a first width measured perpendicular to the central axis of the second flow passage in a cross-section of the inner nozzle taken in a first reference plane containing the central axis of the nozzle assembly and bisecting the side outlet, wherein the first width of the second flow passage is constant moving axially relative to the central axis of the second flow passage from the inlet of the second flow passage along the first section and the second section to the outlet of the second flow passage;
wherein the internal plenum and the first flow passage are configured to flow drilling fluid to the nozzle assembly, and wherein the second section of the second flow passage is configured to direct at least a portion of the drilling fluid flowing through the second flow passage toward the side outlet.

11. The drill bit of claim 10 , wherein the first section of the second flow passage is curved in a cross-section of the inner nozzle taken in the first reference plane, wherein the second section of the second flow passage is curved in the cross-section of the inner nozzle taken in the first reference plane.

12. The drill bit of claim 11 , wherein the second flow passage is C-shaped as viewed in the cross-section of the nozzle taken in the first reference plane.

13. The drill bit of claim 10 , wherein the side outlet has a downhole end at the second end of the inner nozzle and an uphole end distal the second end of the inner nozzle, and wherein the uphole end of the side outlet is positioned between the second end of the inner nozzle and the outer sleeve.

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Assignees

• Nat Oilwell Dht Lp

Inventors

• Bradford Iii John Francis
• Omidvar Navid
• Rahmani Reza

Classifications

• E21B10/602 Primary

  the bit being a rotary drag type bit with blades · CPC title

• E21B41/0078

  Nozzles used in boreholes (drilling by liquid or gas jets E21B7/18; drill bits with nozzles E21B10/60; perforators using direct fluid action E21B43/114; obtaining a slurry of minerals using nozzles E21B43/29) · CPC title

• E21B10/43

  characterised by the arrangement of teeth or other cutting elements · CPC title