Adjustable depth of cut control for a downhole drilling tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018030786-A1
Application number	US-201515552904-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 25, 2015
Priority date	Mar 25, 2015
Publication date	Feb 1, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A drill bit may include a bit body, a plurality of blades on the bit body, and a plurality of cutting elements on the plurality of blades. The drill bit may also include an adjustable depth of cut controller (DOCC) located on a blade to provide depth of cut control for at least one of the plurality of cutting elements. Further, the drill bit may include a positioning unit coupled to the adjustable DOCC and configured to adjust the position of the DOCC relative to the cutting element based on a control signal from a control unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A drill bit, comprising:
a bit body; a plurality of blades on the bit body; a plurality of cutting elements on the plurality of blades; an adjustable depth of cut controller (DOCC) located on a blade to provide depth of cut control for at least one of the plurality of cutting elements; and a positioning unit coupled to the adjustable DOCC and configured to adjust the position of the DOCC relative to the cutting element based on a control signal from a control unit.

2 . The drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the positioning unit includes a rod coupled to a base portion of the adjustable DOCC.

3 . The drill bit of claim 1 , further comprising:
a threaded channel in the adjustable DOCC; and a threaded rod engaged with the threaded channel.

4 . The drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the positioning unit comprises an electric motor.

5 . The drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the positioning unit comprises a hydraulic pump.

6 . The drill bit of claim 1 , wherein:
the blade includes a slotted opening; the slotted opening includes a plurality of DOCC positions; a first of the plurality of DOCC positions overlaps a radial location of a first of the plurality of cutting elements; and a second of the plurality of DOCC positions overlaps a radial location of a second of the plurality of cutting elements.

7 . The drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the positioning unit is oriented on the blade to adjust the position of the adjustable DOCC along an axis that is approximately perpendicular to a direction of bit rotation.

8 . The drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the positioning unit is oriented on the blade to adjust the position of the adjustable DOCC along an axis that is approximately tangential to an arc of a rotational path of the drill bit.

9 . A drill bit, comprising:
a bit body; a blade on the bit body; a cutting element on the blade; a depth of cut controller (DOCC) located on the blade to control the depth of cut of the cutting element; and a spring coupled to the DOCC to provide a biasing force to the DOCC.

10 . The drill bit of claim 9 , wherein an equilibrium position of the DOCC during a drilling operation is based on the biasing force of the spring and a frictional force incurred by the DOCC.

11 . The drill bit of claim 10 , wherein the biasing force of the spring and the frictional force are approximately equal at the equilibrium position.

12 . The drill bit of claim 9 , wherein the spring is oriented to provide a biasing force to the DOCC in a direction that is approximately opposite to a direction of a frictional force incurred by the DOCC during drilling.

13 . The drill bit of claim 12 , wherein the spring comprises one of a coil spring, a Belleville spring, a wave spring, a hydraulic element, or a low modulus material.

14 . The drill bit of claim 9 , wherein the spring is coupled to the DOCC to provide a torsional biasing force to the DOCC.

15 . The drill bit of claim 14 , wherein the spring comprises one of a torsional spring, a hydraulic element, or a low modulus material.

16 . The drill bit of claim 9 , wherein:
the DOCC is disposed on the blade with a side-rake; the spring is oriented to provide a biasing force that is approximately perpendicular to a direction of bit rotation; and an equilibrium position of the DOCC, during a drilling operation, along a path approximately perpendicular to the direction of bit rotation, is based on the biasing force and a component of the frictional force, at a face of the DOCC, that is approximately perpendicular to the direction of bit rotation.

17 . A method, comprising:
setting a depth of cut controller (DOCC) to a first position on a blade of a drill bit; drilling a subterranean formation with the DOCC in the first position on the blade of the drill bit; setting the DOCC to a second position on the blade of the drill bit; and drilling the subterranean formation with the DOCC in the second position on the blade of the drill bit.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
transmitting a control signal to a positioning unit of the drill bit; and adjusting the position of the DOCC from the first position to the second position based on the control signal.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein:
the DOCC provides a first amount of depth of cut control when the DOCC is set to the first position; and the DOCC provides a second amount of depth of cut control when the DOCC is set to the second position.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein:
the first amount of depth of cut control is based on a first type of rock in the subterranean formation to be drilled when the DOCC is in the first position; and the second amount of depth of cut control is based on a second type of rock in the subterranean formation to be drilled when the DOCC is in the second position.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Dunbar Bradley David
• Anderle Seth Garrett
• Grosz Gregory Christopher

Classifications

• E21B44/02 Primary

  Automatic control of the tool feed ({E21B44/005,} E21B44/10 take precedence) · CPC title

• E21B10/50

  the bit being of roller type · CPC title

• E21B10/42 Primary

  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

• 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