Drill Bit Cutter Elements and Drill Bits Including Same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022074271-A1
Application number	US-202117528751-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 17, 2021
Priority date	Nov 4, 2019
Publication date	Mar 10, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A cutter element for a drill bit includes a base portion having a central axis, a first end, a second end, and a radially outer surface extending axially from the first end to the second end. In addition, the cutter element includes a cutting layer fixably mounted to the first end of the base portion. The cutting layer includes a cutting face distal the base portion and a radially outer surface extending axially from the cutting face to the radially outer surface of the base portion. The cutting face includes a planar central region centered relative to the central axis and disposed in a plane oriented perpendicular to the central axis. Further, the cutting face includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced cutting regions disposed about the planar central region. Still further, the cutting face includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced relief regions disposed about the planar central region. The plurality of cutting regions and the plurality of relief regions are circumferentially arranged in an alternating manner such that one relief region is circumferentially disposed between two circumferentially adjacent cutting regions of the plurality of cutting regions. Each relief region is defined by a first edge at an intersection of the relief region and one circumferentially adjacent cutting region and a second edge at an intersection of the relief region and another circumferentially adjacent cutting region. The first edge and the second edge of each relief region are angularly spaced apart about the central axis by an angle α that ranges from 45° to 75°.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A cutter element for a drill bit configured to drill a borehole in a subterranean formation, the cutter element comprising:
a base portion having a central axis, a first end, a second end, and a radially outer surface extending axially from the first end to the second end; a cutting layer fixably mounted to the first end of the base portion, wherein the cutting layer includes a cutting face distal the base portion and a radially outer surface extending axially from the cutting face to the radially outer surface of the base portion; wherein the cutting face comprises:
a planar central region centered relative to the central axis and disposed in a plane oriented perpendicular to the central axis;
a plurality of circumferentially-spaced cutting regions disposed about the planar central region, wherein each cutting region extends from the planar central region to the radially outer surface of the cutting layer, and wherein each cutting region slopes axially toward the base portion moving radially outward from the planar central region to the radially outer surface of the cutting layer;
a plurality of circumferentially-spaced relief regions disposed about the planar central region, wherein each relief region extends from the planar central region to the radially outer surface, and wherein each relief region slopes axially toward the base portion moving radially outward from the planar central region to the radially outer surface of the cutting layer;
wherein the plurality of cutting regions and the plurality of relief regions are circumferentially arranged in an alternating manner such that one relief region is circumferentially disposed between two circumferentially adjacent cutting regions of the plurality of cutting regions;
wherein each relief region is defined by a first edge at an intersection of the relief region and one circumferentially adjacent cutting region and a second edge at an intersection of the relief region and another circumferentially adjacent cutting region, wherein the first edge and the second edge of each relief region are angularly spaced apart about the central axis by an angle α that ranges from 45° to 75°.

2 . The cutter element of claim 1 , wherein each angle α ranges from 55° to 65°.

3 . The cutter element of claim 1 , wherein each relief region slopes axially downward moving from each circumferentially adjacent cutting region.

4 . The cutter element of claim 2 , wherein an end of each cutting region radially distal the planar central region comprises a cutting edge configured to engage and shear the subterranean formation.

5 . The cutter element of claim 1 , wherein each cutting region defines a ridge extending radially from the planar central region and disposed between two of the circumferentially adjacent relief regions.

6 . The cutter element of claim 1 , wherein each cutting region comprises a planar surface extending from the planar central region to the radially outer surface of the cutting layer, and wherein the planar surface of each cutting region is disposed at an acute angle β measured upward from the planar surface to the plane containing the planar central region and oriented perpendicular to the central axis.

7 . The cutter element of claim 6 , wherein the acute angle β ranges from 2° to 25°.

8 . The cutter element of claim 1 , wherein the cutting layer comprises a chamfer at an intersection of the cutting face and the radially outer surface of the cutting layer, wherein the chamfer extends circumferentially about the outer periphery of the cutting face.

9 . The cutter element of claim 6 , wherein each relief region comprises a planar surface extending from the planar central region and a pair of circumferentially adjacent cutting regions to the radially outer surface of the cutting layer.

10 . The cutter element of claim 9 , wherein the planar surface of each relief region is disposed at an acute angle θ measured upward from the planar surface to the plane containing the planar central region, wherein the acute angle θ is greater than each acute angle β.

11 . The cutter element of claim 1 , wherein one or more relief region is curved or one or more cutting region is curved.

12 . The cutter element of claim 1 , wherein each relief region intersects the planar central region along a linear edge.

13 . The cutter element of claim 12 , wherein each cutting region intersects the planar central region along a linear edge.

14 . The cutter element of claim 1 , wherein the radially outer surface of the base portion is cylindrical and the base portion has an outer diameter;
wherein each cutting region has a width measured perpendicularly from the first edge of one circumferentially adjacent relief region to the second edge of the other circumferentially adjacent relief region; wherein the width of at least one cutting region is constant moving along the at least one cutting region from the planar central region toward the radially outer surface of the cutting layer; wherein a ratio of the width of the at least one cutting region to the diameter of the base portion ranges from 0.10 to 0.17.

15 . A cutter element for a drill bit configured to drill a borehole in a subterranean formation, the cutter element comprising:
a base portion having a central axis, a first end, a second end, and a radially outer surface extending axially from the first end to the second end; a cutting layer fixably mounted to the first end of the base portion, wherein the cutting layer includes a cutting face distal the base portion and a radially outer surface extending axially from the cutting face to the radially outer surface of the base portion; wherein the cutting face comprises:
a planar central region disposed in a plane oriented perpendicular to the central axis;
a plurality of circumferentially-spaced cutting ridges disposed about the planar central region, wherein each cutting ridge comprises a planar surface extending radially outward from the planar central region, wherein the planar surface of each cutting ridge is disposed at an acute angle β measured upward from the planar surface to the plane containing the planar central region, and wherein an end of each cutting ridge radially distal the planar central region comprises a cutting edge configured to engage and shear the subterranean formation;
a plurality of circumferentially-spaced relief regions disposed about the planar central region, wherein each relief region extends from the planar central region, and wherein each relief region slopes axially toward the base portion moving radially outward from the planar central region;
wherein one cutting ridge is circumferentially disposed between a pair of the circumferentially adjacent relief regions;
wherein an edge is disposed at an intersection of each relief region and each circumferentially adjacent cutting region, wherein a pair of the edges define a first circumferential end and a second circumferential end of each relief region, wherein the first circumferential end and the second circumferential end of each relief region are angularly spaced apart by an angle α that ranges from 45° to 75°.

16 . The cutter element of claim 15 , wherein each angle α ranges from 55° to 65°.

17 . The cutter element of claim 15 , wherein the acute angle β ranges from 2° to 25°.

18 . The cutter element of claim 15 , wherein each relief region comprises a planar surface extending from the planar central region and a pair of circumferentially adjacent cutting regions.

Assignees

• Nat Oilwell Dht Lp

Inventors

• Rahmani Reza
• Graham Ryan Basson

Classifications

• E21B10/5676 Primary

  having a cutting face with different segments, e.g. mosaic-type inserts · 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

• E21B10/5673 Primary

  having a non planar or non circular cutting face · CPC title