Drill bit with extendable gauge pads

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9932780-B2
Application number	US-201414506730-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 6, 2014
Priority date	Oct 6, 2014
Publication date	Apr 3, 2018
Grant date	Apr 3, 2018

Abstract

A drill bit for use in a wellbore is disclosed, including a bit body having a longitudinal axis; and at least one moveable member associated with a lateral extent of the bit body, wherein the at least one moveable member is configured to translate in a member axis that is substantially longitudinal. Further, a method of drilling a wellbore is disclosed, including providing a drill bit including a bit body having a longitudinal axis and at least one movable member associated with a lateral extent of the bit body; conveying a drill string into a formation, the drill string having the drill bit at the end thereof; drilling the wellbore using the drill string; and selectively translating at least one movable member in a member axis that is substantially longitudinal.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A drill bit for use in a wellbore, comprising:
a bit body having a longitudinal axis, a crown including a plurality of cutters, wherein the crown is stationary relative to the bit body, and a gauge section associated with the lateral extent of the bit body, the gauge section including:
a static member,
a cavity formed in the bit body adjacent to the static member, and
a moveable member received by the cavity and configured to translate relative to the bit body along a substantially longitudinal member axis, wherein the movable member extends from the cavity to increase a length of the gauge section and retracts into the cavity to decrease the length of the gauge section.

2. The drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the substantially longitudinal member axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis.

3. The drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the substantially longitudinal member axis is disposed to configure the movable member to extend from the cavity toward the longitudinal axis.

4. The drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the substantially longitudinal member axis is disposed to configure the movable member to extend from the cavity away from the longitudinal axis.

5. The drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the moveable member has a sliding relationship with the bit body.

6. The drill bit of claim 1 , further comprising at least one bearing surface of the bit body associated with the moveable member.

7. The drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the moveable member is retained by the bit body.

8. The drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the moveable member is a moveable gauge pad.

9. A method of drilling a wellbore, comprising:
providing a drill bit including a bit body having a longitudinal axis, a crown including a plurality of cutters, wherein the crown is stationary relative to the bit body, and a gauge section associated with the lateral extent of the bit body, the gauge section including:
a static member,
a cavity formed in the bit body adjacent to the static member, and
a moveable member received by the cavity and and configured to translate relative to the bit body along a substantially longitudinal member axis, wherein the movable member extends from the cavity to increase a length of the gauge section and retracts into the cavity to decrease the length of the gauge section;
conveying a drill string into a formation, the drill string having the drill bit at the end thereof;
drilling the wellbore using the drill string; and
selectively translating the at least one movable member relative to the bit body along a substantially longitudinal member axis in order to change the length of the gauge section.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
drilling a vertical section of the wellbore using the drill string;
selectively extending the movable member.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
drilling a deviated section of the wellbore using the drill string;
selectively retracting the movable member.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising disposing the substantially longitudinal member axis to configure the movable member to extend from the cavity toward the longitudinal axis.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising disposing the substantially longitudinal member axis to configure the movable member to extend from the cavity away from the longitudinal axis.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising sliding the movable member against the bit body.

15. A system for drilling a wellbore, comprising:
a drilling assembly having a drill bit configured to drill a wellbore, the drill bit including:
a bit body having a longitudinal axis, a crown including a plurality of cutters, wherein the crown is stationary relative to the bit body, and a gauge section associated with the lateral extent of the bit body, the gauge section including:
a static member,
a cavity formed in the bit body adjacent to the static member, and
a moveable member received by the cavity and is configured to translate relative to the bit body along a substantially longitudinal member axis, wherein the movable member extends from the cavity to increase a length of the gauge section and retracts into the cavity to decrease the length of the gauge section.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the movable member is configured to be controlled autonomously.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the movable member is configured to be controlled via a controller.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the controller is a controller of a downhole tool.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the substantially longitudinal member axis is disposed to configure the movable member to extend from the cavity toward the longitudinal axis.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the substantially longitudinal member axis is disposed to configure the movable member to extend from the cavity away from the longitudinal axis.

Assignees

• Spencer Reed W
• Vempati Chaitanya K
• Baker Hughes A Ge Co Llc

Inventors

• Spencer Reed W
• Vempati Chaitanya K

Classifications

• E21B17/1092 Primary

  Gauge section of drill bits · CPC title

• E21B10/633 Primary

  independently detachable · CPC title

• E21B7/064

  specially adapted drill bits therefor · CPC title

• E21B10/32

  with expansible cutting tools · CPC title