Displaceable components in drilling operations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9938814-B2
Application number	US-201214412638-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 5, 2012
Priority date	Jul 5, 2012
Publication date	Apr 10, 2018
Grant date	Apr 10, 2018

Abstract

A well drilling system can include a drilling tool with at least one component which is displaced by a material that changes shape. The material can be a shape memory material. The material may change shape in response to a temperature change. The component can be a drill bit cutter, a depth of cut control surface, a gauge surface or a stabilizer surface. A method of controlling a drilling operation can include configuring a drilling tool with a material which changes shape, and the material displacing at least one component of the drilling tool during the drilling operation. Displacement of the component can be controlled downhole to maintain drilling parameters (such as torque, vibration, steering performance, etc.) in desired ranges.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A well drilling system, comprising:
a drilling tool including at least one component coupled to a shape memory material which changes shape in response to a temperature change to displace the component;
a heater operable to cause the temperature change of the shape memory material;
a first position sensor operable to monitor an extension of the shape memory material; and
a second position sensor operable to sense an actual position of the component.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the component comprises a drill bit gauge surface which contacts a wellbore wall.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the drilling tool comprises a drill bit;
the component comprises a depth of cut control surface which contacts a surface cut by the drill bit; and
the shape memory material displaces the depth of cut control surface relative to a cutter of the drill bit.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the component comprises a stabilizer surface which contacts a wellbore wall.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the drilling tool comprises a drill bit; and
the component comprises a drill bit cutter.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the heater is activated based on at least one of a change in torque, a change in vibration, a change in an acoustic signal, and a change in steering performance.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the heater is operated so that the actual position is maintained substantially equal to a desired position.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the drilling tool further comprises a sensor which senses an actual drilling parameter, and wherein the heater is operated so that the actual drilling parameter is maintained in a desired range.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the component is displaced in response to a change in a drilling parameter.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein displacement of the component varies torque in a drill string and thereby transmits a signal to a remote location via the drill string.

11. A method of controlling a drilling operation, the method comprising:
configuring a drilling tool with a shape memory material which changes shape in response to a temperature change;
displacing the first component of the drilling tool during the drilling operation based on a temperature change of the shape memory material;
monitoring, by a first position sensor, an extension of the shape memory material during the drilling operation; and
sensing, by a second position sensor, an actual position of the first component.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first component comprises a drill bit gauge surface, and wherein the displacing further comprises the material displacing the drill bit gauge surface into contact with a wellbore wall while the drilling tool cuts into an earth formation.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the drilling tool comprises a drill bit, wherein the first component comprises a depth of cut control surface, and wherein the displacing further comprises the material displacing the depth of cut control surface relative to a cutter of the drill bit and into contact with a surface cut by the drill bit.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first component comprises a stabilizer surface, and wherein the displacing further comprises the material displacing the stabilizer surface into contact with a wellbore wall while the drilling tool rotates.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the drilling tool comprises a drill bit, wherein the first component comprises a drill bit cutter, and wherein the displacing further comprises the drill bit cutter displacing while the drill bit cuts into an earth formation.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein changing the temperature of the shape memory material is due to at least one of a change in torque, a change in vibration, a change in an acoustic signal, and a change in steering performance.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the displacing further comprises operating a heater, thereby maintaining the actual position substantially equal to a desired position.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the drilling tool further comprises a sensor which senses an actual drilling parameter, and wherein the displacing further comprises operating a heater, thereby maintaining the actual drilling parameter in a desired range.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the displacing is performed in response to a change in a drilling parameter.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the drilling parameter comprises formation hardness, and further comprising sensing the formation hardness by measuring torque due to displacing the first component into contact with a wellbore wall.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the drilling tool further includes a second component and the sensing the formation hardness further comprises measuring torque due to displacing the second component into contact with the wellbore wall, the first and second components having respective differently shaped surfaces which contact the wellbore wall.

22. The method of claim 11 , wherein the material displaces the first component outward.

23. The method of claim 11 , wherein changing the temperature of the shape memory material is due to increased hardness of an earth formation penetrated by the drilling tool.

24. The method of claim 11 , wherein the material displaces the first component inward.

25. The method of claim 11 , wherein changing the temperature of the shape memory material is due to reduced hardness of an earth formation penetrated by the drilling tool.

26. The method of claim 11 , wherein displacement of the first component varies torque in a drill string, thereby transmitting a signal to a remote location via the drill string.

Assignees

• Hay Richard T
• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Hay Richard T

Classifications

• E21B17/1014

  Flexible or expansible centering means, e.g. with pistons pressing against the wall of the well (E21B17/1042 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E21B47/09

  Locating or determining the position of objects in boreholes or wells {, e.g. the position of an extending arm}; Identifying the free or blocked portions of pipes · 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

• E21B47/12

  Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling · CPC title

• E21B49/003

  by analysing drilling variables or conditions (E21B49/005 takes precedence; systems specially adapted for monitoring a plurality of drilling variables or conditions E21B44/00) · CPC title