Drill Bit Jack Element with a Plurality of Inserts
In one aspect of the present invention, a drill bit has an axis of rotation and drill bit body intermediate a threaded end and a working face. The drill bit body houses a jack element protruding from the drill bit body and the jack element has a plurality of inserts disposed on the indenting end.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/752,323, which was filed on Apr. 1, 2010 and is herein incorporated by reference for all that it contains.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to the field of subterranean drilling. Typically, downhole hammers are used to affect periodic mechanical impacts upon a drill bit. Through this percussion, the drill string is able to more effectively apply drilling power to the formation, thus aiding penetration into the formation.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one aspect of the present invention, a drill bit has an axis of rotation and drill bit body intermediate a threaded end and a working face. The drill bit body houses a jack element protruding from the drill bit body and the jack element has a plurality of inserts disposed on the indenting end.
The plurality of inserts may be disposed primarily on one half of the indenting end. The plurality of inserts may be evenly distributed across the indenting end. The plurality of inserts may be attached to the jack element through a braze. The plurality of inserts may be attached to the jack element through a press fit. The plurality of inserts may comprise a flat ground portion, the flat ground portion disposed collinearly with an outer circumference of the jack element.
The jack element may be substantially aligned along the axis of rotation. The jack element may comprise a connection with a shaft disposed intermediate the indenting end and a gearbox. The gearbox may be in mechanical communication with a generator such that the generator powers the gearbox. The connection may be a rotating spline such that the shaft may oscillate axially within the jack element.
The shaft may be in mechanical communication with a piston, the piston circumferentially disposed around the shaft and slidably connected to the shaft. A first piston end and a second piston end may be selectively in fluid communication with a drilling mud flow such that the piston is actuated axially along the shaft according to which end of the piston is in fluid communication with the drilling mud flow. As the shaft is rotated, the jack element may also be rotated to a desired position within the drill bit through the connection. The piston may comprise a first contact surface, the first contact surface comprising a super hard material. The jack element may comprise a second contact surface, the second contact surface comprising a super hard material.
The drill bit may comprise a valve which selectively allows a drilling mud flow to contact the piston. The shaft may be substantially collinear with the axis of rotation. The plurality of inserts on the indenting end may be evenly spaced along an insert cutting profile. The insert cutting profile may comprise a pattern, the pattern comprising overlapping cutting inserts. The plurality of inserts may comprise an axis, the axis being at most 25 degrees away from parallel with the axis of rotation.
In another aspect of the present invention, a tool string component has an axis of rotation and a drill bit body intermediate a threaded end and a working face. The drill bit body houses a jack element protruding from the working face. A shaft is rotationally connected and intermediate the jack element and a torque generating device. A torque generating device is connected to a porting assembly that causes a piston to move the jack element along a central axis of the shaft and independently of the drill bit body.
The piston may comprise a friction resistant surface disposed on an inner diameter. The piston may be disposed within a substantially pressure-sealed cylinder. The pressure-sealed cylinder may comprise a first and second exhaust port such that a fluid within the pressure-sealed cylinder may be evacuated. The pressure-sealed cylinder may comprise a friction resistant surface. The shaft may comprise a friction resistant surface disposed on at least a portion of an outer diameter.
The porting assembly may comprise a first and a second rotatable disk comprising a plurality of holes which when rotated, may allow a drilling fluid to pass through the plurality of holes. The porting assembly may comprise a multi-way valve which regulates the flow of a drilling fluid. The porting assembly may be in mechanical communication with the shaft such that the porting assembly may be rotated by the shaft. The torque generating device may be a generator. The generator may comprise a signal sent to an electronic processing device disposed within the component. A position feedback sensor may be disposed within the component and in electrical connection with the electronic processing device. The torque generating device may be a turbine.
The piston may be disposed circumferentially around the shaft such that the shaft and piston share a slidable connection. The shaft may be rotationally connected to the jack element through a spline connection. The jack element may comprise an angled portion disposed on an indenting end of the jack element. The shaft may be substantially collinear with the axis of rotation. The porting assembly may divert a fluid flow to a first piston end or a second piston end. The electronic processing device may be in electrical communication with a direction and inclination tool. The electronic processing device may be part of a downhole telemetry network.
The shaft 205 within the tool component 200 may be in mechanical communication with the jack element 202 through a connection. The connection may be a rotary spline. The jack element 202 may slide axially along the shaft 205. The shaft 205 may rotate the jack element 202 such that as the tool string component 200 rotates, the shaft 205 and jack element 202 rotate in an opposite direction, leaving the jack element 202 stationary in relation to the formation. An angled portion of the jack element 202 may guide the drill bit 104 along a direction within the formation.
As signals from downhole tools are obtained, they may be transmitted uphole or downhole using the downhole network 717. This may assist downhole tools in communicating with each other. The downhole network 717 may be in electrical communication with an uphole computing device 728. The electronic processing device 331 and D&I may be in electrical communication with the downhole network 717.
Transmitting the jack element's orientation signal to the surface may allow drillers to make real time decisions and correct drill string trajectories that are off of the desired path before trajectory correction. In some embodiments, the signal may be transmitted wirelessly to off site locations once the signal is at the surface. Such an embodiment would allow drilling experts to position themselves in a central location and monitor multiple wells at once.
Whereas the present invention has been described in particular relation to the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and further modifications apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the scope and spirit of the present invention.
Claims
1. A drill bit, comprising:
- an axis of rotation and drill bit body intermediate a threaded end and a working face;
- the drill bit body housing a jack element protruding from the drill bit body;
- the jack element comprising a plurality of pointed inserts disposed on an indenting end; and
- at least one of the pointed inserts of the plurality comprises a central axis that is less than 25 degrees away from parallel with the axis of rotation.
2. The drill bit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of inserts is disposed primarily on one half of the indenting end.
3. (canceled)
4. The drill bit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of inserts are attached to the jack element through a braze.
5. The drill bit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of inserts are attached to the jack element through a press fit.
6. The drill bit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of inserts comprises a flat ground portion, the flat ground portion disposed collinearly with an outer circumference of the jack element.
7. The drill bit of claim 1, wherein the jack element is substantially aligned along the axis of rotation.
8. The drill bit of claim 1, wherein the jack element comprises a connection with a shaft, the shaft disposed intermediate the indenting end and a gearbox.
9. The drill bit of claim 8, wherein the gearbox is in mechanical communication with a generator such that the generator powers the gearbox.
10. The drill bit of claim 8, wherein the connection is a rotary spline such that the shaft may oscillate axially within the jack element.
11. The drill bit of claim 8, wherein the shaft is in mechanical communication with a piston, the piston circumferentially disposed around the shaft and slidably connected to the shaft.
12. The drill bit of claim 11, wherein a first piston end and a second piston end are selectively in fluid communication with a drilling mud flow such that the piston is actuated axially along the shaft according to which end of the piston is in fluid communication with the drilling mud flow.
13. The drill bit of claim 8, wherein as the shaft is rotated, the jack element may also be rotated to a desired position within the drill bit through the connection.
14. The drill bit of claim 11, wherein the piston comprises a first contact surface, the first contact surface comprising a super hard material.
15. The drill bit of claim 14, wherein the jack element comprises a second contact surface, the second contact surface comprising a super hard material.
16. The drill bit of claim 11, wherein the drill bit comprises a valve which selectively allows a drilling mud flow to contact the piston.
17. (canceled)
18. (canceled)
19. (canceled)
20. (canceled)
21. The drill bit of claim 1, wherein the working face comprises at least one face cutter that extends at least as far from the bit body as the inserts of indenting end of the jack element.
22. The drill bit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of inserts may include a central insert disposed substantially in the center of the indenting end and inserts surrounding the central insert.
23. The drill bit of claim 1, wherein the jack element is configured to move while simultaneously rotating.
24. The drill bit of claim 1, wherein the shaft is configured to rotate the jack element such that as the tool string component rotates, the shaft and jack element rotate in an opposite direction, leaving the jack element stationary in relation to the formation.
25. The drill bit of claim 1, wherein the jack element is configured to bias the tool string in a desired direction.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 1, 2010
Publication Date: Oct 6, 2011
Inventors: David R. Hall (Provo, UT), Scott Dahlgren (Alpine, UT), Jonathan Marshall (Provo, UT)
Application Number: 12/752,349