HYBRID BIT WITH BLADES AND DISCS
A hybrid drill bit includes a bit body having a central bit body axis at a center of the bit body, a blade on the bit body extending from an end of the bit body, and a roller disc rotatably coupled to the bit body about the end of the bit body to rotate on a roller disc axis. The roller disc axis extends toward the central bit body axis, and the blade includes a plurality of fixed cutting elements.
The present disclosure relates to hybrid drill bits for drilling a wellbore in a formation, and more particularly to hybrid drill bits with blades and roller discs.
Hybrid drill bits can be used to drill a wellbore in a formation through rotation of the hybrid drill bits about a longitudinal axis. A drill bit generally includes cutting elements and cutting structures at a drill end of the drill bit. A hybrid drill bit generally includes more than one type of cutting structure or cutting element at a drill end of the hybrid drill bit. Cutting elements and cutting structures typically form a wellbore in a subterranean formation by shearing, crushing, cracking, or a combination of shearing, crushing, and cracking portions of the formation during rotation of the drill bit.
Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONReferring first to
A drill string 22 is shown as having been lowered from the surface 16 into the wellbore 12. In some instances, the drill string 22 is a series of jointed lengths of tubing coupled together end-to-end and/or a continuous (i.e., not jointed) coiled tubing. The drill string 22 includes one or more well tools, including a bottom hole assembly 24. The bottom hole assembly 24 can include, for example, a hybrid drill bit. In the example shown, the wellbore 12 is being drilled. The wellbore 12 can be drilled in stages, and the casing 20 may be installed between stages.
Referring to
Various types of cutting elements and cutting structures may be provided on a hybrid drill bit. In the example shown in
The arms 116 attach to the bit body 102 with fasteners 120 such that the arms 116 are removable from the bit body 102. In some instances, the arms 116 are an extension of the bit body 102, are welded to the bit body 102, and/or the arms 116 are connected to the bit body 102 in another way. In other instances, the roller discs 114 are rotatably coupled to the bit body 102 about the drill end. For example, the roller discs 114 can attach to the bit body 102 about the drill end 106 without arms 116.
In some instances, the roller discs 114 rotate on spindles (not shown) extending from the bit body 102 or arms 116 along the roller disc axes 118. The roller discs 114 can attach to the spindles via a bearing system to allow rotation of the roller discs 114 about the roller disc axes 118. The bearing system can include, for example, a seal, ball bearings, a lubrication system, and/or a pressure compensation system.
The roller discs 114 can operate at a number of positions and configurations. In the example shown, the roller discs 114 are radially disposed near an outer lateral periphery of the drill end 106. In some instances, the roller discs 114 are disposed more inward toward the central bit body axis 108, more outward from the central bit body axis 108, or in a different position than shown in
In the example shown in
In some instances, the bit body 102 includes nozzles 122 at the drill end 106 to provide drilling fluid to the hybrid drill bit 100 during drilling.
Referring to
In the example shown in
In some instances, the offset S is small such that while the hybrid drill bit 100 rotates about the central bit body axis 108 and the drill end 106 is against a formation, the roller discs 114 rotate in near-true rolling with a small amount of shear or skidding relative to rolling. In instances with a small offset S, the near-true rolling with a small amount of shear or skid facilitates drilling into a formation, for example, in drilling into a soft formation. In other instances, the offset S is zero such that as the hybrid drill bit 100 rotates about a central bit body axis 108 and the drill end 106 is against a formation, the roller discs 114 rotate in true-rolling without shear against the formation. In instances with a zero offset S, the true-rolling of the roller discs 114 facilitates drilling into a formation, for example, in directional drilling and drilling into a hard formation.
Referring to
The cutting row 604 can take many forms. In some instances, the cutting row 604 includes a continuous carbide disc radially disposed on the disc body 602. In the example shown in
The pin angle of the roller disc 114 is defined by the angle between the roller disc axis 118 and a plane perpendicular to the central bit body axis 108. The pin angle is a complement to an angle β between the roller disc axis 118 and a longitudinal axis 109. The angle β is the smallest angle between the roller disc axis 118 and the longitudinal axis 109, where the longitudinal axis 109 is parallel to the central bit body axis 108 of the bit body 102 and intersects the center 608 of the roller disc 114. In the example shown in
Referring to
Referring back to
Each roller disc 114a, 114b, and 114c has a roller disc axis 118a, 118b, and 118c, respectively, that is offset from the central bit body axis 108 at distances Sa, Sb, and Sc, respectively. Distances Sa, Sb, and Sc are fixed, but can be different. For example, distances Sa, Sb, and Sc can all be the same, two or more can be the same, or each can be different. In some instances, the offset is the same for each roller disc 114a, 114b, and 114c, in that distances Sa, Sb, and Sc are equal.
Each roller disc 114a, 114b, and 114c is at a distance La, Lb, and Lc, respectively, from the central bit body axis 108. Distances La, Lb, and Lc are fixed, but can be different. For example, distances La, Lb, and Lc can all be the same, two or more can be the same, or each can be different.
Each roller disc axis 118a, 118b, 118c is at a respective pin angle from a plane perpendicular to the central bit body axis 108. Thus, each roller disc axis 118a, 118b, 118c is at an angle βa, βb, and βc, respectively, from a longitudinal axis 109a, 109b, 109c, respectively, that is parallel to the central bit body axis 108 and intersects the roller disc centers 608a, 608b, 608c, respectively. Angles βa, βb, and βc are fixed angles, but can be different. For example, angles βa, βb, and βc can all be the same, two or more angles can be the same, or each angle can be different.
In the example hybrid bit profile 200 shown in
The cutting rows 604a, 604b, 604c extend further in the profile 200 than the fixed cutting elements 112 of the blades 110. The cutting rows 604a, 604b, 604c lead the fixed cutting elements 112 of the blades 110 in cutting a formation such that the cutting rows 604a, 604b, 604c prefracture the formation during drilling. The blades 110 can also support the roller discs 114a, 114b, 114c during drilling by limiting the contact stress between the cutting rows 604a, 604b, 604c and the formation. For example, the fixed cutting elements 112 contact the formation as the cutting rows 604a, 604b, 604c are partially engaged into the formation. In some instances, one or more of the fixed cutting elements 112 of the blades 110 extends further in the profile 200 than the cutting rows 604a, 604b, 604c. In other instances, the cutting rows 604a, 604b, 604c and the fixed cutting elements 112 extend into the profile 200 evenly. In other instances, one or more fixed cutting elements 112 can extend further than one or more of the cutting rows 604a, 604b, 604c, and another subset of cutting rows 604a, 604b, 604c can extend further than other fixed cutting elements 112. For example, a cutting row profile of a first roller disc can extend further than a fixed cutting element profile, and the fixed cutting element profile can extend further than a profile of a second roller disc.
Referring to
Referring to
Hybrid drill bits, such as the example hybrid drill bits 100, 100′, and 100″, can be configured to rotate about a central bit body axis with a drill end against a formation in a wellbore. Roller discs disposed about the drill end crush or crack a formation in a substantially or wholly rotating action, while fixed cutting elements on a blade scrape against the formation in a shearing action. The rotating action of the roller discs can include true rolling or near-true rolling with partial scraping or shearing of the formation. In some instances, the roller discs prefracture the formation such that the fixed cutting elements scrape the prefractured cuttings of formation.
In view of the discussion above, certain aspects encompass, a hybrid drill bit including a bit body having a central bit body axis at a center of the bit body, a blade on the bit body extending from an end of the bit body, and a roller disc rotatably coupled to the bit body about the end of the bit body to rotate on a roller disc axis. The roller disc axis extends toward the central bit body axis. The blade includes a plurality of fixed cutting elements.
Certain aspects encompass, a well drilling system including a well head, a drill string connected to the well head, and a hybrid drill bit connected to the drill string. The hybrid drill bit includes a bit body having a central bit body axis at a center of the bit body, a blade on the bit body extending from an end of the bit body, and a roller disc rotatably coupled to the bit body about the end of the bit body to rotate on a roller disc axis. The roller disc axis extends toward the central bit body axis. The blade includes a plurality of fixed cutting elements.
Certain aspects encompass, a method of cutting a formation in a wellbore. The method includes rotating a drill bit in a formation in a wellbore, crushing or cracking the formation in a rotating action using a roller disc on the drill bit, and scraping the formation in a shearing action using fixed cutting elements on a blade on the drill bit.
The aspects above can include some, none, or all of the following features. The hybrid drill bit includes an arm coupled to the bit body extending generally along the central bit body axis and beyond the end of the bit body. The roller disc is rotatably coupled to the arm. The roller disc axis of the roller disc intersects the central bit body axis. The roller disc axis of the roller disc is non-radial from the central bit body axis. The shortest distance S between the central bit body axis and the roller disc axis is less than 0.5 inches. The roller disc includes a disc body and a generally ring-shaped cutting row radially disposed about the disc body, and the roller disc includes only one cutting row. The cutting row defines a rotational plane through the center of the cutting row, and the rotational plane is normal to the roller disc axis. The rotational plane of the roller disc is generally perpendicular to a periphery of a corresponding bit profile, and a center of the roller disc is the intersection of the roller disc axis and the rotational plane. The roller disc is in a shoulder zone of the bit profile. The hybrid bit includes a plurality of discs and a plurality of blades. The plurality of discs is a different distance L from the central bit body axis, where the distance L is the shortest distance between a center of the respective roller disc and the central bit body axis. The plurality of roller discs may not be in the cone zone of a corresponding bit profile. Each roller disc axis of the plurality of discs is at a different angle β from the central bit body axis, where the angle β is the angle of the respective roller disc axis from the central bit body axis. The plurality of blades are more radially inward than the plurality of discs with respect to the central bit body axis of the bit body. The cutting row of the roller disc extends further from the end of the bit body than the fixed cutting elements of the blade. The hybrid drill bit includes an arm coupled to the bit body extending generally along the central bit body axis and beyond the end of the bit body, and the roller disc is rotatably coupled to the arm. The roller disc includes a disc body and a generally ring-shaped cutting row radially disposed about the disc body, and the roller disc comprises only one cutting row. Crushing or cracking the formation in a rotating action using a roller disc includes prefracturing the formation using the roller disc, where the roller disc is deeper into the formation than the fixed cutting elements of the blade. Scraping the formation in a shearing action using fixed cutting elements on a blade includes scraping prefractured cuttings of formation. Crushing or cracking the formation in a rotating action using a roller disc on the drill bit includes a roller disc configured to roll against the formation with small shear.
A number of embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A hybrid drill bit, comprising:
- a bit body defining a central bit body axis;
- a blade on the bit body extending from an end of the bit body, the blade comprising a plurality of fixed cutting elements; and
- a roller disc rotatably coupled to the bit body about the end of the bit body to rotate on a roller disc axis, the roller disc axis extending toward the central bit body axis.
2. The hybrid drill bit of claim 1, comprising an arm coupled to the bit body extending generally along the central bit body axis and beyond the end of the bit body; and
- where the roller disc is rotatably coupled to the arm.
3. The hybrid drill bit of claim 1, where the roller disc axis of the roller disc intersects the central bit body axis.
4. The hybrid drill bit of claim 1, where the roller disc axis of the roller disc is non-radial from the central bit body axis.
5. The hybrid drill bit of claim 4, where a shortest distance S between the central bit body axis and the roller disc axis is less than 0.5 inches.
6. The hybrid drill bit of claim 1, where the roller disc comprises a disc body and a generally ring-shaped cutting row radially disposed about the disc body; and
- where the roller disc comprises only one cutting row.
7. The hybrid drill bit of claim 6, where the cutting row defines a rotational plane through the center of the cutting row, the rotational plane being normal to the roller disc axis;
- where the rotational plane of the roller disc is generally perpendicular to a periphery of a corresponding bit profile; and
- where a center of the roller disc is the intersection of the roller disc axis and the rotational plane.
8. The hybrid drill bit of claim 7, where the roller disc is in a shoulder zone of the bit profile.
9. The hybrid drill bit of claim 1, comprising a plurality of roller discs and a plurality of blades.
10. The hybrid drill bit of claim 9, where each disc of the plurality of roller discs is a different distance L from the central bit body axis, where the distance L is a shortest distance between a center of the respective roller disc and the central bit body axis.
11. The hybrid drill bit of claim 9, where the plurality of roller discs are not in a cone zone of a corresponding bit profile.
12. The hybrid drill bit of claim 9, where each roller disc axis of the plurality of discs is at a different angle β from the central bit body axis, where the angle β is the angle of the respective roller disc axis from the central bit body axis.
13. The hybrid drill bit of claim 9, where the plurality of blades are more radially inward than the plurality of discs with respect to the central bit body axis of the bit body.
14. The hybrid drill bit of claim 7, where the cutting row of the roller disc extends further from the end of the bit body than the fixed cutting elements of the blade.
15. A well drilling system, comprising:
- a well head;
- a drill string connected to the well head;
- a hybrid drill bit connected to the drill string, the hybrid drill bit comprising: a bit body having a central bit body axis at a center of the bit body; a blade on the bit body extending from an end of the bit body, the blade comprising a plurality of fixed cutting elements; and a roller disc rotatably coupled to the bit body about the end of the bit body to rotate on a roller disc axis, the roller disc axis extending toward the central bit body axis.
16. The well drilling system of claim 15, where the hybrid drill bit further comprises:
- an arm coupled to the bit body extending generally along the central bit body axis and beyond the end of the bit body; and
- where the roller disc is rotatably coupled to the arm.
17. The well drilling system of claim 15, where the roller disc comprises a disc body and a generally ring-shaped cutting row radially disposed about the disc body; and
- where the roller disc comprises only one cutting row.
18. A method of cutting a formation in a wellbore, the method comprising:
- rotating a drill bit in a formation in a wellbore;
- crushing or cracking the formation in a rotating action using a roller disc on the drill bit; and
- scraping the formation in a shearing action using fixed cutting elements on a blade on the drill bit.
19. The method of claim 18, where crushing or cracking the formation in a rotating action using a roller disc comprises prefracturing the formation using the roller disc, where the roller disc is deeper into the formation than the fixed cutting elements of the blade; and
- where scraping the formation in a shearing action using fixed cutting elements on a blade comprises scraping prefractured cuttings of formation.
20. The method of claim 18, where crushing or cracking the formation in a rotating action using a roller disc on the drill bit comprises a roller disc configured to roll against the formation with small shear.
Type: Application
Filed: May 22, 2014
Publication Date: Mar 2, 2017
Inventors: Shilin Chen (Montogomery, TX), Mark Evans Williams (Conroe, TX)
Application Number: 15/305,612