# US 10,119,338 B2 · Controlled blade flex for fixed cutter drill bits > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,119,338 B2 - Document ID: US10119338B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/034,206 - Filed: 2013-12-11 - Published: 2016-09-22 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-12-11 - Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Applicants: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Inventors: Jeffrey Gerald Thomas; Clayton Arthur Ownby - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119338B2 ## CPC - E21B 10/62: 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) - E21B 7/04: Directional drilling - E21B 10/46: characterised by wear resisting parts, e.g. diamond inserts - E21B 10/633: independently detachable - E21B 10/08: Roller bits (E21B10/26 takes precedence; roller core bits E21B10/06; characterised by wear resisting parts E21B10/50) - E21B 43/2406: {Steam assisted gravity drainage [SAGD]} - E21B 47/135: using light waves, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet waves - E21B 47/18: through the well fluid {, e.g. mud pressure pulse telemetry} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A drill bit includes a drill bit body and a flexible blade positioned on the drill bit body. The drill bit further may include a cutting element coupled to and extending a distance beyond a face of the flexible blade. The cutting element may have a back rake angle and a side rake angle. At least one of the distance, back rake angle, and side rake angle may depend on a flexed position of the flexible blade. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drill bit for subterranean drilling operations, comprising: a drill bit body; a flexible blade positioned on the drill bit body; and a cutting element coupled to and extending a distance beyond a face of the flexible blade, and comprising a back rake angle and a side rake angle, at least one of the distance, back rake angle, and side rake angle configured to be controllable while the drill bit is positioned within a borehole and depending on a flexed position of the flexible blade. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The drill bit of claim 1, wherein the flexible blade comprises at least one of: a material that selectively maintains the flexed position; and a material with a modulus of elasticity that varies with at least one of temperature, pressure, magnetic field, and electrical energy. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The drill bit of claim 1, wherein the flexible blade comprises at least one mechanical, hydraulic, or electric element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The drill bit of claim 3, wherein: the flexible blade comprises a first portion coupled to a second portion; and the at least one mechanical, hydraulic, or electric element comprises: a hinge or flex point positioned between the first portion and the second portion; and at least one of a compressible member and a fluid driven piston positioned between the first portion and the second portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The drill bit of claim 3, wherein: the flexible blade comprises a first portion coupled to a second portion; and the first portion comprises a first modulus of elasticity and the second portion comprises a second modulus of elasticity. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The drill bit of claim 5, wherein the at least one mechanical, hydraulic, or electric element alters the relative positions of the first portion and the second portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The drill bit of claim 5, wherein: the flexible blade further comprises a third portion with a third modulus of elasticity less that the first modulus of elasticity and the second modulus of elasticity; and the third portion is at least partially disposed within at least one of the first portion and the second portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The drill bit of claim 1, further comprising a wear resistance material disposed on a surface of the flexible blade. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The drill bit of claim 1, further comprises comprising a secondary force transfer mechanism coupled to the flexible blade. ### Claim 10 A method for drilling operations in a subterranean formation, comprising: coupling a drill bit to a drilling assembly, the drill bit comprising a flexible blade and a cutting element coupled to and extending a distance beyond a face of the flexible blade, the cutting element comprising a back rake angle and a side rake angle; placing the drill bit in a borehole within the subterranean formation; and controlling at least one of the distance, back rake angle, and side rake angle while the drill bit is positioned within the borehole. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein controlling at least one of the distance, back rake angle, and side rake angle while the drill bit is positioned within the borehole comprises changing at least one of a drilling parameter and an effective modulus of elasticity of the flexible blade. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein changing the drilling parameter comprises changing at least one of a weight-on-bit and a torque-on-bit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the flexible blade comprises at least one of: a material that selectively maintains a flexed position; and a material with a modulus of elasticity that varies with at least one of temperature, pressure, magnetic field, and electrical energy. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein controlling at least one of the distance, back rake angle, and side rake angle while the drill bit is positioned within the borehole comprises altering at least one of a mechanical, hydraulic, or electric element of the flexible blade. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein altering at least one of the mechanical, hydraulic, or electric element of the flexible blade comprises causing the flexible blade to bend at a hinge or flex point positioned between a first portion and a second portion of the flexible blade. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein altering at least one of the mechanical, hydraulic, or electric element of the flexible blade further comprises altering at least one of a compressible member and a fluid driven piston positioned between the first portion and the second portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein: the flexible blade comprises a first portion coupled to a second portion; and the first portion comprises a first modulus of elasticity and the second portion comprises a second modulus of elasticity. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein changing the effective modulus of elasticity of the flexible blade comprises altering the relative positions of the first portion and the second portion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the flexible blade further comprises a third portion with a third modulus of elasticity less that the first modulus of elasticity and the second modulus of elasticity. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein changing the effective modulus of elasticity of the flexible blade comprises altering the relative positions of the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion.