# US 10,370,903 B2 · Electrical pulse drill bit having spiral electrodes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,370,903 B2 - Document ID: US10370903B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/410,955 - Filed: 2017-01-20 - Published: 2017-07-20 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-01-20 - Assignees: Baker Hughes, A Ge Company, LLC - Applicants: Joerg Lehr; Erik Anders - Inventors: Joerg Lehr; Erik Anders - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10370903B2 ## CPC - E21B 7/15: of electrically generated heat - E21B 10/00: Drill bits (specially adapted for deflecting the direction of boring {E21B7/064}; with means for collecting substances E21B27/00) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A drill bit assembly includes a drill bit body, an insulating layer disposed on an end of the drill bit body and that defines a drill bit face and two electrodes formed such that they both extend from the drill bit face. The two electrodes form a spiral on the drill bit face and are equidistant from each other at all locations of the drill bit face. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drill bit assembly comprising: a drill bit body; an insulating layer disposed on an end of the drill bit body and that defines a drill bit face; and two electrodes formed such that they both extend from the drill bit face, wherein a first electrode of the two electrodes forms a first spiral on the drill bit face and a second electrode of the two electrodes forms a second spiral on the drill bit face; wherein a minimum distance between the first spiral and second spiral is identical at all locations along the first and second spirals. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The drill bit assembly of claim 1, wherein the two electrodes form a bifilar coil when a discharge occurs between them. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The drill bit assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a pulse generator electrically coupled to the two electrodes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The drill bit assembly of claim 3, wherein the pulse generator causes the formation of a potential between the two electrodes. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The drill bit assembly of claim 4, wherein the pulse generator causes the potential to be formed at a rise time that is below a threshold rise time. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The drill bit assembly of claim 5, wherein the threshold rise time is less than a rise time where the potential will discharge through a fluid between the two electrodes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The drill bit assembly of claim 5, wherein the threshold rise time is equal to a rise time where the potential will discharge through a rock near or between the two electrodes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The drill bit assembly of claim 4, further comprising: a power unit that provides power to the pulse generator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The drill bit assembly of claim 8, wherein the power unit is one of a battery, turbine or a mud motor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The drill bit assembly of claim 1, wherein the two electrodes also surround a radial outer surface of the insulating layer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) The drill bit assembly of claim 4, wherein the pulse generator includes a switch that allows for the potential to be provided either end of the both electrodes. ### Claim 12 A drill bit assembly comprising: a drill bit body; an insulating layer disposed around the drill bit body; and two electrodes formed such that they both extend from a radial outer surface of the insulating layer, wherein a first electrode of the two electrodes forms a first helix on the radial outer surface and a second electrode of the two electrodes forms a second helix on the radial outer surface, wherein a minimum distance between the first helix and the second helix is identical at all locations along the first and second helixes. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The drill bit assembly of claim 12, wherein the two electrodes form a bifilar coil when a discharge occurs between them. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The drill bit assembly of claim 12, further comprising: a pulse generator electrically coupled to the two electrodes that causes the formation of a potential between the two electrodes. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The drill bit assembly of claim 14, wherein the pulse generator causes the potential to be formed at rise time that is below a threshold rise time that is less than a rise time where the potential will discharge through a fluid between the two electrodes. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The drill bit assembly of claim 14, wherein the pulse generator includes a toggle switch that allows for the potential to be provided either end of both electrodes. ### Claim 17 A method of drilling a borehole comprising: coupling a drill bit assembly to a drill string, the assembly comprising: a drill bit body; an insulating layer disposed on an end of the drill bit body and that defines a drill bit face; two electrodes formed such that they both extend from the drill bit face, wherein a first electrode of the two electrodes forms a first a spiral on the drill bit face and a second electrode of the two electrodes forms a second spiral on the drill bit face and a minimum distance between the first spiral and second spiral is identical at all locations along the first and second spirals; and a pulse generator electrically coupled to the two electrodes; forming a potential between the two electrodes by providing power to the pulse generator; allowing the potential to discharge through a formation at or near the drill bit face; and removing formation fragments from the borehole caused by the discharge. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the pulse generator causes the potential to be formed at a rise time that is below a threshold rise time. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the threshold rise time is less than a rise time where the potential will discharge through a fluid between the two electrodes. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the threshold rise time is equal to a rise time where the potential will discharge through a rock near or between the two electrodes. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: switching a configuration of a switch in the pulse generator to change a location where the pulse generator forms the potential between the two electrodes.