Stress related placement of engineered superabrasive cutting elements on rotary drag bits
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorsGordon A. Tibbitts, Evan C. Turner
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Abstract
A drill bit employing selective placement of cutting elements engineered to accommodate differing loads such as are experienced at different locations on the bit crown. A method of bit design and cutting element design to achieve optimal placement for maximum ROP and bit life of particularly suitable cutting elements for a given bit profile and design, as well as anticipated formation characteristics and other downhole parameters.
Claims10
A method of designing a rotary drill bit for drilling a subterranean formation, comprising:
- selecting a bit design;
- mathematically simulating a rock formation to be drilled with said selected bit design;
- determining a magnitude of strength of said simulated rock formation in at least one location adjacent an exterior location on said selected bit design for a proposed set of drilling parameters;
- and
- selecting at least one cutting element for placement on said selected bit design at said exterior location, said at least one cutting element possessing a structure adapted to penetrate said simulated rock formation under said proposed set of drilling parameters substantially without damage.
A method of designing a rotary drill bit for drilling subterranean formations, comprising:
- selecting a bit design;
- mathematically simulating the magnitude and direction of applied stresses to be encountered during drilling at a plurality of locations on said bit by considering at least one load vector at each of said locations, said load vector having a magnitude and having a direction selected from a group of load vector directions including at least one of axial radial and tangential directions;
- and
- selecting a cutting element for disposition on said bit at least on one of said plurality of locations, wherein said selected cutting element is specifically structured to withstand said stresses at that location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.