Wear compensated roller cone drill bits
AssigneeSmith International, Inc.
InventorsAmardeep Singh, Sujian Huang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for designing a drill bit that has at least one roller cone and a plurality of cutting elements, including selecting initial bit design parameters. Drilling simulations are then used to determine wear, and the simulated drill bit is changed to reflect the determined wear. Then, at least one design parameter is adjusted. The simulation, determination, change of the simulated drill bit, and adjustment may be repeated until at least one performance parameter of the drill bit is optimized. A drill bit can be designed using such a method.
Claims39
A method for designing a drill bit comprising at least one roller cone and a plurality of cutting elements arranged on the at least one roller cone, the method comprising:
- selecting initial bit design parameters;
- simulating drilling at least one selected earth formation with a simulated drill bit;
- determining a wear induced change in geometry of the cutting elements;
- changing the simulated drill bit to reflect the wear induced change in geometry of the cutting elements;
- adjusting at least one bit design parameter;
- and
- repeating the simulating, determining, changing, and adjusting to improve at least one drilling performance parameter.
A method for designing a drill bit comprising at least one roller cone and a plurality of cutting elements arranged on the at least one roller cone, the method comprising:
- simulating drilling at least one selected earth formation with a simulated drill bit;
- determining a wear induced change in geometry of the cutting elements;
- changing the simulated drill bit to reflect the wear induced change in geometry of the cutting elements;
- determining which of the cutting elements contribute most to a performance characteristic of the drill bit;
- and
- adjusting at least one drill bit design parameter so as to minimize the rate of wear of the cutting elements which most contribute over the life of the drill bit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.