Abstract:
A cutter element having a substantially flat wear face and leading compression and trailing tension zones, wherein the leading compression zone is sharper than the trailing tension zone. Sharpness is defined as either a smaller inside angle at the intersection of a pair of planes or as a smaller radius of curvature. The cutter element of the present invention experiences reduced stress on its trailing portion in the direction of cutting movement and therefore is less subject to extreme impact damage and cyclic fatigue. The present invention can be applied with particular advantage to heel row cutters, but can also be applied to cutters in other rows that primarily ream the borehole wall and cooperatively cut the borehole corner. The present cutter element can be constructed so as to have either a positive or negative rake angle at its leading compression zone, or to have any of a variety of shapes, depending on the characteristics of the formation in which it is to be used.
Abstract:
A cutter element that balances maximum gage-keeping capabilities with minimal tensile stress induced damage to the cutter elements is disclosed. The cutter elements of the present invention have a non-symmetrical shape and may include a more aggressive cutting profile than conventional cutter elements. In one embodiment, a cutter element is configured such that the inside angle at which its leading face intersects the wear face is less than the inside angle at which is trailing face intersects the wear face. This can also be accomplished by providing the cutter element with a relieved wear face. In another embodiment of the invention, the surfaces of the present cutter element are curvilinear and the transitions between the leading and trailing faces and the gage face are rounded, or contoured. In this embodiment, the leading transition is made sharper than the trailing transition by configuring it such that the leading transition has a smaller radius of curvature than the radius of curvature of the trailing transition. In another embodiment, the cutter element has a chamfered trailing edge such that the leading transition of the cutter element is sharper than its trailing transition. In another embodiment, the cutter element has a chamfered or contoured trailing edge in combination with a canted wear face. In still another embodiment, the cutter element includes a positive rake angle on its leading edge.
Abstract:
A rolling cone bit (10) includes at least one roller cone cutter (14, 15, 16) having a gage row of cutter elements (60) and a first inner row of near but off-gage cutter elements (70) that are positioned so as to divide the sidewall and the buttom hole cutting duty so as to enhance bit durability, maintain borehole diameter and improve ROP. The off-gage distance (D) of the first inner row of cutting elements is defined for various bit sizes to optimize the division of cutting duty. The distance that the first inner row of cutter elements (70) are off-gage may be constant for all the cones on the bit (10) or may be varied among the various cones to balance the durability and wear characteristics on all the cones of the bit.
Abstract:
A roller cone drill bit includes a lubricant reservoir (14) and a pressure sensor (P2) adapted to measure fluid pressure in the reservoir (14). A second pressure sensor (P1) is adapted to sense pressure in the wellbore outside the drill bit and a pressure compensating piston (66), controlled by a processor (40), is used to control the pressure in the reservoir (14) and maintain a selected pressure differential between the fluid in the reservoir (14) and the wellbore.
Abstract:
A roller cone drill bit includes three cones where the cutting elements are arranged on the cones in rows, such that the gage row is staggered with respect to the first row interior of the gage row, on at least two of the cones. The cutting elements have an extension to diameter ratio of at least 0.829.
Abstract:
A cutter element (10) for use in a drill bit has a substrate (12) and a cutting layer (14). The substrate (12) includes a grip portion (16) and an extension portion (18), the grip portion (16) having an insert axis (17) and the extension portion (18) including an interface surface (19) having a first apex (20). The cutting layer (14) is affixed to the interface surface (19) and has a cutting surface (15) having a second apex (22). The cutting layer (14) is shaped such that when a plane (P) passing through the first apex (20) and lying parallel to the insert axis (17) and normal to a radius from the insert axis (17) is defined, the plane (P) divides the cutting layer (14) into major and minor portions.
Abstract:
A synthetic diamond cutter is disclosed for rock bits having a diamond cutting face at one end of a body supporting the cutting face. A heel portion is formed by the body near the diamond cutting face. The heel portion forms a groove depression or notch about adjacent to a cutting tip of the diamond cutting face. The cutting tip, as a result of the groove, results in a greater rate of penetration of the diamond cutting face due to a reduction of drag as the cutter works in an earthen formation or against a suitable workpiece.