Two-part bit wiring assembly for downhole drilling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drill bits used in subterranean drilling often experience significant wear and damage due to harsh conditions, making it expensive and complex to instrument them for real-time measurements and functions, particularly due to challenges in communicating effectively across the drill string to drill bit connection, which is complicated by threading and orientation issues.
Innovation Solution
A downhole drilling assembly with a sub secured between the drill string and drill bit, featuring a cavity with a chassis and an extender that allows for communication and access independent of rotational orientation, enabling measurements and functions to be performed on the drill bit, with pairs of interfacing exchange surfaces facilitating communication through the drill string, sub, and drill bit, including rotationally-independent and specific orientation pairs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If drill bits are instrumented to take measurements or perform functions, then measurement capability and functional capability are improved, but replacement expense and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the drill bit into modular components: the drill bit itself, the sub assembly with chassis, and the extender. This modular segmentation allows the instrumented sub assembly to be replaced independently of the drill bit, reducing overall replacement complexity while maintaining measurement capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The sub assembly acts as an intermediary between the drill string and drill bit, housing the chassis that provides communication interfaces. This intermediary structure enables measurement functionality without requiring direct instrumentation of the drill bit, thereby reducing replacement complexity.
2Loss of information
If communication mechanisms are provided across the drill string to drill bit connection, then communication capability is improved, but device complexity increases due to threading and orientation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The chassis within the sub assembly provides universal communication interfaces that can accommodate multiple types of signals (electrical, hydraulic, optical, electromagnetic) and function regardless of specific rotational orientation. This multi-functionality improves communication capability while reducing the need for complex orientation-specific connection mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication system is designed to be dynamic and adaptable to varying rotational orientations during drilling operations. The interfacing exchange surfaces can establish communication connections across a range of orientations, eliminating the need for precise rotational positioning and reducing connection complexity.
3Loss of information
If access is provided into the threaded cavity for communication, then communication access is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to space constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The extender is nested within the threaded cavity of the drill bit, extending from near the base to within two inches of the cavity mouth. This nested configuration provides communication access deep within the cavity while maintaining a compact structure that does not interfere with drilling operations, thereby improving communication access without significantly compromising ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A downhole drilling assembly may comprise a sub secured between a drill string and a drill bit. The sub may comprise a cavity with a chassis housed therein. The drill bit may also comprise a cavity with an extender housed therein. This extender may provide access for various types of communication to reach into the drill bit's cavity. Several pairs of interfacing exchange surfaces may allow for communication (e.g. passing electrical, hydraulic, optical or electromagnetic signals) between these various elements. One pair of interfacing exchange surfaces, between the drill string and the chassis, may allow for communication regardless of relative rotational orientation. Two other pairs of interfacing exchange surfaces, one between the chassis and the extender and another between the extender and the drill bit, may require a specific rotational orientation for communication.