Force Balanced Drill Bit Cutting Element Configuration

Solution Overview

Problem

Downhole drilling tools face challenges in maintaining stability and efficiency due to imbalance forces when drilling through formations with varying compressive strengths, leading to vibration and damage.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of multilevel force balancing techniques, which involve configuring cutting elements in a combination of single-set and track-set configurations and under-exposed positions on the drill bit face to distribute loads evenly and minimize vibration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If cutting elements are installed on exterior portions of blades using conventional techniques, then the drill bit can engage with downhole formations, but imbalance forces and vibration occur when drilling through formations with varying compressive strengths

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrilling efficiencyVSAvoiddrill bit stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by varying the radial positions of cutting elements based on their specific location and the formation conditions they will encounter. Cutting elements are positioned at different radial distances from the drill bit axis depending on the blade number, cutting element number, and anticipated formation compressive strength, allowing each cutting element to be optimally positioned for its local operating conditions rather than using a uniform configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by transitioning from static, uniform cutting element configurations to dynamic, variable configurations. The radial positions of cutting elements are adjusted based on multiple variables including blade number, cutting element number, and formation properties, creating a dynamic positioning system that adapts to different drilling conditions and formation types throughout the wellbore depth

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of manufacture

If all cutting elements are positioned at the same radial distance from the drill bit axis, then the configuration is simple to manufacture, but imbalance forces increase when drilling through formations with varying compressive strengths

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting element configuration simplicityVSAvoidimbalance forces

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by varying the radial positions of cutting elements based on their specific location and the formation conditions they will encounter. Cutting elements are positioned at different radial distances from the drill bit axis depending on the blade number, cutting element number, and anticipated formation compressive strength, allowing each cutting element to be optimally positioned for its local operating conditions rather than using a uniform configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the cutting elements into multiple groups based on blade number, cutting element number within each blade, and radial position. This segmentation allows different subsets of cutting elements to be positioned at different radial distances, creating multiple configuration zones that can be optimized for different formation conditions while maintaining overall system balance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If cutting elements are positioned to optimize performance in hard formations, then drilling efficiency improves in lower portions, but vibration and imbalance occur in upper portions with softer formations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrilling efficiency in hard formationsVSAvoidvibration in softer formations

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by varying the radial positions of cutting elements based on their specific location and the formation conditions they will encounter. Cutting elements are positioned at different radial distances from the drill bit axis depending on the blade number, cutting element number, and anticipated formation compressive strength, allowing each cutting element to be optimally positioned for its local operating conditions rather than using a uniform configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by transitioning from static, uniform cutting element configurations to dynamic, variable configurations. The radial positions of cutting elements are adjusted based on multiple variables including blade number, cutting element number, and formation properties, creating a dynamic positioning system that adapts to different drilling conditions and formation types throughout the wellbore depth

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10329846B2Multilevel force balanced downhole drilling tools including cutting elements in a track-set configuration

Publication Date: 2019.06.25 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

A downhole drilling tool designed for drilling a wellbore is disclosed. The drilling tool includes a bit body and a first plurality of blades and a second plurality of blades on exterior portions of the bit body. A first group of track-set cutting elements is on exterior portions of the first plurality of blades and a second group of track-set cutting elements is on the second plurality of blades. The first and second plurality of blades and the first group and second group of track-set cutting elements cooperate with each other to form a composite bit face profile such that each respective group of at least three neighbor cutting elements on the composite bite face profile is force balanced with respect to each other.