Instrumented Drill Bit With Blade Recess Sensor Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drilling technologies lack effective methods for real-time data acquisition and characterization of rock formation during drilling operations, which hampers efficient drilling and resource extraction.

Innovation Solution

A drill bit assembly equipped with sensor circuitry and a blade mountable to the bit body, featuring a sensor circuitry recess for data acquisition, enabling real-time monitoring and analysis of drilling conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If traditional drilling methods are used, then drilling operations can be performed, but real-time data acquisition and characterization of rock formation are lacking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereal-time drilling dataVSAvoiddrill bit assembly structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor circuitry is embedded within a recess in the blade structure, nesting the sensing components inside the existing drill bit geometry. This allows real-time data acquisition capabilities to be integrated without significantly increasing external dimensions or overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines multiple functions into the blade structure: cutting function, sensor mounting function (via recess), and structural support. By merging the sensor circuitry receptacle into the blade itself, the design achieves real-time monitoring capability while minimizing additional structural complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Measurement precision

If sensor circuitry is added to the drill bit, then real-time monitoring capability is improved, but the complexity of the device increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrilling condition monitoringVSAvoidblade structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of distributing sensors throughout the entire drill bit assembly, the patent places sensor circuitry locally within a specific recess in the blade structure. This localized approach enables measurement precision improvement while minimizing the overall complexity increase to only the specific region where sensing is required

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If real-time data acquisition is implemented, then drilling efficiency is enhanced, but more sensor components and circuitry are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrilling operation efficiencyVSAvoidsensor circuitry integration

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blade structure is designed with a pre-formed recess that is prepared in advance to receive the sensor circuitry. This preliminary structural preparation simplifies the integration process and reduces the complexity of assembling sensor components during drill bit manufacturing or maintenance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12460539B1Instrumented drill bit

Publication Date: 2025.11.04 SCHLUMBERGER TECH CORP

AI summary

A drill bit assembly can include a bit body; sensor circuitry that includes a sensor for acquisition of sensor data; and a blade mountable to the bit body, where the blade includes a sensor circuitry recess for receipt of at least a portion of the sensor circuitry.