Modular Reamer Block with Interchangeable Cutter Pocket Holders

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Solution Overview

Problem

The high cost and long lead times associated with manufacturing custom reamer blocks for specific operators and wellbores, due to the need for individually unique reamer blocks with brazed cutting elements, complicate inventory management and increase expenses.

Innovation Solution

A reamer block design featuring a standard body with interchangeable cutter pocket holders, allowing for customization of cutting element profiles and patterns, reduces manufacturing costs and simplifies inventory management by enabling the use of pre-fabricated bodies and separately manufactured cutter pocket holders that can be easily swapped or replaced.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If reamer blocks are individually and uniquely manufactured for specific operators and wellbores, then customization and effectiveness are improved, but manufacturing cost and lead time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecustomizationVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The reamer block is divided into modular components: a standardized body and interchangeable cutter pocket holders. The body contains standardized mounting interfaces, while cutter pocket holders can be separately manufactured and assembled. This segmentation allows the standardized body to be produced efficiently in volume, while only the cutter pocket holders require customization for specific applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A universal standardized body design is created that can accommodate multiple configurations of cutter pocket holders. The body includes standardized interfaces and features that allow different cutter pocket holders to be interchangeably mounted on the same body, enabling one body to serve multiple functions and configurations for different operators and wellbores.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If reamer blocks are individually and uniquely manufactured for specific operators and wellbores, then customization and effectiveness are improved, but lead time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecustomizationVSAvoidlead time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The standardized body is pre-manufactured and prepared in advance with standardized interfaces for mounting cutter pocket holders. This preliminary preparation of the body allows for rapid assembly once the specific cutter pocket holders are selected or manufactured, significantly reducing the overall lead time compared to manufacturing complete custom reamer blocks from scratch.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

By segmenting the reamer block into a pre-manufactured standardized body and separately configurable cutter pocket holders, the system allows the body to be ready in advance while only the cutter pocket holders require last-minute customization or selection, thereby reducing total lead time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Strength

If cutting elements are brazed to the reamer block, then strength and reliability are improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebond strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The brazing operation is segmented and localized to only the cutter pocket holders rather than the entire reamer block. Cutting elements are brazed to the smaller cutter pocket holders separately, which simplifies the brazing process (smaller components, easier heat control), and then the completed cutter pocket holders are mounted to the body, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining bond strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Adaptability or versatility

If custom reamer blocks are manufactured for each application, then cutting effectiveness is improved, but inventory management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication-specific optimizationVSAvoidinventory management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A universal standardized body is designed that can accommodate multiple types of cutter pocket holders through standardized interfaces. This allows a single body design to serve multiple applications by simply changing the cutter pocket holders, dramatically reducing the number of unique reamer block designs that need to be inventoried while maintaining application-specific optimization capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables easy replacement and recovery of cutter pocket holders on the standardized body. When cutter elements wear or applications change, only the cutter pocket holders need to be replaced rather than the entire reamer block, allowing for efficient inventory management where a core library of standardized bodies can be reused across multiple applications with different cutter pocket holder configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentUS11795762B2Reamer block with cutter pocket holders

Publication Date: 2023.10.24 SCHLUMBERGER TECH CORP

AI summary

A reamer includes a plurality of cutter pocket holders. The cutter pocket holders are separately manufactured and connected to a body of the reamer. The cutter pocket holders include a plurality of cutter pockets, into which cutting elements may be inserted. A radially rearward cutter pocket holder may include front-loading cutter pockets.