Downhole Percussion Tool Claw Bit Drive Sub
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drilling in formations of intermediate hardness is inefficient due to the limitations of both rotary and percussion drilling equipment, as neither type effectively penetrates these formations, and existing claw bits are not adapted for percussion drilling, leading to reduced bit life and increased maintenance needs.
Innovation Solution
A downhole reciprocating piston hammer percussion tool adapted for use with an improved claw type bit, featuring a unique drive sub, reversible cylinder, easily replaceable components, and a pressure fluid delivery system, allowing for both rotation and impact blows, thereby enhancing penetration rates in formations of low to medium hardness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a claw bit is used with conventional rotary drilling equipment, then the bit can effectively penetrate soft formations, but the bit life is substantially reduced when used with percussion equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The bit is designed with replaceable hard metal inserts that can be individually replaced when worn, rather than replacing the entire bit. This segmentation allows the bit to maintain functionality while extending overall service life through selective replacement of worn components.
Solution Approach 2:
The bit is designed to be adaptable to both rotary and percussion drilling methods, with features that allow it to function effectively in either mode. The bit can be dynamically adjusted or reconfigured for different drilling techniques, maximizing its versatility and extending its usable life across different operational contexts.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If a claw bit is adapted for percussion drilling, then bit life can be extended, but the tool requires complex assembly and disassembly procedures for bit replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The bit is designed with replaceable hard metal inserts that can be individually removed and replaced without disassembling the entire tool. This modular approach allows quick maintenance by simply replacing the worn inserts through the bit adapter, eliminating complex disassembly procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The bit adapter is designed as a separate, removable component that allows the claw bit to be quickly extracted and replaced as a unit. This extraction design enables maintenance personnel to remove the worn bit and install a fresh one without working on the internal mechanisms of the percussion tool, significantly simplifying the maintenance process.
3Productivity
If rotary drilling equipment is used on hard formations, then the equipment can operate continuously, but frequent repair and bit replacement are required
Solution Approach 1:
The bit is designed with replaceable hard metal inserts that can be quickly swapped when worn. This modular design reduces maintenance time by allowing only the inserts to be replaced rather than the entire bit, enabling faster return to continuous operation with minimal downtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The bit is designed with specific geometric parameters and material properties that optimize its performance on hard formations. The claw-shaped cutting elements and hardened steel construction are specifically engineered to penetrate hard rock while maintaining structural integrity, reducing wear and extending the time between replacements.
4Force
If percussion drilling equipment is used on soft formations, then the equipment can deliver impact blows, but the penetration rate is reduced compared to rotary drilling
Solution Approach 1:
The claw bit is designed with universal features that allow it to function effectively in both rotary and percussion drilling modes. The bit geometry and construction are optimized to utilize impact forces from percussion drilling while maintaining the ability to rotate and penetrate soft formations efficiently, achieving high penetration rates across different formation types.
Solution Approach 2:
The bit is constructed using composite materials and multi-layer construction, combining hardened steel with softer alloy inserts that are optimized for impact loading. This composite approach allows the bit to withstand the high impact forces of percussion drilling while maintaining the cutting efficiency needed for high penetration rates in soft to medium hardness formations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The combination of a reciprocating piston hammer percussion tool with a claw bit improves penetration rates in earth formations of intermediate hardness, extending bit life and reducing maintenance needs, while maintaining efficiency in fluid use and operational simplicity.
Implementation Method 1
repeated impact blows to be delivered to and transmitted through the bit for forming and removing cuttings from the drill hole
Implementation Method 2
pressure fluid, such as compressed air
Data Source
AI summary
A pressure fluid actuated downhole percussion tool includes a reciprocating piston hammer with differential transverse pressure surfaces cooperable with a cylinder housing, a guide sleeve and a bit carried exhaust tube to form opposed pressure fluid chambers to which pressure fluid may be conducted to deliver repeated impact blows to a bit having circumferentially spaced bosses and replaceable cutting inserts. The bit is drivenly connected to the tool by plural drive pins supported in circumferentially spaced grooves in the bit shank and in a removable sub supported by the tool housing. Improved earth penetration performance is realized utilizing a claw bit with a pressure fluid actuated percussion tool providing rotation as well as selective deliverance of impact blows through the bit.