Segmented Reamer Blade Stabilization for Drilling Stability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional reamers for earth-boring applications face challenges in maintaining stability during drilling, which affects borehole quality and efficiency, and often result in reduced useful lift and increased risk of tool jamming due to inadequate stabilization and cutting efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The design of reamers with blades featuring a stabilizing portion and a reaming portion, where the stabilizing portion has a smaller radial distance from the longitudinal axis than the reaming portion, allows for improved stabilization by gage pads and enhanced cutting efficiency through strategically positioned cutting elements, enabling better engagement and removal of earth material while minimizing contact with the borehole walls.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If conventional reamers use blades with uniform or expanding outer diameter throughout, then cutting efficiency is maintained, but stability during drilling deteriorates due to inadequate engagement with borehole walls

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability during drillingVSAvoidcutting efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The blade is segmented into distinct functional portions: a stabilizing portion with smaller outer diameter for engagement with borehole walls, and a reaming portion with larger outer diameter for cutting. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the blade are given different local qualities: the stabilizing portion has a smaller radial distance from the longitudinal axis to provide stabilization, while the reaming portion has a larger radial distance to enable effective cutting. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between stability and cutting efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If reamers use larger outer diameter blades for effective reaming, then cutting capability improves, but risk of tool jamming increases due to excessive contact with borehole walls

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereaming capabilityVSAvoidrisk of tool jamming

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The blade is divided into a stabilizing portion and a reaming portion, where only the reaming portion extends to the larger outer diameter needed for effective cutting. The stabilizing portion maintains a smaller diameter to prevent excessive contact and jamming, thus resolving the contradiction between reaming capability and jamming risk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The stabilizing portion acts as an intermediary element that controls the engagement between the reamer and borehole walls. It provides sufficient contact for stability while limiting excessive contact that would cause jamming, allowing the reaming portion to function effectively without causing tool jamming.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If reamers use aggressive contact with borehole walls for stabilization, then stability improves, but wear and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestabilizationVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The stabilizing portion is specifically designed with a smaller outer diameter that provides adequate stabilization through controlled engagement with the borehole walls, rather than aggressive contact. This localized stabilization approach reduces unnecessary friction and energy consumption while maintaining stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using aggressive full-contact stabilization, the stabilizing portion provides partial stabilization through controlled engagement. This partial action is sufficient to maintain stability while minimizing wear and energy consumption associated with excessive contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS10597947B2Reamers for earth-boring applications having increased stability and related methods

Publication Date: 2020.03.24 BAKER HUGHES CO

AI summary

Reamer for earth-boring applications may include a body having a longitudinal axis and a blade carried by the body. The blade may include at least one cutting element located at a first radial distance from the longitudinal axis and a gage pad located at a second, smaller radial distance from the longitudinal axis. Methods of enlarging pilot holes in earth formations utilizing reamers may involve removing earth material from a sidewall of the pilot hole utilizing at least one cutting element located at a first radial distance from a longitudinal axis of a body of the reamer on a blade of a reamer. The reamer may be stabilized by placing a gage pad located on the blade in sliding contact with a portion of the sidewall of the pilot hole, the gage pad located at a second, smaller radial distance from the longitudinal axis.