EP0446765B1 - Rangée découpe avec discontinuités pour trépan de forage - Google Patents

Rangée découpe avec discontinuités pour trépan de forage Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0446765B1
EP0446765B1 EP91103334A EP91103334A EP0446765B1 EP 0446765 B1 EP0446765 B1 EP 0446765B1 EP 91103334 A EP91103334 A EP 91103334A EP 91103334 A EP91103334 A EP 91103334A EP 0446765 B1 EP0446765 B1 EP 0446765B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
bit
drill bit
array
discontinuity
arrays
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP91103334A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0446765A1 (fr
Inventor
Jacob Chow
Ralph M. Horton
Mark L. Jones
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Saint Gobain Abrasives Inc
Original Assignee
Norton Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Norton Co filed Critical Norton Co
Publication of EP0446765A1 publication Critical patent/EP0446765A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0446765B1 publication Critical patent/EP0446765B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B10/00—Drill bits
    • E21B10/46—Drill bits characterised by wear resisting parts, e.g. diamond inserts
    • E21B10/54—Drill bits characterised by wear resisting parts, e.g. diamond inserts the bit being of the rotary drag type, e.g. fork-type bits
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B10/00—Drill bits
    • E21B10/46—Drill bits characterised by wear resisting parts, e.g. diamond inserts
    • E21B10/48—Drill bits characterised by wear resisting parts, e.g. diamond inserts the bit being of core type
    • E21B10/485—Drill bits characterised by wear resisting parts, e.g. diamond inserts the bit being of core type with inserts in form of chisels, blades or the like

Definitions

  • PDC polycrystalline diamond compact
  • the differing coefficients of thermal expansion between the PDC substrate material and that of the support or carrier subject the PDC to a large, permanent residual stress when the braze cools, thus rendering the PDC more susceptible to fracture upon impact with the formation and/or fracture at the braze or metallurgical bond line.
  • PDC's must be bonded to the bit body or to a carrier, which itself is secured on the bit face after the furnacing of a matrix-type bit, which usually comprises a matrix of tungsten carbide powder bonded together by a copper-based binder alloy.
  • the method of producing such a bit is well known in the art, and comprises manufacturing a mold or "boat" of graphite, ceramic or other material which possesses on its interior the characteristics of the bit face to be produced, these characteristics being milled or otherwise cut or molded therein; filling the mold with a tungsten carbide or other suitable powder, placing beads of a binder alloy in the mold as well as flux; and furnacing the bit at a temperature high enough to infiltrate the powder with the melted binder alloy.
  • TSP's Two types of TSP's are on the market today, leached products, where most of the non-diamond material in the compact has been removed, and unleached products, where the non-diamond material in the compact possesses similar thermal expansion characteristics to the diamond and does not degrade the diamond at temperatures up to 1200°C.
  • these TSP's may be furnaced into the bit, providing a cutter-laden bit in a single operation. Affixation of the TSP cutters to the bit face may be enhanced by coating them with metal as is known in the art, to provide a chemical (metallurgical) bond between the bit matrix and cutter.
  • the U.S. Patent No. 4,943,488 relates to low pressure bonding of PCD bodies and method for drill bits and the like, wherein an improved temperature stable synthetic polycrystalline diamond (PCD) product includes at least one temperature stable PCD integrally and chemically bonded to a matrix carrier support through a carbide forming layer which is of a thickness of at least about one micron, the layer on at least one surface of the PCD is in turn bonded to the matrix carrier.
  • PCD temperature stable synthetic polycrystalline diamond
  • bit In some soft, plastic formations, there are stringers of harder, more abrasive rock, or a bit may have to drill through both soft and hard, abrasive rock in close succession without being pulled from the well bore.
  • Bits having several types of cutting elements for cutting different types of formations are known; see for example, U.S. Patent No. 4,512,426 to Bidegaray, assigned to Eastman Christensen Company, wherein a rotating bit, particularly a rotary bit, is provided with a plurality of teeth incorporating diamond cutting elements of a first and a second type, with each type of tooth being particularly adapted to cut a particular type of rock formation.
  • TSP-array cutter bits would not only provide a large cutting surface for plastic formations, but be abrasion-resistant so as to better survive stringers, in addition to being furnaceable into the bit.
  • TSP elements in conjunction with PDC's.
  • One such bit design uses PDC cutters in combination with cutters comprising mosaic-like arrays of small, triangular-faced, discrete polyhedral TSP cutting elements, each array simulating a larger unitary cutter.
  • Such bits are sold by the Eastman Christensen Company of Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A., as the MosaicTM series of bits.
  • the type of cutter utilized on the aforesaid bits is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,726,718, assigned to Eastman Christensen Company.
  • the diamond cutter comprises a plurality of thermally stable, prefabricated, synthetic polycrystalline diamond (PCD) elements which are disposed in a cutting slug and retained therein by a matrix material.
  • PCD polycrystalline diamond
  • the herein disclosed arrays of cutting elements are in substantially contiguous mutual lateral proximity. The bonding of the TSP's into the array may be enhanced by the coating process of the above-referenced Sung and Chen application.
  • Thermal stress between the TSP elements and the bit matrix is believed to occur during cooling of the bit after furnacing as a result of the different thermal expansion rates of the TSP and the matrix. Stress cracks are generally parallel to the TSP/matrix interface, and may later intersect with cracks in the cutter surface caused by impact stresses experienced during drilling, thereby resulting in premature cutter loss from the bit.
  • thermal stress problems are created when discrete cutting elements are employed in substantially contiguous mutual proximity in large arrays like disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,726,718.
  • the end result being delamination of the cutting array from the bit and/or cracking of the cutting face.
  • Metal coating of the cutting elements to enhance bonding to the matrix material of the bit actually aggravates the stress problem, and in some instances causes the diamonds themselves to crack, the bonds to the matrix being stronger in tension than the thermally stable diamond material.
  • the present invention affords a simple but elegant means and method of providing a large cutter of any configuration without a destructive level of thermally-induced stress.
  • the cutter of the present invention comprises a substantially planar array of small TSP elements bonded into a bit face matrix.
  • the matrix behind the array may be reinforced against impact, such as by a steel blade, pins or other means, and the TSP elements may be coated for bond-enhancement with the matrix.
  • the TSP element array is interrupted at intervals by discontinuities where no TSP elements are located, thereby forming sub-arrays.
  • the discontinuities may extend from the bit face to the edge of the array in contact with the formation, and in bits with very deep cutting arrays, such as bladed bits, the discontinuities may run in several directions to intersect and thereby further segregate sub-arrays. Moreover, the discontinuities may comprise matrix material or be formed by offsetting portions of the array from other portions.
  • the discontinuous cutting element arrays of the present invention provide lower residual stress in each sub-array than in a large cutter without such discontinuities, and the discontinuities also provide a barrier to crack propagation across an entire array, so that a crack or failure in a particular sub-array will not cause catastrophic failure of the entire array, but will be locally contained.
  • core bit 10 includes a body section 12 having mounted on its face 14 cutting arrays, indicated generally at 16, and gage pads, indicated generally at 18.
  • Cutting arrays 16 are each "blades" in configuration, comprising a plurality of TSP elements, and engage the earth formation as the drill bit rotates in penetration of the earth.
  • Gage pads 18 may serve a cutting function, but normally would not unless extending radially beyond those portions of cutter blades 16 which extend to the gage of core bit 10.
  • Body 12 of bit 10 is preferably, at least in part, a molded component fabricated through conventional metal infiltration technology, wherein body 12 comprises a tungsten carbide matrix infiltrated with a copper-based binder alloy when the bit mold is placed in a furnace and heated to a temperature sufficient to melt the binder but not the tungsten carbide, and below the thermal degradation temperature of the cutting elements 20, which are preferably TSP's.
  • the bit mold or “boat” is carved, milled, or otherwise configured on its interior with the exterior configuration of bit 10, including blades 16.
  • the TSP elements 20 are then disposed in their intended positions on the blades, and adhesively maintained there to secure them in place until furnacing.
  • the TSP's may be affixed to a mesh, screen or other support to maintain positioning and spacing, and the mesh, screen or other support or the cutting elements thereon secured to the mold area defining the front or cutting face 22 of the cutting array.
  • Tungsten carbide powder is then placed in the mold, and vibrated to uniformly compact it.
  • Binder alloy is then placed in the mold over the tungsten carbide, and flux above the binder.
  • a tubular bit blank 24 Prior to placing the tungsten carbide powder in the mold, a tubular bit blank 24 is suspended above the mold and partially extended into the interior thereof. After loading the tungsten carbide powder and binder, the mold is then placed in a furnace, and the binder alloy melted to infiltrate the bit body tungsten carbide matrix. Upon solidifying, the binder consolidates the matrix powder and bonds the blank thereto.
  • This bit blank is subsequently interiorly threaded on the end extending out of the bit body to form a bit shank 26, or may be welded to such a threaded shank for connection to a coring tool. If a drill bit is being made, the bit blank is exteriorly threaded or may be welded to a threaded shank for connection to a drill string or to the drive shaft of a downhole motor.
  • the cutting elements 20 After the bit body 12 is furnaced and cooled, the cutting elements 20 have been metallurgically secured into cutting arrays 16 by the previously described means known in the art. As in prior art bits, however, there is residual thermal stress between the cutting elements 20 and the matrix supporting the arrays 16.
  • the present invention comprises the incorporation of discontinuities 28 in the cutting arrays 16, whereby residual thermal stresses are minimized and localized.
  • discontinuities 28 comprise linear discontinuities of matrix material dividing cutting arrays 16 into sub-arrays 30. Discontinuities 28 are oriented substantially parallel to the axis of the bit 10 and to the direction of travel of the bit 10 when it is in operation. In order to engage or sweep the formation being cut by the arrays 16 from the inner gage 32 of the arrays to the outer gage 34, the discontinuities of each blade may be radially offset from those on the other blades so that there is no rotational path swept only by matrix material, which would obviously be detrimental to cutting action and destructive to the arrays 16.
  • a cutting array 116 may be employed.
  • cutting elements 20 are again grouped in sub-arrays 130, but the discontinuities 128 in the array 116 are achieved by offsetting the sub-arrays 130 in the direction of rotation of the bit 10.
  • the embodiment of FIG. 4 thus interrupts residual thermal stress extending across the cutting face 122 of the array 116 by placing thermal stresses of each sub-array in different, offset planes rather than by interrupting a single planar array of cutting elements.
  • FIGS. 1-3 utilizes triangular cutting elements 20, and that of FIG. 4 employs square or rectangular cutting elements 20, the shape and/or size of the elements 20 is not critical to and does not limit the invention.
  • cutting elements 20 in array 216 are of both shapes, and discontinuities 228 are oriented at an angle to the direction of bit travel. Further, as the array 216 is deeper or higher than that of the previously discussed embodiments, discontinuities 228 are placed at two different angles so as to intersect and further subdivide array 216 into sub-arrays 230. While discontinuities 228 are shown in FIG. 5 to intersect at a substantially right angle, the invention is not so limited, and other intersection angles have equal utility.
  • intersecting discontinuities 328 may be utilized in an array 316 so that the array is divided horizontally and vertically instead of at oblique angles as in array 216.
  • discontinuities are shown as interruptions in the array of cutting elements 20 which are filled with matrix material.
  • the sub-array-offset type discontinuities depicted in FIG. 4 may be utilize in lieu of, or even in addition to, the sub-array-interruption type of discontinuity.
  • the existence of the discontinuities will preclude the delamination and failure of the sub-array from spreading to adjacent sub-arrays.
  • planar encompasses not only both an array on a single plane and adjacent but offset perfectly planar arrays, but also arrays, such as is depicted in FIG. 7 of the drawings, wherein cutting elements 20 define an arcuate cutting surface 22.
  • the advantage of such an arcuate surface is to provide additional bonding capability between the bit matrix and the elements 20 by allowing the matrix material as at 50 to extend between adjacent elements 20. This provides not only more opportunity for a strong metallurgical bond if the elements are metal coated as is known in the art, but also lends mechanical support.
  • the drill bit and cutting array of the present invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will be understood that it is not so limited. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many additions, deletions and modifications to the preferred embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.
  • the cutting array of the present invention may be employed with a steel body bit, the array being pre-formed by hot pressing or infiltration techniques known in the art. The preform is then post-brazed or otherwise secured to the bit after the array is furnaced.
  • the cutting array might be formed on or bonded to a support including one or more studs which are inserted in apertures on the face of the bit, which technique also facilitates replacement of worn or damaged cutting arrays, or tailoring cutting element compositions to particular formations.

Claims (9)

  1. Trépan de forage (10) destiné à forer une formation géologique, comprenant au moins une rangée sensiblement plane (16, 116, 216, 316) d'éléments de coupe discrets (20) disposés selon un voisinage latéral mutuel sensiblement contigu, ladite rangée (16, 116, 216, 316) définissant une surface de coupe (22, 122, 222, 322) faisant face généralement à la direction de rotation du trépan, caractérisé en ce que ladite rangée sensiblement plane (16, 116, 216, 316) inclut au moins une discontinuité (28, 128, 228, 328) partageant pratiquement ladite rangée sensiblement plane (16,116, 216, 316) en une pluralité de sous-rangées adjacentes latéralement (30, 130, 230, 330), chacune desdites sous-rangées adjacentes latéralement (30, 130, 230, 330) incluant une pluralité desdits éléments de coupe discrets (20) selon un voisinage latéral mutuel sensiblement contigu.
  2. Trépan de forage selon la revendication 1, dans lequel au moins une discontinuité (128) est définie par le décalage desdites sous-rangées l'une par rapport à l'autre dans la direction de rotation du trépan de forage.
  3. Trépan de forage selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel au moins une discontinuité (28, 128, 228, 328) est sensiblement linéaire.
  4. Trépan de forage selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel au moins une discontinuité (228, 328) comprend une pluralité de discontinuités sensiblement linéaires et s'entrecroisant (228, 328).
  5. Trépan de forage selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel au moins une discontinuité (28, 128, 328) est alignée de façon sensiblement parallèle à l'axe longitudinal dudit trépan de forage (10).
  6. Trépan de forage selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel au moins une seconde discontinuité sensiblement linéaire (228, 328) est orientée de façon sensiblement perpendiculaire à au moins une discontinuité sensiblement linéaire (228, 328).
  7. Trépan de forage selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel au moins une discontinuité (28, 128, 228, 328) comprend une pluralité de discontinuités sensiblement linéaires (28) orientées selon des angles aigus par rapport à l'axe longitudinal dudit trépan de forage (10).
  8. Trépan de forage selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel au moins deux discontinuités de ladite pluralité de discontinuités (228) se coupent.
  9. Trépan de forage selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel ladite face de coupe (22, 122, 222, 322) est fixée dans un volume d'une structure supportant un matériau de matrice et au moins une discontinuité (28, 228, 328) comprend un matériau de matrice s'étendant entre et partageant ladite face de coupe (22, 222, 322) en ladite pluralité de sous-rangées.
EP91103334A 1990-03-06 1991-03-05 Rangée découpe avec discontinuités pour trépan de forage Expired - Lifetime EP0446765B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US49004190A 1990-03-06 1990-03-06
US490041 1990-03-06

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0446765A1 EP0446765A1 (fr) 1991-09-18
EP0446765B1 true EP0446765B1 (fr) 1995-04-26

Family

ID=23946370

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP91103334A Expired - Lifetime EP0446765B1 (fr) 1990-03-06 1991-03-05 Rangée découpe avec discontinuités pour trépan de forage

Country Status (5)

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EP (1) EP0446765B1 (fr)
AU (1) AU640749B2 (fr)
CA (1) CA2037480A1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69109160T2 (fr)
NO (1) NO910866L (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7743855B2 (en) 2006-09-05 2010-06-29 Smith International, Inc. Drill bit with cutter element having multifaceted, slanted top cutting surface
US7950476B2 (en) 2007-01-03 2011-05-31 Smith International, Inc. Drill bit and cutter element having chisel crest with protruding pilot portion
US9279290B2 (en) 2012-12-28 2016-03-08 Smith International, Inc. Manufacture of cutting elements having lobes

Families Citing this family (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6883624B2 (en) * 2003-01-31 2005-04-26 Smith International, Inc. Multi-lobed cutter element for drill bit
US6929079B2 (en) 2003-02-21 2005-08-16 Smith International, Inc. Drill bit cutter element having multiple cusps
GB2427633B (en) 2005-05-17 2007-08-15 Smith International Drill bit and method of designing a drill bit
US7757789B2 (en) 2005-06-21 2010-07-20 Smith International, Inc. Drill bit and insert having bladed interface between substrate and coating
US8205692B2 (en) 2007-01-03 2012-06-26 Smith International, Inc. Rock bit and inserts with a chisel crest having a broadened region
US7686106B2 (en) 2007-01-03 2010-03-30 Smith International, Inc. Rock bit and inserts with wear relief grooves
US7798258B2 (en) 2007-01-03 2010-09-21 Smith International, Inc. Drill bit with cutter element having crossing chisel crests
US8607899B2 (en) 2011-02-18 2013-12-17 National Oilwell Varco, L.P. Rock bit and cutter teeth geometries
EP3117065A4 (fr) * 2014-03-11 2017-12-27 Varel International, Ind., L.P. Trépans à matrice courte et méthodologies de fabrication de trépans à matrice courte
CA3011347A1 (fr) 2016-01-13 2017-07-20 Schlumberger Canada Limited Plaquette a ciseau coude

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3766376D1 (de) * 1986-02-19 1991-01-10 Strate Bit Corp Schneidelement aus einem an eine halterung angeloeteten verbundwerkstoff.

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7743855B2 (en) 2006-09-05 2010-06-29 Smith International, Inc. Drill bit with cutter element having multifaceted, slanted top cutting surface
US7950476B2 (en) 2007-01-03 2011-05-31 Smith International, Inc. Drill bit and cutter element having chisel crest with protruding pilot portion
US9279290B2 (en) 2012-12-28 2016-03-08 Smith International, Inc. Manufacture of cutting elements having lobes

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NO910866D0 (no) 1991-03-05
EP0446765A1 (fr) 1991-09-18
DE69109160T2 (de) 1995-08-31
AU7261791A (en) 1991-09-12
CA2037480A1 (fr) 1991-09-07
NO910866L (no) 1991-09-09
AU640749B2 (en) 1993-09-02
DE69109160D1 (de) 1995-06-01

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