US3416617A

US3416617A - Drill bit

Info

Publication number: US3416617A
Application number: US574054A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wayland D Elenburg
Original assignee: Walker Neer Manufacturing Co Inc
Current assignee: Walker Neer Manufacturing Co Inc
Priority date: 1966-08-22
Filing date: 1966-08-22
Publication date: 1968-12-17
Anticipated expiration: 1985-12-17

Description

Um. E7, 1968 W, D ELENBURG 3,436,6l7

DRILL BIT Filed Aug, 22, 1966 ff @y/@gjm irre/@New6 United States Patent 3,416,617 DRILL BIT Wayland D. Elenburg, Wichita Falls, Tex., assignor to Walker-Neer Manufacturing Company, Inc., Wichita Falls, Tex., a corporation of Texas Filed Aug. 22, 1966, Ser. No. 574,054 6 Claims. (Cl. 175-339) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A drill bit adapted for use with a continuous dual passage drill pipe and including fluid ducts for directing flow from around the inner drill pipe onto the cutting members. A skirt around the cutting members greatly restricts flow to the outside of the bit so that almost all return ow is up through the inner pipe. A radial collar further restricts upward flow.

This invention relates to a drill bit, and, more particularly, to a drill bit adapted for use with dual concentric drill pipe adapted for drilling with reverse circulation.

Well drilling operations with reverse circulation have increased appreciably with the development of concentric, dual passage drill pipe as shown in Homer I. Henderson, U.S. Patent No. 3,208,539, dated Sept. 28, 1965. However, even greater advantages can be realized in reverse circulation, if the amount of circulating fluid released to the hole annulus were kept to a minimum. It is a particular advantage of dual passage drill pipe in that drilling fluid is circulated through conduits of fixed, uniform cross-section producing superior cutting recovery and providing better cooling and lubrication. This is not possible when circulating through the hole annulus, and in the event of cave-ins or fractured formations, a considerable amount of fluid may be lost. Moreover, the mere circulation of fluid into the formation under pressure can, itself, influence the undesirable fracturing of sub-surface formations.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a drill bit which, during operation, restricts substantially all flow of circulating fluid to within the dual passage drill pipe, preventing excessive flow into the formation.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a drill bit with a relatively high velocity return ow passage and with minimum interference to the free movement of cuttings.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a cone rock bit with reverse circulation flow directed across the cones.

In carrying out this invention, I provide a cone-type rock bit having a generally cylindrical -body of substantially uniform diameter from top to bottom. The upper portion of the hollow body is threaded, preferably internally for attachment to the outer pipe of a dual pipe string and an inner return tube is threaded to an internal shoulder near the lower end of the hit, so that the inner tube is coaxially disposed with the bit body, with a space around providing a passage for downward ow. A series of rock cones are carried at the lower end of the bit for cutting through the formation and flow passages or nozzles are cut through the internal shoulder so that ow is directed against the cones. Two ow passages are directed against each one, each along a chord of the circular cross-section to wash away cuttings and sediment clinging to them. At the lower end of the bit body, the outer surface is extended downwardly to form a skirt or barrier around the bit body which, together with the cones themselves, substantially confine circulation from the nozzles to the formation directly under the bit, and then to return through the inner tube. A radial collar around the bit further restricts flow outside of the bit to an amount just sufficient to lubricate rice the drill pipe. A similar tubular extension depends from the inner tube so that cuttings are quickly contained within the confined cross-section for increased velocity and superior containment.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the description following when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a well drilling system embodying features of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section view of the lower end of the drill pipe string and drill bit embodying features of this invention; and

FIG. 3 is a section view taken along line 3-3 of FIG.

Referring now to FIG. l, my well drilling system 10 includes an outer drill pipe 12 through which a drilling fluid is introduced at 14 from any suitable source (not shown), an inner cutting recovery tube 16 through which the fluid returns with cuttings C entrained therein, and a gooseneck 18 through which the cuttings C are delivered to a suitable screen 20 for separation. If drilling mud is used as the circulating medium, it is then delivered to a conventional mud pit 22 after depositing the cuttings. However, it is to be understood that the system can also employ air, Wateraerated fluid and other fluid media.

At the lower end of the drill pipe 12 is a rock bit 24 which is provided with a depending skirt or barrier 26 partially embracing the cones 28 and extending between them in order to restrict flow into the well annulus W. Just above the bit cutting cones, a radial extension 30 around the bit body sharply restricts upward flow through the hole annulus W minimizing loss to formations as invasion formations. Preferably, the radial extension 30 is interrupted at arcuate intervals in order to permit just enough fluid to lubricate the pipe. Preferably, the radial extension or collar is provided with cutting edges at the interruptions 32 in order to perform reaming functions.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the drill Vbit is shown in greater detail and, in its preferred form, comprises a cylindrical hollow body 34 which is internally threaded at 36 for connection with a conventional pin coupling of a drill pipe and, toward its lower end, is formed with an internal shoulder 38 through which fluid ducts or nozzles 40 are formed. The internal shoulder 38 is preferably stepped inward at 42 and provided with suitable securing means, such as threads 43, to receive and retain a thin-walled cutting chip return tube 44 is susbtantially flush with the central opening 46 through the internal shoulder. Hence, the central bit opening 46 and return tube 44 provide a smooth uniform flow passage which minimizes entrapment of cuttings and enables controlled flow rate. As seen best in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cutting cones 28 are mounted on tapered extensions 48 depending from the lower end of the bit tbody 34, and are retained thereon, as by means of journals 50. Intermediate the cones 28 downwardly extending skirt or barriers 26 from a continuation of the lower edge of the tapered bosses to restrict flow from the nozzles 38 outward of the bit body so that substantially all flow is confined to within the fixed cross-section of the bit body 34.

Also depending from the bit body around the central opening are additional arcuate extensions 49 which bring the return tube 44 close to the bit so that the cuttings C are introduced to high velocity flow of the restricted, uniform cross-section immediately after being reversed from the formation.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the annular collar or dam 30 almost completely blocks the hole annulus W against upward ow which the cutting edges 32 ream out the hole, although enough flow is permitted through the water ways at 32 in order to lubricate between the drill pipe 12 and the bore hole wall W. As shown in FIG. 2, the annular reaming collar may be provided on an intermediate pipe section or sub 52 which, in turn, is threaded to the lower end of a dual passage drill pipe string. However, if desired, the reaming collar may be carried on the bit body 34 itself.

In any event, a thin-walled return tube 16 is secured within the outer pipe by suitable means (not shown) Aso as to be relatively fixed axially, i.e., supported therein, and it is held in spaced coaxial relationship by means of ribs 54 or the like which are welded to the inner tube 16. Where a separate sub 52 is employed for the reaming collar 30, the return tube 44 carried by the bit 34 is of sufiicient length to extend completely through the intermediate sub 52 so as to be received by the complementary sleeve 56 carried at the lower end of the drill pipe inner tube 16, the telescopic connection being sealed by suitable means such as an O-ring 58. Even where a separate sub 52 is employed, the sub and drill bit may be broken from the drill pipe 12 as aunit.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it will be noted that each cone cutter 28 is opposed by two nozzles 40, each of which is directed along a nearly tangential chord of the circular cross-section of the cone so as to impinge thereon without undue flow restriction and wash circumferentially around it and axially inward toward the drill bit central return entry 46, thus keeping the cones clean, especially in softer formations.

While in FIG. 2 it appears that the bore wall W snugly surrounds the bit body, this is not intended to illustrate a precise relationship and, in practice, some clearance will result. However, the skirt will provide a continuous bearing surface for distribution of bearing loadings during rotation of the bit body, and for substantial elimination of impact wear as occurs in the event of separate, spaced cone-carrying bit shanks. The result is a substantial reduction of shirt-tail wear that plagues conventional rock bits.

While this invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiment thereof, it is obvious that modifications and changes therein may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. For use in well drilling apparatus comprising a continuous dual pipe string with concentric inner and outer pipes forming an annular downward ow passage between them and a central return flow passage, a formation-cutting drill bit comprising:

a cylindrical tubular body of substantially uniform external diameter from top to bottom,

threaded means on the upper portion of said tubular body,

means forming an internal shoulder at the lower end of said body,

a cylindrical tube mounted on said shoulder to form therewith a central flow passage coaxially disposed within said body,

coupling means on the upper end of said cylindrical tube adapting it for telescopic connection with complementary means on the inner pipe of a dual pipe string,

cutting members carried at the lower end of said body and adapted to engage and cut the bottom of a bore hole in response to rotation of said body,

fluid ducts through said shoulder directed against said cutting members,

a tubular skirt depending from the lower end of said body between said cutting members and embracing said fluid ducts, the lower edge of said skirt being spaced slightly above the bottom-engaging portion of said cutting member to restrict greatly flow of uid therefrom radially outward of said tubular body, and

a radial collar around said cylindrical body to restrict further the ow capacity in said bore hole outward of said tubular body.

2. The combination defined by claim 1 wherein:

said lower edge of the skirt embraces said cutting member.

3. The combination defined by claim 2 wherein:

said skirt forms a complete cylinder embracing said cutting member.

4. The combination defined by claim 1, including:

means forming limited iiow passages through said collar.

5. The combination defined by claim 1 wherein said cylindrical drill bit body is threaded internally for connection to complementary coupling means on a drill pipe.

6. The combination defined by claim 1 wherein said cutting members comprise cones with formation penetrating members thereon, and are rotatably mounted in said cylindrical body, and there are two iluid ducts through said shoulder directed on each of said cones.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,256,694 2/1918 Hughes 175-339 1,263,802 4/1918 Reed 175-340 1,582,332 4/1926 Brutus 175--339 X 2,093,633 9/1937 Catland 175-339 X 3,208,539 9/ 1965 Henderson 175--69 X 3,292,719 12/ 1966 Schumacher 175-339 NILE C. BYERS, I R., Primary Examiner.