Patent Application
20170175455
This disclosure relates generally to earth-boring tools and systems that utilize the same for drilling boreholes in earth formations. More specifically, disclosed embodiments relate to earth-boring tools that may include one or more passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying members configured to modify the aggressiveness of the earth-boring tools in response to forces acting on the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying members.
Oil wells (also referred to as “wellbores” or “boreholes”) are drilled with a drill string that includes a tubular member having a drilling assembly (also referred to as the “bottomhole assembly” or “BHA”). The BHA typically includes devices and sensors that provide information relating to a variety of parameters relating to the drilling operations (“drilling parameters”), behavior of the BHA (“BHA parameters”) and parameters relating to the formation surrounding the wellbore (“formation parameters”). An earth-boring tool, such as a drill bit attached to the bottom end of the BHA, is rotated by rotating the drill string and/or by a drilling motor (also referred to as a “mud motor”) in the BHA to disintegrate the rock formation to drill the wellbore. A large number of wellbores are drilled along contoured trajectories. For example, a single wellbore may include one or more vertical sections, deviated sections and horizontal sections through differing types of rock formations. When drilling progresses from a soft formation, such as sand, to a hard formation, such as shale, or vice versa, the rate of penetration (ROP) of the drill changes and can cause (decreases or increases) excessive fluctuations or vibration (lateral or torsional) in the earth-boring tool. The ROP is typically controlled by controlling the weight-on-bit (WOB) and rotational speed (revolutions per minute or “RPM”) of the drill bit so as to control drill bit fluctuations. The WOB is controlled by controlling the hook load at the surface and the RPM is controlled by controlling the drill string rotation at the surface and/or by controlling the drilling motor speed in the BHA. Controlling the drill bit fluctuations and ROP by such methods requires the drilling system or operator to take actions at the surface. The impact of such surface actions on the drill bit fluctuations is not substantially immediate. Drill bit aggressiveness contributes to the vibration, whirl and stick-slip for a given WOB and drill bit rotational speed. “Depth of Cut” (DOC) of a drill bit, generally defined as “the distance the drill bit advances along axially into the formation in one revolution”, is a contributing factor relating to the drill bit aggressiveness. Controlling DOC, cutting element exposure, and other aggressiveness-affecting parameters can provide a smoother borehole, avoid premature damage to the cutters and prolong operating life of the earth-boring tool.
The disclosure herein provides a drill bit and drilling systems using the same configured to control the rate of change of instantaneous aggressiveness of an earth-boring tool during drilling of a wellbore.
In some embodiments, earth-boring tools may include a body and a passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member secured to the body. The passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member may be movable between a first position in which the earth-boring tool exhibits a first aggressiveness and a second position in which the earth-boring tool exhibits a second, different aggressiveness responsive to forces acting on the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member.
In other embodiments, methods of passively adjusting aggressivenesses of earth-boring tools may involve causing a force to be exerted on a passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member secured to a body. The passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member may move from a first position in which the earth-boring tool exhibits a first aggressiveness to a second position in which the earth-boring tool exhibits a second, different aggressiveness responsive to the force acting on the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member.
While this disclosure concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming specific embodiments, various features and advantages of embodiments within the scope of this disclosure may be more readily ascertained from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The illustrations presented in this disclosure are not meant to be actual views of any particular drill string, earth-boring tool, or component thereof, but are merely idealized representations employed to describe illustrative embodiments. Thus, the drawings are not necessarily to scale.
Disclosed embodiments relate generally to earth-boring tools that may include one or more passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying members configured to modify the aggressiveness of the earth-boring tools in response to forces acting on the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying members. More specifically, disclosed are embodiments of earth-boring tools that may enable selective increasing and decreasing of the aggressiveness of the earth-boring tools utilizing the forces acting on, and corresponding responsive movement of, passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying members secured to the earth-boring tools.
Although some embodiments of passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying members in this disclosure are depicted as being used and employed in earth-boring drill bits, such as fixed-cutter earth-boring rotary drill bits, sometimes referred to as “drag” bits, and rolling-cone drill bits, and earth-boring reamers, such as expandable reamers, passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying members in accordance with this disclosure may be employed in any earth-boring tool having a cutting structure susceptible to passive adjustment of its aggressiveness. Accordingly, the terms “earth-boring tool” and “earth-boring drill bit,” as used in this disclosure, mean and include any type of bit or tool used for drilling during the formation or enlargement of a wellbore in a subterranean formation and include, for example, fixed-cutter drill bits, rolling cone bits, percussion bits, core bits, eccentric bits, bicenter bits, reamers, mills, hybrid bits, and other drilling bits and tools known in the art.
As used in this disclosure, the term “passive” when used in the context of the adjustment of an aggressiveness-modifying member means and includes embodiments wherein the adjustment is achieved without requiring any special-purpose, dedicated electrical or electromechanical actuation components to accomplish adjustment. For example, passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying members may lack electronic and electromechanical actuation mechanisms and may not require dedicated operator triggers (e.g., changing flow rates of circulating fluid, changing rates of rotation of the drill string, making such changes in a predetermined pattern) to accomplish or initiate adjustment. As an additional example, passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying members may be actuatable utilizing mechanical or hydraulic actuation mechanisms, and may automatically actuate, deactuate, and otherwise modify aggressiveness in response to forces inherently acting on the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying members during use.
As used in this disclosure, the tem′ “aggressiveness” (μ) of an earth-boring tool is calculated according to the following formula:
wherein T is the torque applied to the earth-boring tool, D is the diameter of the earth-boring tool, and W is the weight applied to the earth-boring tool (e.g., weight-on-bit (WOB)). Aggressiveness is a unitless number. Aggressiveness may be affected by factors such as vibration, number of blades or cones, cutting element size, type, and configuration, hardness of the subterranean formation, etc. These factors may affect the aggressiveness by changing the torque delivered at a particular applied weight. Different types of earth-boring tools may exhibit different aggressivenesses. As illustrative examples, conventional roller cone bits may have a bit aggressiveness of from about 0.10 to about 0.25, impregnated bits may have a bit aggressiveness of from about 0.12 to about 0.40, and fixed-cutter bits may have a bit aggressiveness of from about 0.40 to about 1.50 (assuming, in each case, similar cutting element type on each blade or roller cone of a bit, and somewhat evenly distributed applied weight between each blade or roller cone). Hybrid bits (bits having a combination of roller cones and fixed-cutter blades) may have a bit aggressiveness between that of a roller cone bit and a fixed-cutter drill bit.
Drill string 118 is shown conveyed into the wellbore 110 by a rig 180 at the surface 167. The illustrative rig 180 shown is a land rig for ease of explanation. The apparatus and methods disclosed herein may also be utilized with an offshore rig used for drilling wellbores under water. A rotary table 169 or a top drive (not shown) coupled to the drill string 118 may be utilized to rotate the drill string 118 to rotate the BHA 130 and thus the earth-boring tool 150 to drill the wellbore 110. A drilling motor 155 (also referred to as the “mud motor”) may be provided in the BHA 130 to rotate the earth-boring tool 150. The drilling motor 155 may be used alone to rotate the earth-boring tool 150 or to superimpose the rotation of the earth-boring tool 150 by the drill string 118. A control unit (or controller) 190, which may be a computer-based unit, may be placed at the surface 167 to receive and process data transmitted by the sensors in the earth-boring tool 150 and the sensors in the BHA 130, and to control selected operations of the various devices and sensors in the BHA 130. The surface controller 190, in one embodiment, may include a processor 192, a data storage device (or a computer-readable medium) 194 for storing data, algorithms and computer programs 196. The data storage device 194 may be any suitable device, including, but not limited to, a read-only memory (ROM), a random-access memory (RAM), a flash memory, a magnetic tape, a hard disk and an optical disk. During drilling, a drilling fluid 179 from a source thereof is pumped under pressure into the tubular member 116. The drilling fluid discharges at the bottom of the earth-boring tool 150 and returns to the surface via the annular space (also referred as the “annulus”) between the drill string 118 and the inside wall 142 of the wellbore 110.
The BHA 130 may further include one or more downhole sensors (collectively designated by numeral 175). The sensors 175 may include any number and type of sensors, including, but not limited to, sensors generally known as the measurement-while-drilling (MWD) sensors or the logging-while-drilling (LWD) sensors, and sensors that provide information relating to the behavior of the BHA 130, such as drill bit rotation (revolutions per minute or “RPM”), tool face, pressure, vibration, whirl, bending, and stick-slip. The BHA 130 may further include a control unit (or controller) 170 that controls the operation of one or more devices and sensors in the BHA 130. The controller 170 may include, among other things, circuits to process the signals from sensor 175, a processor 172 (such as a microprocessor) to process the digitized signals, a data storage device 174 (such as a solid-state-memory), and a computer program 176. The processor 172 may process the digitized signals, and control downhole devices and sensors, and communicate data information with the controller 190 via a two-way telemetry unit 188.
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In one aspect, the activation device 260 controls the rate of extension and retraction of the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member 250. In another aspect, the device 260 extends the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member 250 at a first rate and retracts the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member 250 at a second rate. In embodiments, the first rate and second rate may be the same or different rates. In another aspect, the rate of extension of the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member 250 may be greater than the rate of retraction. As noted above, the device 260 also is referred to herein as a “rate control device” or a “rate controller.” In the particular embodiment of the device 260, the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member 250 is directly coupled to the device 260 via a mechanical connection or connecting member 256.
In one aspect, the device 260 includes a chamber 270 that houses a double acting reciprocating member, such as a piston 280, that sealingly divides the chamber 270 into a first chamber 272 and a second chamber 274. Both chambers 272 and 274 are filled with a hydraulic fluid 278 suitable for downhole use, such as oil. A biasing member, such as a spring 284, in the first chamber 272, applies a selected force on the piston 280 to cause it to move outward. Since the piston 280 is connected to the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member 250, moving the piston outward causes the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member 250 to extend from the surface 252 of the earth-boring tool 200. In one aspect, the chambers 272 and 274 are in fluid communication with each other via a first fluid flow path or flow line 282 and a second fluid flow path or flow line 286. A flow control device, such as a flow restrictor 285 (e.g., an orifice plate), a check valve, or a flow restrictor 285 and a check valve, placed in the fluid flow line 282, may be utilized to control the rate of flow of the fluid from chamber 274 to chamber 272. Similarly, another flow control device, such as a check valve 287, a flow restrictor, or a check valve 287 and a flow restrictor, placed in fluid flow line 286, may be utilized to control the rate of flow of the fluid 278 from chamber 272 to chamber 274. The flow control devices 285 and 287 may be configured at the surface to set the rates of flow through fluid flow lines 282 and 286, respectively.
In one aspect, one or both flow control devices 285 and 287 may include a variable control, biasing device, such as a spring, to provide a constant flow rate from one chamber to another. Constant fluid flow rate exchange between the chambers 272 and 274 provides a first constant rate for the extension for the piston 280 and a second constant rate for the retraction of the piston 280 and, thus, corresponding constant rates for extension and retraction of the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member 250. The size of the flow control lines 282 and 286 along with the setting of their corresponding biasing devices 285 and 287 define the flow rates through lines 282 and 286, respectively, and thus the corresponding rate of extension and retraction of the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member 250. In one aspect, the fluid flow line 282 and its corresponding flow control device 285 may be set such that when the earth-boring tool 200 is not in use, i.e., there is no external force being applied onto the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member 250, the biasing member 280 will extend the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member 250 to the maximum extended position. In one aspect, the flow control line 282 may be configured so that the biasing member 280 extends the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member 250 relatively fast or suddenly. When the earth-boring tool 200 is in operation, such as during drilling of a wellbore, the weight applied to the earth-boring tool 200 may exert an external force on the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member 250. This external force may cause the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member 250 to apply a force or pressure on the piston 280 and thus on the biasing member 284.
In one aspect, the fluid flow line 286 may be configured to allow relatively slow flow rate of the fluid from chamber 272 into chamber 274, thereby causing the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member 250 to retract relatively slowly. As an example, the extension rate of the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member 250 may be set so that the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member 250 extends from the fully retracted position to a fully extended position over a few seconds while it retracts from the fully extended position to the fully retracted position over one or several minutes or longer (such as, for example, between two and five minutes). It will be noted that any suitable rate may be set for the extension and retraction of the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member 250. In one aspect, the device 260 is a passive device that adjusts the extension and retraction of a passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member 250 based on or in response to the force or pressure applied on the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member 250.
When the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member 250 is in a first state, the earth-boring tool 200 may exhibit a first aggressiveness, and the earth-boring tool 200 may exhibit a second, different aggressiveness when the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member 250 is in a second state. For example, when the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member 250 is in a fully extended position, the earth-boring tool 200 may exhibit a least aggressiveness, and the earth-boring tool may exhibit a greatest aggressiveness when the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member 250 is in a fully retracted position. Moreover, the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member 250 may automatically adapt the aggressiveness of the earth-boring tool 200 responsive to forces inherently acting on the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member 250 (e.g., applied weight, vibrational forces, reaction forces from the formation, applied torque) to and between the greatest and least aggressivenesses, enabling the earth-boring tool 200 to adaptively react to drilling conditions without requiring active intervention from an operator or complex, active adjustment-controlling mechanisms.
The passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member 250 may enable the earth-boring tool 200 to effectively drill the earth formation at lower applied torque for a given applied weight (e.g., weight on bit (WOB)). For example, the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying may enable a 5% reduction in applied torque for a given applied weight or more. More specifically, the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying may enable, for example, a 10% reduction in applied torque for a given applied weight or more. As specific, nonlimiting examples, the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying may enable a 15%, 25%, 30%, 50%, or 60% reduction in applied torque for a given applied weight or more.
In the particular configuration shown in
The passively adjustable, aggressiveness modifying member 850 may be integrated into one or more of the legs 804 of the earth-boring tool 800, such that each leg 804 including a passively adjustable, aggressiveness modifying member 850 may be movable with respect to the body 802. For example, the passively adjustable, aggressiveness modifying member 850 may include a bottom portion 820 of the leg 804, proximate the bearing pin 816 and separated from the body 802 by an upper portion 822 of the leg 804. The bottom portion 820 of the leg 804 may be movable in a direction D at least substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis 824 (e.g., an axis of rotation) of the earth-boring tool 800. The upper portion 822 of the leg 804 may include a recess 826 extending into the leg 804 toward the body 802, the recess 826 being sized and shaped to receive a rate control device 860 therein. The rate control device 860 may be the same as, or different from, the rate control devices described herein in connection with
When the earth-boring tool 800 is deployed in a borehole, the passively adjustable, aggressiveness modifying member 850 may move between a first, fully extended state and a second, fully retracted state in response to forces acting on the passively adjustable, aggressiveness modifying member 850. For example, the passively adjustable, aggressiveness modifying member 850 may dampen vibrations experienced by the earth-boring tool 850 by moving between a first, lowest longitudinal position along the longitudinal axis 824 and second, highest longitudinal position along the longitudinal axis 824, dampening vibration experienced by the earth-boring tool 800.
The passively adjustable, aggressiveness modifying member 950 may be configured as one or more of the cutters 908 (e.g., PDC cutting elements, impregnated inserts, or inserts of wear resistant material (e.g., metal-matrix-cemented tungsten carbide)) of the earth-boring tool 900. A passively adjustable, aggressiveness modifying member 950 may be included on each blade 904 in some embodiments. In other embodiments, a passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member may be secured to fewer than all blades 904 of the earth-boring tool 900. The passively adjustable, aggressiveness modifying member 950 may be movable in a direction D oriented perpendicular to, or at an oblique angle relative to, a longitudinal axis 924 (e.g., an axis of rotation) of the earth-boring tool 900. The blade 904 may include a recess 926 extending into the blade 904 toward the body 902, the recess 926 being sized and shaped to receive a rate control device 960 therein. The rate control device 960 may be the same as, or different from, the rate control devices described herein in connection with
When the earth-boring tool 900 is deployed in a borehole, the passively adjustable, aggressiveness modifying member 950 may move between a first, fully extended state and a second, fully retracted state in response to forces acting on the passively adjustable, aggressiveness modifying member 950. For example, the passively adjustable, aggressiveness modifying member 950 may transition between an overexposed and an underexposed state relative to the other cutters 908 by moving between a first, outermost radial position from the longitudinal axis 924 and second, innermost radial position from the longitudinal axis 924, responsive to lateral forces from the sidewall of the borehole.
Thus, in various embodiments, a rate controller may be a hydraulic actuation device and may be placed at any desired location in the earth-boring tool or outside the earth-boring tool to self-adjust extension and retraction of one or more passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying members based on or in response to external forces applied on the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying members during drilling of a wellbore. The passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying members may be located and oriented independently from the location and/or orientation of the rate controller in the earth-boring tool. Multiple passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying members may be inter-connected and activated simultaneously. Multiple passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying members may also be connected to a shared rate controller.
In various embodiments, during stick-slip, the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying members can extend relatively quickly at high rotational speed (RPM) of the earth-boring tool when the depth of cut (DOC) of the cutters is low. However, at low RPM, when the DOC start increasing suddenly, the pads resist sudden inward motion and create a large contact (rubbing) force preventing high DOC. Limiting high DOC during stick-slip reduces the high torque build-up and mitigates stick-slip. In various embodiments, the rate controller may allow sudden or substantially sudden extension (outward motion) of a passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member and limit sudden retraction (inward motion) of the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member. Such a mechanism may prevent sudden increase in the depth of cut of cutters during drilling. A pressure compensator may be provided to balance the pressures inside and outside the cylinder of the rate controller.
Additional, nonlimiting embodiments within the scope of this disclosure follow:
An earth-boring tool, comprising: a body; and a passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member secured to the body, the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member being movable between a first position in which the earth-boring tool exhibits a first aggressiveness and a second position in which the earth-boring tool exhibits a second, different aggressiveness responsive to forces acting on the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member.
The earth-boring tool of Embodiment 1, wherein the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member comprises one of a depth-of-cut limiting device, a cutting element, a pad, an ovoid, and a leg having a rolling cone secured to an end of the leg and wherein the passively adjustable, aggressiveness modifying member is movable from the first position at a first longitudinal and radial position relative to an outer surface of the body to the second position at a second, different longitudinal position, radial position, or both longitudinal and radial position relative to the outer surface of the body.
The earth-boring tool of Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2, wherein the first position corresponds to an extended state, the second position corresponds to a retracted state, the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member is movable toward the first position at a first rate, and the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member is movable toward the second position at a second, slower rate.
The earth-boring tool of Embodiment 3, wherein the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member is biased toward the first position.
The earth-boring tool of Embodiment 3 or Embodiment 4, wherein the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member comprises: a formation-engaging structure; a piston operatively connected to the formation-engaging structure, the piston positioned to apply a force on the pad; a biasing member applying a force on the piston toward the first position; a fluid chamber divided by the piston into a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber; and a first fluid flow path from the first fluid chamber to the second fluid chamber that controls movement of the piston toward the first position at the first rate and a second fluid flow path from the second chamber to the first chamber that controls movement of the piston toward the second position at the second rate.
The earth-boring tool of Embodiment 5, wherein a first check valve, first flow restrictor, or first check valve and first flow restrictor in the first fluid flow path defines the first rate and a second check valve, second flow restrictor, or second check valve and second flow restrictor in the second fluid flow path defines the second rate.
The earth-boring tool of Embodiment 5 or Embodiment 6, wherein the piston comprises a double-acting piston and a fluid acting on a first side of the double-acting piston controls at least in part the first rate and a fluid acting on a second, opposite side of the double-acting piston controls at least in part the second rate.
The earth-boring tool of any one of Embodiments 5 through 7, wherein the piston is operatively coupled to the formation-engaging structure by one of: a direct mechanical connection and via a fluid.
The earth-boring tool of any one of Embodiments 1 through 8, wherein the earth-boring tool is a rolling cone drill bit or a hybrid bit and the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member is located on a leg extending from the body of the rolling cone drill bit or hybrid bit toward a rolling cone secured to an end of the leg, the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member enabling the leg to dampen vibration as the rolling cone engages with an underlying earth formation.
The earth-boring tool of Embodiment 9, further comprising an additional passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member on each other leg extending from the body of the rolling cone drill bit or hybrid bit.
The earth-boring tool of any one of Embodiments 1 through 8, wherein the earth-boring tool is a reamer and the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member is located on a blade of the reamer, the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member being configured to modify a depth of cut of cutting elements secured to the blade of the reamer in response to forces applied to the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member as the cutting elements engage with an earth formation.
The earth-boring tool of Embodiment 11, further comprising an additional passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member on each other blade of the reamer.
A method of passively adjusting an aggressiveness of an earth-boring tool, comprising: causing a force to be exerted on a passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member secured to a body; and moving the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member from a first position in which the earth-boring tool exhibits a first aggressiveness to a second position in which the earth-boring tool exhibits a second, different aggressiveness responsive to causing the force to act on the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member.
The method of Embodiment 13, wherein moving the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member from the first position to the second position comprises increasing the aggressiveness of the earth-boring tool by retracting the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member from an extended position, toward the body, to a retracted position.
The method of Embodiment 14, further comprising subsequently decreasing the aggressiveness of the earth-boring tool by extending the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member from the retracted position, away from the body, to the extended position.
The method of Embodiment 15, wherein retracting the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member from the extended position to the retracted position comprises retracting the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member from the extended position to the retracted position at a first rate and wherein extending the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member from the retracted position to the extended position comprises extending the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member from the retracted position to the extended position at a second, faster rate.
The method of Embodiment 15 or Embodiment 16, wherein extending the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member from the retracted position to the extended position comprises enabling a biasing member biasing the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member toward the extended position to extend the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member from the retracted position to the extended position.
The method of any one of Embodiments 13 through 17, wherein the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member comprises one of a depth-of-cut limiting device, a cutting element, a pad, an ovoid, and a leg having a rolling cone secured to an end of the leg and wherein moving the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member from the first position to the second position comprises moving the passively adjustable, aggressiveness modifying member from a first longitudinal and radial position relative to an outer surface of the body to a second, different longitudinal position, radial position, or both longitudinal and radial position relative to the outer surface of the body.
The method of any one of Embodiments 13 through 18, wherein the earth-boring tool is a rolling cone drill bit or a hybrid bit and the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member is located on a leg extending from the body of the rolling cone drill bit or hybrid bit toward a rolling cone secured to an end of the leg, and wherein moving the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member from the first position to the second position comprises dampening vibration experienced by the leg as the rolling cone engages with an underlying earth formation.
The method of any one of Embodiments 13 through 18, wherein the earth-boring tool is a reamer and the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member is located on a blade of the reamer, and wherein moving the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member from the first position to the second position comprises modifying a depth of cut of cutting elements secured to the blade of the reamer in response to forces applied to the passively adjustable, aggressiveness-modifying member as the cutting elements engage with an earth formation.
While certain illustrative embodiments have been described in connection with the figures, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize and appreciate that the scope of this disclosure is not limited to those embodiments explicitly shown and described in this disclosure. Rather, many additions, deletions, and modifications to the embodiments described in this disclosure may be made to produce embodiments within the scope of this disclosure, such as those specifically claimed, including legal equivalents. In addition, features from one disclosed embodiment may be combined with features of another disclosed embodiment while still being within the scope of this disclosure, as contemplated by the inventors.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/864,926, filed Apr. 17, 2013, for “DRILL BIT WITH SELF-ADJUSTING PADS,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference.
