REFRESHABLE POLYCRYSTALLINE DIAMOND COMPACT (PDC) DRILL BITS

Abstract

A cutter system for a polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) drill bit includes a body; a static blade attached to the body; a translatable blade attached to the body; and at least one PDC cutting structure attached to the translatable blade. The translatable blade is configured to be translated and maintained in a translated position. The body includes a cavity cooperatively positioned angularly away from the static blade. The translatable blade translates into the cavity. The translatable blade has a substantially retracted rest position and a substantially extended rest position. The cavity includes a restricting device within said cavity, so that said restricting device engages said translatable blade member in the substantially retracted position or the substantially extended position.

Description

Claims

1. A cutter system for a polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) drill bit, the cutter system comprising: a body;a static blade attached to the body;a translatable blade attached to the body; andat least one PDC cutting structure attached to the translatable blade,wherein the translatable blade is configured to be translated and maintained in a translated position,wherein the body includes a cavity cooperatively positioned angularly away from the static blade,wherein the translatable blade translates into the cavity,wherein the translatable blade has a substantially retracted rest position and a substantially extended rest position, andwherein the cavity includes a restricting device within said cavity, so that said restricting device engages said translatable blade member in the substantially retracted position or the substantially extended position.

2. The cutter system of claim 1, wherein the translatable blade is selectively translated.

3. The cutter system of claim 2, wherein the translatable blade is selectively translated when a signal is received, wherein the signal may be mechanical, hydraulic, electrical-mechanical, or wireless.

4. The cutter system of claim 1, wherein said PDC cutting structure is braze-fitted to the blade.

5. The cutter system of claim 1, further comprising: a rotatable blade attached to the body; andat least one PDC cutting structure attached to the rotatable blade,wherein the rotatable blade is configured to be rotated and maintained in a rotated position,wherein the body includes a cavity cooperatively positioned angularly away from the static blade,wherein the rotatable blade rotates into the cavity,wherein the rotatable blade has at least one incrementally rotated rest position, andwherein the cavity includes a restricting device within said cavity, so that said restricting device engages said rotatable blade member in the incrementally rotated position.

6. The cutter system of claim 5, wherein the refreshing of the drill bit comprises translating and/or rotating the refreshing blade to a refreshing position.

7. The cutter system of claim 5, wherein the restricting device is at least one of a motor, a linear actuator, an electro-magnet, a solenoid, a hydraulic cylinder, a gear, a jack screw, a latch, a lock, or a braking mechanism.

8. A method for refreshing a drill bit, the method comprising: providing a drill bit with refreshing blades, wherein the refreshing blades are configured to move into a cutting position upon receipt of a signal;performing drilling operations within a well;obtaining, using a computer processor, drilling data;determining, using the computer processor, a relative aggressiveness of the drill bit; andcomparing, using the computer processor, the relative aggressiveness of the drill bit with a target minimum aggressiveness of the drill bit, andcontrolling the moving of the refreshing blades into the cutting position in the drill bit in response to a result of the comparing of the relative aggressiveness of the drill bit with the target minimum aggressiveness of the drill bit.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the drilling data comprises rate of penetration.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein controlling the drill bit in response to the comparing comprises initiating a refreshing of the drill bit.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein moving of the refreshing blades comprises translating and/or rotating the refreshing blade to a refreshing position.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: initiating translation and rotation of at least one refreshing blade into the refreshing position.

13. A cutter system for a polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) drill bit, the cutter system comprising: a body;a static blade attached to the body;a rotatable blade attached to the body; andat least one PDC cutting structure attached to the rotatable blade,wherein the rotatable blade is configured to be rotated and maintained in a rotated position,wherein the body includes a cavity cooperatively positioned angularly away from the static blade,wherein the rotatable blade rotates into the cavity,wherein the rotatable blade has at least one incrementally rotated rest position, andwherein the cavity includes a restricting device within said cavity, so that said restricting device engages said rotatable blade member in the incrementally rotated position.

14. The cutter system of claim 13, wherein the rotatable blade is selectively rotated.

15. The cutter system of claim 14, wherein the rotatable blade is selectively rotated when a signal is received, wherein the signal may be mechanical, hydraulic, electrical-mechanical, or wireless.

16. The cutter system of claim 13, wherein said PDC cutting structure is braze-fitted to the blade.

17. The cutter system of claim 13, wherein the restricting device is at least one of a motor, a linear actuator, an electro-magnet, a solenoid, a hydraulic cylinder, a gear, a jack screw, a latch, a lock, or a braking mechanism.