Rotary drill bits

Patent · Tue Oct 06 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:5998258

Barr, J D; Taylor, M R

A rotary drill bit is described for use in drilling holes in subsurface formations comprising a bit body having a leading face and a gauge region. Cutting elements are mounted at the surface of the leading face of the bit body. A passage in the bit body is for supplying drilling fluid to openings in the leading face of the bit body, and at least one junk slot in the gauge region of the bit body is associated with each such opening in that the leading face of the bit body provides at least one flow path from the opening to the associated junk slot. Drilling fluid emerges from the openings flows over the leading face of the bit body and past cutting elements thereon, so as to cool and clean the cutting elements before exiting through the junk slot. At least one of the openings is a peripheral opening located in an area of the leading face adjacent the gauge region. The peripheral opening is angularly spaced from the nearest associated junk slot, and the shortest distance between the opening and the gauge region, measured over the leading surface of the bit is less than 1/2 of the shortest distance between the opening and the nearest associated junk slot. One flow path between the peripheral opening and the nearest associated junk slot extends mainly peripherally along the outer peripheral region of the leading face of the bit, adjacent to the gauge region. The one flow path offers less resistance to fluid flow than any path.

• Assignee: NL Petroleum Products Limited, Gloucestershire
• Patent Number(s): US 4697654
• OSTI ID: 5998258
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
03 NATURAL GAS
030300 -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
APERTURES
DESIGN
DRILL BITS
DRILLING
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
DRILLS
EQUIPMENT
FLUID FLOW
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRAULICS
MECHANICS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
OPENINGS
ROCK DRILLING
ROTARY DRILLING
ROTARY DRILLS
WELLS