Drill Bits With a Fluid Cushion For Reduced Friction and Methods of Making and Using Same

Abstract

A drill bit is disclosed that in one configuration may include at least one cutter on a face section of the bit and at least one opening proximate the at least one cutter configured to discharge fluid under pressure onto the formation to create a fluid cushion between the drill bit and the formation during a drilling operation. An actuation device associated with the drill bit may be utilized to provide fluid under pressure to the at least one opening.

1 . A drill bit, comprising:
 a face section that includes one or more cutters thereon configured to penetrate into a formation;   at least one opening in the drill bit configured to discharge fluid under pressure onto the formation; and   an actuation unit configured to supply the fluid under pressure to the at least one opening when the drill bit is engaged for cutting the formation.   
   
   
       2 . The drill bit of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening comprises a plurality of openings and wherein the actuation unit is configured to supply the fluid under pressure to each of the openings. 
   
   
       3 . The drill bit of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening is located at one or: a face section; gage section; and cone section. 
   
   
       4 . The drill bit of  claim 1 , wherein the actuation unit comprises a control valve in a fluid line that supplies the fluid to the at least one opening to control the amount of the fluid to the at least one opening. 
   
   
       5 . The drill bit of  claim 4 , further comprising a pump configured to supply the fluid to the valve. 
   
   
       6 . The drill bit of  claim 4 , wherein the control valve is one of: a one-way valve; and
 an electrical valve.   
   
   
       7 . The drill bit of  claim 1 , wherein the actuation unit includes a ring device configured to open and close a fluid passage to the at least one opening. 
   
   
       8 . The drill bit of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to control the actuation device for providing fluid under pressure to the at least one opening. 
   
   
       9 . The drill bit of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor that provides signals relating to the pressure of the fluid supplied to the at least one opening. 
   
   
       10 . A method of drilling a wellbore, comprising:
 conveying a drill bit attached to a bottomhole assembly into the wellbore, the drill bit having at least one cutter on a face section of the drill bit and at least one opening proximate to at least one cutter, the at least one opening configured to discharge a fluid under pressure onto a formation when the drill bit is engaged in cutting the formation;   drilling the wellbore by rotating the drill bit; and   supplying the fluid under pressure to the at least one opening to create a fluid cushion between the face section of the drill bit and the formation.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one opening includes a plurality of openings and wherein the method further comprises providing fluid under substantially the same pressure to each of the openings. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising controlling the supply of the fluid to the at least one opening in response to a selected parameter. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the selected parameter relates to one or more of: a dysfunction relating to the drill bit; a dysfunction relating to the bottomhole assembly; a change of formation; vibration; whirl; stick-slip; bending moment;
 oscillation; torque; rate of penetration; weight-on-bit; tangential acceleration; axial acceleration; radial acceleration; and drill bit fluctuation.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein supplying the fluid under pressure comprises using an actuation device that is one of: a pump configured to supply the fluid under pressure to the at least one opening; and a mechanical device that opens and closes a fluid supply line to the at least one opening. 
   
   
       15 . A method of manufacturing a drill bit, comprising:
 providing a drill bit having at least one cutter on a face section of the drill bit; and   forming at least one opening proximate the at least one cutter configured to discharge a fluid under pressure onto a formation when the drill bit is engaged in cutting the formation.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising providing a fluid supply unit configured to supply the fluid under pressure to the at least one opening via a fluid channel. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising providing a control unit configured to control the fluid supply unit in response to a parameter of interest. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising providing a sensor configured to provide a measurement relating to the parameter of interest. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the parameter of interest is one or more of: a dysfunction relating to the drill bit; a dysfunction relating to the bottomhole assembly; a change of formation; vibration; whirl; stick-slip; bending moment; oscillation; torque; rate of penetration; weight-on-bit; tangential acceleration; axial acceleration; radial acceleration; and drill bit fluctuation. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising controlling the supply of the fluid to the at least one opening in response to a selected parameter.