US2014374156A1PendingUtilityA1

Methods of reducing stress in downhole tools

41
Assignee: SMITH INTERNATIONALPriority: Jun 19, 2013Filed: Jun 18, 2014Published: Dec 25, 2014
Est. expiryJun 19, 2033(~6.9 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Anthony GriffoTing RenCary A. Roth
E21B 7/14E21B 7/24E21B 10/55
41
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Claims

Abstract

A method for reducing stress in a downhole tool. The method includes varying a temperature of the downhole tool by at least 5° C. Vibrational energy may be transferred to the downhole tool with a vibration device coupled to the downhole tool. The vibrational energy may cause the downhole tool to move with a frequency from about 10 Hz to about 5 kHz.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for reducing stress in a downhole tool, comprising:
 varying a temperature of the downhole tool by at least 5° C.; and   transferring vibrational energy to the downhole tool with a vibration device coupled to the downhole tool, wherein the vibrational energy causes the downhole tool to move with a frequency from about 10 Hz to about 5 kHz.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vibrational energy causes the downhole tool to move with a frequency from about 10 Hz to about 200 Hz. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein vibrational energy is transferred to the downhole tool in at least two separate instances for a duration of time. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the duration of time varies from about 5 minutes to more than 10 hours. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vibrational energy is transferred to the downhole tool while the temperature of the downhole tool is varying by at least 5° C. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the varying temperature of the downhole tool by at least 5° C. comprises at least one of increasing the temperature of the downhole tool from between about 0° C. and about 50° C. to between about 500° C. and about 1250° C. or decreasing the temperature of the downhole tool from between about 500° C. and about 1250° C. to between about 0° C. and about 50° C. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the downhole tool is a drill bit, and further comprising:
 inserting a cutting element into a pocket formed in the drill bit; and   joining the cutting element to the drill bit via a brazing process.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vibrational energy causes the downhole tool to move with a peak-to-peak amplitude between about 1 μm and about 1000 μm. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the downhole tool is selected from the group consisting of a drill bit, a borehole enlargement tool, an underreamer, a downhole mill, and a stabilizer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising joining two or more components together to make the downhole tool. 
     
     
         11 . A method for reducing stress in a downhole tool, comprising:
 placing the downhole tool on a plate, wherein a plurality of legs are coupled to the plate, and wherein a deformable material is disposed between a first one of the plurality of legs and the plate; and   transferring vibrational energy to the downhole tool with a vibration device coupled to the plate, wherein the vibrational energy causes the downhole tool to move with a peak-to-peak amplitude between about 1 μm and about 1000 μm and a frequency from about 10 Hz to about 5 kHz.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the vibrational energy is transferred to the downhole tool while the temperature of the downhole tool is varying by at least 5° C. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the varying temperature of the downhole tool by at least 5° C. comprises at least one of increasing the temperature of the downhole tool from between about 0° C. and about 50° C. to between about 500° C. and about 1250° C. or decreasing the temperature of the downhole tool from between about 500° C. and about 1250° C. to between about 0° C. and about 50° C. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the downhole tool is a drill bit, and further comprising:
 increasing the temperature of the drill bit from between about 0° C. and about 50° C. to between about 500° C. and about 1250° C.;   inserting a cutting element into a pocket formed in the drill bit when the temperature of the drill bit is between about 500° C. and about 1250° C.; and   
       joining the cutting element to the drill bit via a brazing process. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising applying a cladding material to the downhole tool. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the vibrational energy causes the downhole tool to move with a frequency from about 10 Hz to about 200 Hz. 
     
     
         17 . A system for reducing stress in a downhole tool, comprising:
 a vibration device that transfers vibrational energy to a downhole tool, and wherein the vibrational energy causes the downhole tool to move with a frequency from about 10 Hz to about 5 kHz.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a plurality of legs;   a plate coupled to the plurality of legs, wherein the plate has an opening formed therethrough; and   a deformable material disposed between a first one of the plurality of legs and the plate.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the downhole tool comprises a drill bit. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the drill bit has a plurality of cutting elements coupled thereto via a brazing process.

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