Dynamic wear protection for fixed cutter drill bits

Abstract

An example method for dynamic wear prediction for a drill bit with a cutting structure may include receiving at a processor of an information handling system an unworn profile of the cutting structure and a diamond distribution of the cutting structure. The diamond distribution may include a three-dimensional diamond distribution characterized by radial and axial position on the drill bit. The method may include calculating a final predicted wear profile of the cutting structure based, at least in part, on the unworn profile and the diamond distribution. The method also may include calculating iterations of intermediary wear profiles based, at least in part, on the previous wear profile and the diamond distribution. The final predicted wear profile may indicate a fully worn portion of the cutting structure. A usable life for the drill bit may be determined based, at least in part, on the final predicted wear profile.

1 . A method for dynamic wear prediction for a drill bit with a cutting structure, comprising:
 receiving at a processor of an information handling system an unworn profile of the cutting structure and a diamond distribution of the cutting structure;   calculating a final predicted wear profile of the cutting structure based, at least in part, on the unworn profile and the diamond distribution, the final predicted wear profile indicating a fully worn portion of the cutting structure; and   determining a usable life for the drill bit based, at least in part, on the final predicted wear profile.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein
 the final predicted wear profile corresponds to a final predicted duration of use of the drill bit or meterage drilled with the drill bit; and   determining the usable life for the drill bit based, at least in part, on the final predicted wear profile comprises determining the usable life for the drill bit using the final predicted duration of use of the drill bit or meterage drilled with the drill bit.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising displaying the final predicted wear profile on a display communicably coupled to the processor. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving at the processor the diamond distribution of the cutting structure comprises calculating the diamond distribution by
 dividing the cutting structure into a plurality of infinitesimal ring volumes; and   characterizing each ring volume by its radial and axial location on the cutting structure and its diamond volume.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein calculating the final predicted wear profile of the cutting structure based, at least in part, on the unworn profile and the diamond distribution comprises
 calculating a first predicted intermediate wear profile based, at least on part, on the unworn profile and the diamond distribution, the first predicted intermediate wear profile corresponding to a first duration of use of the drill bit or meterage drilled with the drill bit; and   calculating the final predicted wear profile based, at least in part, on the first predicted intermediate wear profile.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein calculating the first predicted intermediate wear profile based, at least on part, on the unworn profile and the diamond distribution comprises
 calculating a first diamond volume radial distribution in a first infinitesimal layer at the unworn profile using the plurality of infinitesimal ring volumes;   calculating a first rock radial distribution of a rock amount to be removed by the drill bit during the first duration of use of the drill bit or meterage drilled with the drill bit; and   calculating the first predicted intermediate wear profile by comparing the first diamond volume radial distribution to the first rock radial distribution.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein calculating the final predicted wear profile of the cutting structure based, at least in part, on the unworn profile and the diamond distribution comprises
 calculating a second predicted intermediate wear profile based, at least on part, on the first predicted intermediate wear profile, the second predicted intermediate wear profile corresponding to a second duration of use of the drill bit or meterage drilled with the drill bit; and   calculating the final predicted wear based, at least in part, on the second predicted intermediate wear profile.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein calculating the second predicted intermediate wear profile based, at least on part, on the first predicted intermediate wear profile comprises
 calculating a second diamond volume radial distribution in a second infinitesimal layer at the first predicted intermediate wear profile using the plurality of infinitesimal ring volumes;   calculating a second rock radial distribution of a rock amount to be removed by the drill bit during the second duration of use of the drill bit or meterage drilled with the drill bit; and   calculating the second predicted intermediate wear profile by comparing the second diamond volume radial distribution to the second rock radial distribution.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising displaying at least one of the unworn profile, the first predicted intermediate wear profile, and second predicted intermediate wear profile on the display. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising displaying at least part of the diamond distribution as at least one of a two or three-dimensions graph and/or a numerical table. 
     
     
         11 . A system for dynamic wear prediction for a drill bit with a cutting structure, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory device coupled to the processor, the memory device including a set of instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to
 receive an unworn profile of the cutting structure and a diamond distribution of the cutting structure; 
 calculate a final predicted wear profile of the cutting structure based, at least in part, on the unworn profile and the diamond distribution, the final predicted wear profile indicating a fully worn portion of the cutting structure; and 
 determine a usable life for the drill bit based, at least in part, on the final predicted wear profile. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein
 the final predicted wear profile corresponds to a final predicted duration of use of the drill bit or meterage drilled with the drill bit; and   the set of instructions that cause the processor to determine the usable life for the drill bit based, at least in part, on the final predicted wear profile further cause the processor to determine the usable life for the drill bit using the final predicted duration of use of the drill bit or meterage drilled with the drill bit.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a display communicably coupled to the processor, wherein the set of instructions further cause the processor to display the final predicted wear profile on the display. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the set of instructions that cause the processor to receive at the processor the diamond distribution of the cutting structure further cause the processor to
 divide the cutting structure into a plurality of infinitesimal ring volumes; and   characterize each ring volume by its radial and axial location on the cutting structure and its diamond volume.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the set of instructions that cause the processor to calculate the final predicted wear profile of the cutting structure based, at least in part, on the unworn profile and the diamond distribution further cause the processor to
 calculate a first predicted intermediate wear profile based, at least on part, on the unworn profile and the diamond distribution, the first predicted intermediate wear profile corresponding to a first duration of use of the drill bit or meterage drilled with the drill bit; and   calculate the final predicted wear profile based, at least in part, on the first predicted intermediate wear profile.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the set of instructions that cause the processor to calculate the first predicted intermediate wear profile based, at least on part, on the unworn profile and the diamond distribution further cause the processor to
 calculate a first diamond volume radial distribution in a first infinitesimal layer at the unworn profile using the plurality of infinitesimal ring volumes;   calculate a first rock radial distribution of a rock amount to be removed by the drill bit during the first duration of use of the drill bit or meterage drilled with the drill bit; and   calculate the first predicted intermediate wear profile by comparing the first diamond volume radial distribution to the first rock radial distribution.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the set of instructions that cause the processor to calculate the final predicted wear profile of the cutting structure based, at least in part, on the unworn profile and the diamond distribution further cause the processor to
 calculate a second predicted intermediate wear profile based, at least on part, on the first predicted intermediate wear profile, the second predicted intermediate wear profile corresponding to a second duration of use of the drill bit or meterage drilled with the drill bit; and   calculate the final predicted wear based, at least in part, on the second predicted intermediate wear profile.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the set of instructions that cause the processor to calculate the second predicted intermediate wear profile based, at least on part, on the first predicted intermediate wear profile further cause the processor to
 calculate a second diamond volume radial distribution in a second infinitesimal layer at the first predicted intermediate wear profile using the plurality of infinitesimal ring volumes;   calculate a second rock radial distribution of a rock amount to be removed by the drill bit during the second duration of use of the drill bit or meterage drilled with the drill bit; and   calculate the second predicted intermediate wear profile by comparing the second diamond volume radial distribution to the second rock radial distribution.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the set of instructions further cause the processor to display at least one of the unworn profile, the first predicted intermediate wear profile, and second predicted intermediate wear profile on the display. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the set of instructions further cause the processor to display at least part of the diamond distribution as at least one of a two or three-dimensions graph and/or a numerical table.