CPC E21B 47/08 (2013.01) [E21B 12/00 (2013.01); E21B 47/01 (2013.01)] | 15 Claims |
15. A method of drilling a wellbore into a formation, comprising:
rotating a drill bit about a rotational axis;
engaging a plurality of cutters secured to a bit body of the drill bit to cut the formation while rotating the drill bit, including using a gauge cutter to cut a gauge diameter;
generating a lateral force on a gauge section of the drill bit while drilling; and
using an under gauge wear element to limit engagement of the gauge cutter with the formation; and
dynamically adjusting the position of the wear element under gauge in response to the lateral force, including outwardly biasing a piston disposed in a cavity on the bit body with the wear element on an outwardly facing end of the piston and moveably retaining the piston in the cavity with a fastener extending transversely through a retention hole on the piston and into the bit body, wherein the retention hole in the piston is wider than the fastener in an axial direction of the piston to allow reciprocation of the piston within the cavity.
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