US 12,264,542 B2
Fixed cutter drill bits and cutter element arrangements for same
Richard Rivera, Jr., Conroe, TX (US); and Robert Peter Douglas Tipples, Cheltenham (GB)
Assigned to NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO, L.P., Houston, TX (US)
Filed by National Oilwell DHT, L.P., Conroe, TX (US)
Filed on Aug. 1, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/816,639.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/229,010, filed on Aug. 3, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0038632 A1, Feb. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. E21B 10/43 (2006.01); E21B 10/56 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 10/43 (2013.01) [E21B 10/56 (2013.01)] 43 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A drill bit for drilling a borehole in an earthen formation, the bit having a central axis and a cutting direction of rotation, the bit comprising:
a bit body configured to rotate about the axis in the cutting direction of rotation, wherein the bit body includes a bit face;
a blade extending radially along the bit face;
a first cutter element mounted to a cutter-supporting surface of the blade and a second cutter element mounted to the cutter-supporting surface of the blade;
wherein the first cutter element has a central axis and comprises:
a first forward-facing cutting face including a first cutting tip distal the cutter supporting surface and a first planar surface extending radially from the first cutting tip toward the central axis of the first cutter element;
wherein the first planar surface is oriented at a first effective backrake angle measured between the cutter supporting surface and a surface vector of the first planar surface;
wherein the second cutter element has a central axis and comprises:
a second forward-facing cutting face including a second cutting tip distal the cutter supporting surface and a second planar surface extending radially from the second cutting tip toward the central axis of the second cutter element;
wherein the second planar surface is oriented at a second effective backrake angle measured between the cutter supporting surface and a surface vector of the second planar surface;
wherein the second effective backrake angle is greater than the first effective backrake angle;
wherein the first cutting face is completely planar and defined by the first planar surface, and wherein the first cutter element is oriented at a first backrake angle measured between the central axis of the first cutter element and the cutter-supporting surface, and wherein the first effective backrake angle is the same as the first backrake angle;
wherein the second cutting face is non-planar and comprises a plurality of planar surfaces that intersect at distinct edges, wherein the plurality of planar surfaces include the second planar surface.