Patent ID: 8185366
Filing Date: 2012-05-22
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A method for designing a fixed cutter drill bit, comprising: simulating dynamically the fixed cutter drill bit drilling a first section of a wellbore, wherein the dynamically simulating comprises using at least one datum of a first iteration of the simulation in a subsequent iteration of the simulation and wherein the simulating dynamically takes into account individual cutting elements of the fixed cutter drill bit contacting the formation; graphically displaying a three-dimensional representation of individual cutting elements of the fixed cutter drill bit contacting formation for at least a portion of the simulating of the first section; simulating dynamically the fixed cutter drill bit drilling a second section of the wellbore; graphically displaying a three-dimensional representation of individual cutting elements of the fixed cutter drill bit contacting formation for at least a portion of the simulating of the second section; adjusting a value of at least one design parameter for the fixed cutter drill bit according to the three-dimensional graphical display, wherein the graphical display includes displays of cutter forces, blade forces, cut area, and wear flat area for cutters on any blade of the fixed cutter drill bit; and repeating the simulating, displaying and adjusting to change a simulated performance of the fixed cutter drill bit.