Cutting element

A novel cutting element is disclosed as comprised of at an attachment body and a cutting face, where said attachment body is attached to said cutting face via a high temperature braze joint, the attachment body defining a projection and a grooved area, where said grooved area is disposed between the projection and the cutting face, the resultant cutting element providing both enhanced wear characteristics and stability.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention generally relates to cutting elements for 
subterranean drill bits. More specifically, the present invention is 
directed to a novel cutting element which both serves to stabilize the bit 
as well as enhance bit wear life. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Diamond cutters have traditionally been employed as the cutting or wear 
portions of drilling and boring tools. Known applications for such cutters 
include the mining, construction, oil and gas exploration and oil and gas 
production industries. An important category of tools employing diamond 
cutters are those drill bits of the type used to drill oil and gas wells. 
The drilling industry classifies commercially available drill bits as 
either roller bits or diamond bits. Roller bits are those which employ 
steel teeth or tungsten carbide inserts. As the name implies, diamond bits 
utilize either natural or synthetic diamonds on their cutting surfaces. A 
"fixed cutter", as that term is used both herein and in the oil and gas 
industries, describes drill bits that do not employ a cutting structure 
with moving parts, e.g. a rolling cone bit. 
The International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) Drill Bit 
Subcommittee has officially adopted standardized fixed terminology for the 
various categories of cutters. The fixed cutter categories identified by 
IADC include polycrystalline diamond compact (pdc), thermally stable 
polycrystalline(tsp), natural diamond and an "other" category. Fixed 
cutter bits falling into the IADC "other" category do not employ a diamond 
material as any kind as a cutter. Commonly, the material substituted for 
diamond includes tungsten carbide. Throughout the following discussion, 
references made to "diamond" include pdc, tsp, natural diamond and other 
cutter materials such as tungsten carbide. 
An oil field diamond bit typically includes a shank portion with a threaded 
connection for mating with a drilling motor or a drill string. This shank 
portion can include a pair of wrench flats, commonly referred to a 
"breaker slots", used to apply the appropriate torque to properly make-up 
the threaded shank. In a typical application, the distal end of the drill 
bit is radially enlarged to form a drilling head. The face of the drilling 
head is generally round, but may also define a convex spherical surface, a 
planar surface, a spherical concave segment or a conical surface. In any 
of the applications, the body includes a central bore open to the interior 
of the drill string. This central bore communicates with several fluid 
openings in the bit used to circulate fluids to the bit face. In 
contemporary embodiments, nozzles situated in each fluid opening control 
the flow of drilling fluid to the drill bit. 
The drilling head is typically made from a steel or a cast "matrix" 
provided with polycrystalline diamond cutters. Prior art steel bodied bits 
are machined from steel and typically have cutters that are press-fit or 
brazed into pockets provided in the bit face. Steel head bits are 
conventionally manufactured by machining steel to a desired geometry from 
a steel bar, casting, or forging. The cutter pockets and nozzle bores in 
the steel head are obtained through a series of standard turning and 
milling operations. Cutters are typically mounted on the bit by brazing 
them directly into a pocket. Alternatively, the cutters are brazed to a 
mounting system and pressed into a stud hole, or, still alternatively, 
brazed into a mating pocket. 
Matrix head bits are conventionally manufactured by casting the matrix 
material in a mold around a steel core. This mold is configured to give a 
bit of the desired shape and is typically fabricated from graphite by 
machining a negative of the desired bit profile. Cutter pockets are then 
milled into the interior of the mold to proper contours and dressed to 
define the position and angle of the cutters. The internal fluid 
passageways in the bit are formed by positioning a temporary displacement 
material within the interior of the mold which is subsequently removed. A 
steel core is then inserted into the interior of the mold to act as a 
ductile center to which the matrix materials adhere during the cooling 
stage. The tungsten carbide powders, binders and flux are then added to 
the mold around the steel core. Such matrices can, for example, be formed 
of a copper-nickel alloy containing powdered tungsten carbide. Matrices of 
this type are commercially available to the drilling industry from, for 
example, Kennametal, Inc. 
After firing the mold assembly in a furnace, the bit is removed from the 
mold after which time the cutters are mounted on the bit face in the 
preformed pockets. The cutters are typically formed from polycrystalline 
diamond compact (pdc) or thermally stable polycrystalline (tsp) diamond. 
PDC cutters are brazed within an opening provided in the matrix backing 
while tsp cutters are cast within pockets provided in the matrix backing. 
Cutters used in the above categories of drill bits are available from 
several commercial sources and are generally formed by sintering a 
polycrystalline diamond layer to a tungsten carbide substrate. Such 
cutters are commercially available to the drilling industry from General 
Electric Company under the "STRATAPAX" trademark. Commercially available 
cutters are typically cylindrical and define planar cutting faces. 
There are three basic styles of prior art cutter mounting systems. A first 
style is a polycrystalline diamond compact with a tungsten carbide stud 
pressed into a hole in the bit face where the pdc is brazed to a the stud. 
The stud is typically available in a variety of styles including "flat 
top" and "round top" configurations. The assembly of stud and pdc is force 
fitted into a hole in a steel bit face. 
A second style of mounting system is a brazed attachment of the cutter into 
a pocket in a tungsten carbide matrix. In this style, a backing is formed 
of a tungsten carbide matrix where the geometry of the backing is 
controlled by the shape of the mold. In a third style, a high temperature 
braze joint is made between the pdc and a tungsten carbide carrier. In 
this prior art style, the assembly is brazed into a mating pocket with low 
temperature braze joint. 
The pdc carrier typically features a solid blocky mass positioned behind 
the cutter without the presence of any void areas. Likewise, in the 
mechanical or brazed attachment system a solid blocky mass of cast 
tungsten carbide is utilized behind the cutter to provide sufficient 
mechanical strength. This mass is positioned with one flat side against 
the back of the cutter with the second flat side positioned toward the bit 
face. This configuration causes the rounded edge to become the exposed top 
rear of the pocket mass. 
The forward or cutting portion of each cutter mounting system is designed 
to provide sufficient cutter attachment and retention. The rearward or 
attachment portion of each system behind the cutter must provide 
mechanical strength sufficient to withstand the forces exerted during the 
drilling operation. An essential requirement of any style is that the 
rearward portion of the mounting system not unduly flex, break or erode. 
The cutting action in prior art bits is primarily performed by the outer 
semi-circular portion of the cutters. As the drill bit is rotated and 
downwardly advanced by the drill string, the cutting edges of the cutters 
will cut a helical groove of a generally semicircular cross-sectional 
configuration into the face of the formation. When drilling well bores in 
subsurface formations it often happens that the drill bit passes readily 
through a comparatively soft formation and strikes a significantly harder 
formation. In such an instance, rarely do all of the cutters on a 
conventional drill bit strike this harder formation at the same time. A 
substantial impact force is therefore incurred by the one or two cutters 
that initially strike the harder formation. The end result is high impact 
load on the cutters of the drill bit. Moreover, substantial wear or even 
destruction of the cutters initially striking the harder formation lessens 
the drill bit life. 
Prior art drill bits also prone to premature wear as a result of vibration. 
This problem is particularly acute when the well bore is drilled at a 
substantial angle to the vertical, such as in the recently popular 
horizontal drilling practice. In these instances, the drill bit and the 
adjacent drill string are subjected to the downward force of gravity and a 
sporadic weight on bit. These conditions produce unbalanced loading of the 
cutting structure, resulting in radial vibration. 
Prior investigations of the effects of the vibration on a drilling bit have 
developed the phraseology "bit whirl" to describe this phenomena. 
A number of disadvantages are associated with conventional cutter mounting 
systems. First, as the cutter wears the bearing area of the bit face on 
the hole bottom substantially increases. This causes an increasing amount 
of heat to be created, which is then conducted through the cutter mounting 
system. Such excessive heat is detrimental to pdc cutters. 
Second, the progressively increasing wear flat area decreases product 
performance. Termination of the bit run occurs due to excessive torque, 
excessive bit weight requirements, poor penetration rate, or poor cutter 
retention. 
Third, because of the wear characteristics and associated limitations of 
prior art cutter mounting systems, used bits are frequently returned from 
the field with greater than 50% of the original diamond material remaining 
on the bit. Such waste unnecessarily enhances operating costs. 
Finally, prior art cutter systems have no method for damping vibration 
experienced as a result of drilling conditions. Such bit vibration causes 
cutter breakage, excessive drill string torque, and consequently, less 
economical drilling operations. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to an improved cutting element which 
addresses the above and other disadvantages associated with prior art 
mounting systems. 
The cutting element of the present invention in a preferred embodiment 
employs a PDC cutting surface brazed onto a shaped mounting structure. 
Behind the cutting edge, the cutter defines at least one depression or 
void area and a stabilizing projection. 
In a preferred embodiment, the void area is positioned behind the cutter 
and braze joint and generally parallel to the planar cutting face defined 
by the cutting surface. As a result of this void area, the cutter mounting 
system possesses a minimum surface area to drag on the hole bottom as the 
cutter wears, which minimum area translating into less frictional heating. 
The void area also serves as a passage for the thru flow of cooling fluid 
to remove generated heat during the drilling operation. 
The stabilizing projection contacts the formation in the event of excessive 
formation penetration by the cutter. This projection also provides 
substantial resistance against lateral vibration or displacement of the 
drill bit. 
The cutting element of the present invention offers a number of advantages 
over the art. One such advantage is the reduction of cutter temperature by 
the generation of less heat during use and the quick removal of any 
remaining heat via convective heat transfer. 
Another advantage offered by the present invention is seen in the weight 
and torque reduction on the bit. By providing a selectively shaped and 
positioned void area in the mounting body, the present cutter mounting 
system retards and effectively minimizes the increase in bearing area. 
Moreover, with the reduced bearing area, friction between the cutting 
element and the formation is thereby reduced. With reduced bearing area, 
the weight on bit required to penetrate the formation is also reduced. 
Yet another advantage offered by the invention is the reduction in size of 
the cutter wear flat area. A smaller wear flat area allows a lighter weigh 
on the bit with an equivalent depth of cut. A smaller wear flat area 
generates less heat from friction. 
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the 
following drawings and detailed description of the preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The present invention comprises an improved cutter system to dampen drill 
bit vibration and decrease the wear rate of the cutters. 
By reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, an exemplary drill bit 2 comprises at one 
end a shank 4 and a pin end 5 for connection to a drill string (not 
shown), where said bit 2 at its opposite end defines a bit face 6. In the 
illustrated embodiment, bit face 6 possesses a substantially spherical 
segment configuration. It is contemplated, however, that face 6 may 
possess either a convex or concave surface, or may alternately define a 
radial or conical surface. 
Bit face 6 defines several bores 10 to enable the supply of drilling mud to 
the cutters 11. In a preferred embodiment, drill bit 2 is provided with 
gauging or reaming cutters 9 on its side wall 14. Typical reaming cutters 
9 are angularly spaced, vertically aligned rows of PDC cutters provided on 
each blade of bit 2. As illustrated, gauge pads 15 may also be situated on 
drill bit 2 for purposes of stability. 
The cutter mounting system of the present invention may be utilized in 
association with either of cutters 9 or 11. By reference to FIGS. 3-5, the 
cutter mounting system 3 of the present invention is defined by a carrier 
element 20 bonded to a mounting body 24, the combination defining a main, 
longitudinal axis "A". Body 24 is preferably comprised of tungsten carbide 
or other material demonstrating high wear characteristics, e.g. a high 
grade steel. In a preferred embodiment, the leading face 22 of carrier 
element 20 is comprised of a relatively thin layer of super hard material, 
e.g. a polycrystalline diamond material. It is contemplated this layer 
will be some 0.020-0.060" in thickness. Face 22 preferably is formed 
integrally with element 20 by way of a high temperature, high pressure 
sintering process as is well known to those skilled in the art. In the 
embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3-5, cutting face 22 defines a planar 
configuration, although other non-planar cutting face geometries are also 
contemplated within the spirit of the present invention. 
In the illustrated embodiment, carrier element 20 is secured to mounting 
body 24 via a high temperature braze joint 27. The method and apparatus 
for such brazing is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,225,322 and 4,319,707. 
Mounting body 24 is preferably comprised of tungsten carbide or other hard 
material, e.g. steel, and defines a leading face 31 and a trailing face 33 
(See FIG. 4). Rounded leading face 31 and trailing face 33 are preferably 
integrally formed with the cutter mounting body 24, but may in an 
alternate embodiment be sintered onto body 24. Faces 31 and 33 are 
preferably comprised of a cemented tungsten carbide or other hard 
material. 
By reference to FIGS. 3, 4, and 6, body 24 is provided with a stabilizing 
projection 40 positioned anterior to and defining a depression or void 
area 43 when viewed in the direction of travel of bit face 6. Although 
void area 43 is illustrated in these figures as situated generally along 
axis "A", in some applications void area 43 may be situated at an oblique 
angle. 
In the bit 2 illustrated in FIGS. 4-7, mounting body 24 defines a forward 
wall 45 which is disposed at a relief angle .theta. in the range of 10-30 
degrees, where .theta. is measured from axis "A". A lesser relief angle is 
desirable for use in softer formations. Higher relief angles, e.g. in 
excess of 20 degrees, are typically used in harder formations where the 
less aggressive angle results in lower stress on the cutting elements. 
As illustrated, void area 43 separates carrier element 20 from stabilizing 
projection 40. The point of intersection of void area 43 with stabilizing 
projection 40 defines a rounded angle 39 which preferably forms a smooth, 
continuous transition from said area 43 to said projection 40. This 
transition area serves to lessen stress concentrations at that point in 
body 24. In such a fashion, the potential for stabilizing projection 40 to 
be broken or chipped during the drilling process is minimized. 
Void area 43 serves a number of functions. One such function is to enhance 
the wear life of the carrier element 20 by serving as a passageway for the 
flow of drilling mud to remove heat generated during the drilling 
operation. Another function is to reduce the size of the cutter wear flat 
as the bit wears. With a smaller wear flat the bearing area of the bit is 
reduced, allowing a lighter weight on bit with an equivalent depth of cut. 
A smaller wear flat also generates less heat from friction. 
In a preferred embodiment, stabilizing projection 40 defines a rounded 
shape and is disposed behind and aligned with cutter face 22 so that it 
will track in the groove cut by face 22. Projection 40 is preferably 
provided with external surfaces which have the same or similar 
cross-sectional configuration as cutting face 22. This rounded shape is 
desired because it will not cut into the formation. 
By reference to FIGS. 3 and 7, the exposure height HE.sub.P of each 
stabilizing projection 40, relative to formation 90, is preferably less 
than the exposure height of HE.sub.C of cutting face 22. The preferred 
result is that the cutter face 22 of cutter 3 remains in constant 
engagement with formation 90, thereby reducing the tendency for excessive 
penetration. Moreover, stabilizing projection 40 resists and absorbs 
impacts with the formation caused by bit vibration and thereby 
significantly reduces drill bit vibration. 
The cutter mounting system of the present invention is typically positioned 
at a slight back rake angle .phi., e.g. 10-30 degrees, relative to the 
formation when affixed to bit 2. (See FIG. 4) This back rake angle .phi. 
is measured from a line normal to be plane defined by formation 90 and the 
plane defined by face 22. 
By reference to FIG. 7, normal drilling produces a cutter wear flat area 81 
defined by a transverse section drawn through mounting body 24. As 
drilling progresses, cutter body 24 wears away, gradually reaching ever 
larger cross-sections. Progressive wear also increases the bearing area. 
The increased bearing area requires an increased weight on bit to achieve 
the same depth of cut. Increased weight on bit causes additional flexure 
in the drill string, resulting in high drill string stress and increased 
tendency to drill to the side. An increased bearing area increases the 
frictional heat generated, decreasing bit life. 
Prior embodiments of the invention contemplate that projection 40 is 
integrally formed with body 24. A non-integral embodiment of the invention 
is illustrated in FIG. 5 which discloses a bullet shaped body 60 which 
defines a cutting face 62 which defines a cutting surface 65 formed of an 
extremely hard compound, e.g. polycrystalline diamond. As discussed above 
in reference to previous embodiments, surface 65 may be formed on face 62 
via high temperature, high pressure sintering. It is contemplated that 
body 60 is itself formed of tungsten carbide. 
As illustrated in FIG. 5, body 60 defines at its distal end a transverse 
bore 69. Bore 69 accommodates a traverse element 71 which may be made from 
tungsten carbide or other hard metal. It is contemplated within the spirit 
of the invention that Element 71 is held in base 69 by brazing or other 
conventional technique. Element 71 is adapted to project above the upper 
edge 73 of body 60 so as to define an exposure height less than the 
exposure height of the point of contact 66 defined by face 62 and surface 
65. 
The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 is desirable in some aspects since the 
bullet shape of body 60 enables a stronger interface with surface 65 since 
the necessity of including a braze joint with a carrier element is 
eliminated. 
It is contemplated that the cutter system of the present invention may be 
attached to a drill face via a variety of methods. In this connection, the 
mounting system may be attached via brazing into a steel or matrix bit or 
press fit into s steel bit. In a preferred embodiment, at least one or two 
cutters would be placed on each blade to optimize stabilization and wear 
performance. 
Although particular detailed embodiments of the method of the invention 
have been described therein, it should be understood that the invention is 
not restricted to the details of the preferred embodiments. Many changes 
in design, composition, configuration and dimensions are possible without 
departing from the spirit and scope of the instant invention. Further 
benefits and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to 
those skilled in the art in light of the following claims.