by Omid Aminfar (Author), Amir Khajepour (Author)
Well drilling is an important process for extracting oil, natural gas, water, and mineral materials. Opening wells requires boring through earth formations, which requires specialized tools and operation procedures. Rotary drilling, in which a drill bit is used to crush the rock and penetrate into the formation, is one of the main methods of well drilling. Rotary cone bits are one of the main types of drill bits used for rotary drilling. There are two main problems encountered when drilling with rotary cone bits. Excessive vibration can cause damage to the entire system and can decrease efficiency of the drilling process. Failure of the bit's bearings and seals can also result in damage to the bit and cessation of the drilling process. In this book, a new design for rotary cone bits, with the objective of improving overall drilling performance, is presented. First, a new pattern for distribution of inserts over the cone is presented, which results in reduced vibration of the drillstring. Second a new design for the bit's bearings is introduced that is capable of operating in harsh environments.