Streamlined pocket design for PDC drill bits

摘要

A cutter pocket, a downhole tool formed with at least one cutter pocket, and a method for coupling a cutter to the cutter pocket is described herein. The cutter pocket is formed within at least one blade of the downhole tool and includes a pocket back fabricated from a first material, a first pocket side extending from one end of the pocket back to a leading edge of the downhole tool, and a second pocket side extending from an opposing end of the pocket back to the leading edge. The pocket back and the pocket sides define a cavity. A cutter is positioned and coupled at least partially within the cavity. The height of an upper surface of the first material of the pocket back ranges between thirty percent to sixty-five percent of the cutter girth.

主权项

1. A downhole tool, comprising:
a body; a plurality of blades extending from one end of the body, the plurality of blades forming a cutting surface, each blade comprising a leading edge section; one or more cutter pockets formed within each blade, each cutter pocket comprising:
a pocket back fabricated from a first material;a first pocket side extending from one end of the pocket back to the leading edge section and fabricated from the first material; anda second pocket side extending from an opposing end of the pocket back to the leading edge section and fabricated from the first material, wherein the pocket back and the first and second pocket sides define a cavity; a cutter positioned at least partially within each cavity and coupled within the cutter pocket, the cutter comprising a cutter girth; and hardfacing material applied to at least an upper surface of the pocket back and to at least an upper surface of the pocket sides, wherein:
a maximum arc length of the first material of the pocket sides ranges between fifty-two percent to sixty-five percent of the cutter girth, andan elevation differential is formed between an apex of the upper surface of the first material of the pocket back and an apex of an upper surface of a rear surface of the cutter.