IP Library › Granted Patent US 12692752
Granted Patent B2
US 12692752 · App. 18/294,926 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Drill bit

Inventors: Vasiliy Zbaraskiy (Aberdeenshire, GB); Benoit Botton (Bristol, GB); Robert Peter Douglas Tipples (Cheltenham, GB)
Assignee: NOV DOWNHOLE EURASIA LIMITED
E21B10/602E21B10/61
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12692752
App. No.
18/294,926
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A drill bit comprises a bit body having a body face and a plurality of blades each extending from the bit body from a root portion adjacent the body face to a tip portion defining a cutting region, each blade having a leading face and a trailing face. The drill bit further comprises at least one outlet port disposed adjacent the leading face of at least one blade at a location between the root and tip portions of said at least one blade, the at least one outlet port for directing drilling fluid towards the cutting region of the at least one blade.

Claims (32)

1 . A drill bit, comprising:

a bit body having a body face;

a plurality of blades each extending from the bit body from a root portion adjacent the body face to a tip portion defining a cutting region, each blade having a leading face and a trailing face; and

at least one outlet port disposed adjacent the leading face of at least one blade at a location between the root and tip portions of said at least one blade, the at least one outlet port for directing drilling fluid towards the cutting region of the at least one blade, wherein the at least one outlet port is elongate in a direction generally parallel with the leading face of the at least one blade, and wherein the at least one outlet port comprises a varying geometry along its length, wherein the varying geometry is defined by a slot profile that is tapered moving from a first longitudinal end of the at least one outlet port to a second longitudinal end of the at least one outlet port.

2 . The drill bit according to claim 1 , wherein the location of the at least one outlet port between the root and tip portions of the at least one blade is such that the at least one outlet port is elevated relative to the body face.

3 . The drill bit according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one outlet port is located closer to the tip portion of the at least one blade than the root portion.

4 . The drill bit according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one outlet port is disposed on the leading face of the at least one blade.

5 . The drill bit according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one outlet port is disposed on a projection extending outwardly from the leading face of at least one blade.

6 . The drill bit according to claim 5 , wherein the projection extends outwardly from the leading face of the at least one blade in a direction towards the trailing face of an adjacent blade.

7 . The drill bit according to claim 5 , wherein the projection defines a ledge, wherein the at least one outlet port is formed in or on the ledge.

8 . The drill bit according to claim 7 , wherein the ledge defines a profile along its length, said profile following a profile of the tip portion of the at least one blade.

9 . The drill bit according to claim 7 , wherein the ledge defines a flow guide to guide flow from a separate flow source towards the cutting region of the at least one blade.

10 . The drill bit according to claim 5 , wherein the projection is a discrete projection located between the root and tip portions of the at least one blade.

11 . The drill bit according to claim 5 , wherein the projection extends from the body face of the bit body in the same direction as at least a portion of the at least one blade.

12 . The drill bit according to claim 5 , wherein the projection extends from a projection root adjacent the body face to a projection tip intermediate the root and tip portions of the at least one blade.

13 . The drill bit according to claim 5 , wherein the projection is integrally formed with the at least one blade.

14 . The drill bit according to claim 1 , comprising at least one outlet port disposed adjacent the leading face of two or more blades.

15 . The drill bit according to claim 1 , comprising a plurality of nozzles disposed on the body face of the drill bit to allow the flow of drilling fluid out of the bit body.

16 . The drill bit according to claim 1 , wherein the cutting region of each blade comprises at least one cutting element.

17 . The drill bit according to claim 16 , wherein at least one cutting element projects from the leading face of a blade and at least partially over the at least one port.

18 . A method for drilling a bore, comprising:

engaging a drill bit against a formation to be drilled, the drill bit comprising a bit body having a body face and a plurality of blades each extending from the bit body from a root portion adjacent the body face to a tip portion defining a cutting region, each blade having a leading face and a trailing face;

rotating the drill bit to cause the cutting region of each blade to remove material from the formation to produce drill cuttings; and

flowing drilling fluid from at least one outlet port which is disposed adjacent the leading face of at least one blade at a location between the root and tip portions of said at least one blade, the drilling fluid being directed towards the cutting region of the at least one blade, wherein the at least one outlet port is elongate in a direction generally parallel with the leading face of the at least one blade, wherein the at least one outlet port comprises a varying geometry along its length, and wherein the varying geometry is defined by a slot profile that is tapered moving from a first longitudinal end of the at least one outlet port to a second longitudinal end of the at least one outlet port.

19 . The method according to claim 18 , comprising directing drilling fluid from the at least one outlet at a location between the cutting region and drill cuttings being removed.

20 . The method according to claim 18 , comprising additionally flowing drilling fluid from a plurality of nozzles disposed on the body face of the bit body.

21 . A drill bit, comprising:

a bit body having a body face;

a plurality of blades each extending from the bit body from a root portion adjacent the body face to a tip portion defining a cutting region, each blade having a leading face and a trailing face;

a plurality of nozzles disposed on the body face to flow drilling fluid out of the bit body; and

at least one outlet port disposed adjacent the leading face of at least one blade at a location between the root and tip portions of said at least one blade, the at least one outlet port for directing drilling fluid towards the cutting region of the at least one blade, wherein the at least one outlet port is elongate in a direction generally parallel with the leading face of the at least one blade, and wherein the at least one outlet port comprises a varying geometry along its length, wherein the varying geometry is defined by a slot profile that is tapered moving from a first longitudinal end of the at least one outlet port to a second longitudinal end of the at least one outlet port.

22 . The drill bit according to claim 21 , comprising a flow guide disposed on the leading face of at least one blade, the flow guide for directing a portion of drilling fluid from at least one nozzle away from the bit body towards the cutting region of the at least one blade.