Lead the bit rotary steerable tool
View Patent ↗A drilling assembly comprises a drill bit that includes a bit body intermediate a working face and a shank. An indenting member adapted to guide the drill bit protrudes from the working face. A flexible portion is disposed above the bit body.
1. A drilling assembly, comprising:
a drill string component; and,
a drill bit positioned adjacent the drill string component, the drill bit including:
a working face;
a shank;
a bit body between the working face and the shank;
an indenting member protruding from the working face, the indenting member being adapted to guide the drill bit;
a flexible portion disposed above the bit body between the shank and the adjacent drill string component; and,
at least one of an o-ring disposed between the flexible portion and the bit body, a wiper seal disposed between the flexible portion and the bit body, and a bellows-type seal disposed exterior to the flexible portion.
2. The drilling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flexible portion comprises at least one of a compliant segment, a reduced cross-section, and a joint with laterally sliding surfaces.
3. The drilling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the indenting member is rotatable with respect to the bit body.
4. The drilling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the indenting member comprises an asymmetrical geometry on a distal end of the indenting member.
5. The drilling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the indenting member comprises a polycrystalline diamond cutting element.
6. The drilling assembly of claim 5 wherein the polycrystalline diamond cutting element comprises pointed geometry.
7. The drilling assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism adapted to selectively prevent movement of the flexible portion.
8. A drilling assembly, comprising:
a drill bit that includes:
a working face;
a shank;
a bit body between the working face and the shank;
an indenting member protruding from the working face, the indenting member being adapted to guide the drill bit; and,
a flexible portion disposed above the bit body, the flexible portion including:
a lower segment that includes an extension with a generally spherical geometry on a distal end; and,
an upper segment that includes a generally spherical recess that corresponds with the generally spherical geometry of the lower segment.
9. The drilling assembly of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the generally spherical geometry and the generally spherical recess include at least one of a recess and a groove, and wherein bearing balls adapted to transfer torque are disposed in at least one of the recess and the groove.
10. A drilling assembly, comprising:
a fluid-driven turbine; and,
a drill bit that includes:
a working face;
a shank;
a bit body between the working face and the shank;
an indenting member protruding from the working face, the indenting member being adapted to guide the drill bit; and,
a flexible portion that includes a shaft disposed internal to the bit body and between the indenting member and the fluid-driven turbine.
11. The drilling assembly of claim 10 , wherein the shaft is flexible.
12. The drilling assembly of claim 10 , wherein the shaft comprises at least one of a universal joint, a compliant portion, and a constant-velocity joint.
13. A drilling assembly, comprising:
a drill bit that includes:
a working face;
a shank;
a bit body between the working face and the shank;
an indenting member protruding from the working face, the indenting member being adapted to guide the drill bit; and,
a flexible portion disposed above the bit body, the flexible portion including:
a lower segment;
an upper segment; and,
an interface between the lower and the upper segment, the interface including at least one of an o-ring and a wiper seal to create a seal.
14. The drilling assembly of claim 13 , wherein the lower segment further comprises an extension with a generally spherical geometry on a distal end and the upper segment further comprises a generally spherical recess that corresponds with the generally spherical geometry of the lower segment.
15. A drilling assembly, comprising:
a drill bit that includes:
a working face;
a shank;
a bit body between the working face and the shank;
an indenting member protruding from the working face, the indenting member being adapted to guide the drill bit; and,
a flexible portion disposed above the bit body, the flexible portion including:
a lower segment;
an upper segment;
an interface between the lower and the upper segment; and,
a bellows-type cover disposed exterior to the flexible portion.