FRICTION STIRRING AND ITS APPLICATION TO DRILL BITS, OIL FIELD AND MINING TOOLS, AND COMPONENTS IN OTHER INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS
A method of processing a downhole tool includes friction stirring at least a portion of a steel surface of the downhole tool.
1 . A method for processing a downhole tool, comprising:
friction stirring at least a portion of a steel surface of a downhole tool.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
heat treating at least a portion of the downhole tool.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the friction stirring comprises welding two components together.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the friction stirring comprises stirring a first additive component into the portion of the steel surface.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the additive component comprises at least one of tungsten carbide, silicon carbide, aluminum oxide, cubic boron nitride, or diamond.
6 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising friction stirring a second additive component into a portion of the steel at a depth less than the first additive component.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the steel surface comprises a wear area on the surface of the downhole tool.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the steel surface comprises a fluid erosion area on the surface of the downhole tool.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the downhole tool comprises a drill bit.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the downhole tool comprises a hole opener.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the downhole tool comprises a stabilizer.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the downhole tool comprises a reamer.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the downhole tool comprises a downhole motor.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the downhole tool comprises a drill collar
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the downhole tool comprises a sub.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the downhole tool comprises a jar.