Impregnated drill bits with integrated reamers
View Patent ↗Drilling tools include a bit crown and an integrated reamer. The bit crown and integrated reamer can be configured with approximately equal drilling lives. The bit crown can be impregnated with abrasive cutting media and include one or more external flutes. The integrated reamer can be positioned at the base the bit crown and include one or more channels that align with one or more of the outer flutes. The channels can taper such that they increase in width as they extend away from the bit crown.
1. A drilling tool comprising:
a unitary shank having a first end and an opposing second end;
a connector on the first end of the shank that is configured for securing the shank to a drill string component;
a drill hit having a hit crown secured to the second end of the shank; and
a reamer positioned along the shank between the connector and the bit crown,
wherein the reamer and the drill bit comprise a single component that is infiltrated as one piece, and
wherein a height of the bit crown is tailored to provide it crown with a drilling life approximately equal to a drilling life of the reamer.
2. The drilling tool as recited in claim 1 , wherein the bit crown is impregnated with abrasive cutting media.
3. The drilling tool as recited in claim 1 , wherein the top portion of the reamer is integrally coupled to a base of the bit crown.
4. The drilling tool as recited in claim 1 , wherein the reamer is a first reamer, and wherein the drilling tool further comprises a second reamer secured on the shank proximate the connector.
5. The drilling tool as recited in claim 4 , wherein the second reamer comprises the same material as one or more of the bit crown and the first reamer.
6. The drilling tool as recited in claim 1 , further comprising outer flutes extending along an outer surface of the bit crown.
7. The drilling tool as recited in claim 6 , wherein the reamer comprises pads separated by channels, and wherein the channels comprise a taper such that the channels increase in width as they extend away from the bit crown.
8. The drilling tool as recited in claim 7 , wherein the channels are aligned with the outer flutes.
9. The drilling tool as recited in claim 1 , wherein the drill bit comprises a core-drill bit.
10. The drilling tool as recited in claim 1 , the bit crown comprising:
a matrix; and
a plurality of abrasive cutting media dispersed within the matrix;
wherein the matrix is adapted to wear away to continuously expose abrasive cutting media.
11. The drilling tool as recited in claim 10 , wherein the reamer comprises a second matrix of hard particulate material and a plurality of abrasive cutting media dispersed throughout the hard particulate material of the second matrix.
12. A core drilling system comprising:
a drill string;
a drilling tool secured to a distal end of the drill string, the drilling tool comprising:
a unitary shank having a first end and a second opposing end, wherein the first end of the shank is configured to be threadably secured to the distal end of the drill string,
a drill bit comprising an annular bit crown secured to the second end of the shank, and
a reamer positioned along the shank between the connector and the bit crown,
wherein the reamer and the drill bit comprise a single component that is infiltrated as one piece, and
wherein a height of the bit crown is tailored to provide the bit crown with a drilling life approximately equal to a drilling life of the reamer.
13. The core drilling system as recited in claim 12 , the bit crown comprising:
a matrix; and
a plurality of abrasive cutting media dispersed within the matrix;
wherein the matrix is adapted to wear away to continuously expose abrasive cutting media.
14. The core drilling system as recited in claim 13 , wherein the reamer comprises a second matrix of hard particulate material and a plurality of abrasive cutting media dispersed throughout the hard particulate material of the second matrix.
15. The core drilling system as recited in claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of fibers dispersed within the matrix, wherein one or more of a size and a concentration of the fibers cooperate with the height of the bit crown to provide the bit crown with a drilling life approximately equal to the cutting life of the reamer.
16. The core drilling system as recited in claim 12 , further comprising outer flutes extending along an outer surface of the bit crown.
17. The core drilling system as recited in claim 16 , wherein the reamer comprises pads separated by channels.
18. The core drilling system as recited in claim 17 , wherein the channels comprise a taper such that the channels increase in width as they extend away from the bit crown.
19. The core drilling system as recited in claim 17 , wherein the channels are aligned with the outer flutes.
20. The core drilling system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the drilling tool has an elongate length about 6 times the elongate height of the bit crown.
21. The core drilling system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the reamer is a first reamer, and wherein the drilling tool further comprises a second reamer secured on the shank proximate the connector.
22. The core drilling system as recited in claim 21 , wherein the second reamer comprises the same material as one or more of the bit crown and the first reamer.
23. A method of core drilling, comprising:
securing a first end of a unitary drilling tool to a drill string, wherein the unitary drilling tool comprises:
a unitary shank having a first end and a second opposing end, wherein the first end of the shank is configured to be threadably secured to the distal end of the drill string,
a drill bit comprising an annular bit crown secured to the second end of the shank, and
a reamer secured to the shank between the first and second ends of the shank,
wherein the reamer and the drill bit comprise a single component that is infiltrated as one piece;
advancing the drill string into a formation whereby the bit crown on the second end of the unitary drilling tool cuts a hole into the formation and whereby the reamer on the unitary drilling tool maintains a diameter of the hole;
tripping the drill string from the formation; and
removing the unitary drilling tool from the drill string by breaking a single joint between the first end of the unitary drilling tool and the drill string.
24. The method of core drilling as recited in claim 23 , further comprising retrieving a core sample from the drill string using a wireline.
25. The method of core drilling as recited in claim 23 , wherein the reamer comprises a first matrix of hard particulate material and a plurality of abrasive cutting media dispersed throughout the hard particulate material of the first matrix, and wherein the bit crown comprises a second matrix of hard particulate material and a plurality of abrasive cutting media dispersed throughout the hard particulate material of the second matrix.
26. The method of core drilling as recited in claim 23 , wherein a height of the bit crown is tailored to provide the bit crown with a drilling life approximately equal to a drilling life of the reamer.