Granted Patent B2

US 7,464,013 · App. 11/100,337 · Granted Dec 9, 2008

Assignee: Smith International, Inc.

Abstract

Claims (15)

1. A method of dynamically balancing a hole enlargement system, comprising:

modeling the hole enlargement system based on input parameters, wherein the hole enlargement system comprises a drill bit and a hole opener;

simulating the hole enlargement system;

adjusting one or more of the input parameters;

repeating the modeling, simulating, and adjusting until a balanced condition is met; and

graphically displaying at least one aspect of the simulating.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the balanced condition comprises substantially balanced forces acting on the hole enlargement system.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the substantially balanced forces comprise at least one force selected from the group of axial force, lateral force, torsional force, and vibrational force.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the balanced condition comprises substantially balanced torque acting on the hole enlargement system.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the balanced condition comprises the drill bit and the hole opener having substantially the same rate of penetration.

6. A bottom hole assembly designed using the method of claim 1 .

7. A method of increasing the life of one or more components in a bottom hole assembly, comprising:

modeling dynamic vibrations occurring in a bottom hole assembly while drilling;

adjusting one or more aspects of the bottom hole assembly based on outputs produced by modeling, wherein the adjusting comprises moving an axial location of at least one component of the bottom hole assembly to reduce or minimize the dynamic vibrations, and wherein the at least one component comprises a hole opener; and

graphically displaying at least one output produced by modeling.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (9)