FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates to wellbore equipment, in particular, to drill bits.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Drill bits are tools used with a drill string to remove material from the ground to form wellbores such as production wellbores. Drill strings can flow drilling fluid from a surface of the wellbore to the drill bit. A drill bit with a fluid path and a nozzle allows the drilling fluid to be injected at high speeds to aid the drilling process. Methods and equipment for improving the drilling process using drilling fluids are sought.

SUMMARY

Implementations of the present disclosure include a wellbore assembly that includes a drill string and a drill bit. The drill string is disposed within a wellbore. The drill string flows drilling fluid through a drill string bore of the drill string to a downhole end of the wellbore. The drill bit is in fluid communication with and is coupled to a downhole and of the drill string. The drill bit has a tubular wall, an internal fluid channel, a tapered tube, and a spring. The tubular wall defines a drill bit bore in fluid communication with the drill string bore. The internal fluid channel is in fluid communication with the drill bit bore. The fluid channel receives and flows the drilling fluid from the drill bit bore and out the drill bit. The fluid channel includes an inwardly projecting shoulder. The tapered tube is disposed inside the fluid channel. The tube has a rim and a wall extending from and converging away from the rim in a flow direction of the drilling fluid within the fluid channel. The spring is coupled to and is disposed between the inwardly projecting shoulder and the rim of the tapered tube. The tapered tube is movable under fluidic pressure in the flow direction to compress or extend the spring. The tube pushes an obstruction in the fluid channel out of the fluid channel upon movement of the tube.

In some implementations, the internal fluid channel defines a fluid pathway extending from a fluid inlet of the internal fluid channel, through the tapered tube, and to a fluid outlet of the internal fluid channel. In some implementations, the fluid pathway extends from a fluid inlet at the rim of the tapered tube to a fluid outlet of the tapered tube disposed opposite the rim. The fluid outlet of the tapered tube includes an internal diameter smaller than an internal diameter of the fluid inlet of the tapered tube. In some implementations, the wall of the tapered tube defines apertures. The fluid pathway of the fluid channel extends through the fluid outlet of the tapered tube and through the apertures toward the fluid outlet of the fluid channel. In some implementations, the rim includes an outer diameter substantially similar to an internal diameter of the internal fluid channel.

In some implementations, the internal fluid channel includes a nozzle disposed at the outlet of the fluid channel. The tube pushes the obstruction out the channel through the nozzle.

In some implementations, the tapered tube is rotatable about a central longitudinal axis of the internal fluid channel. The tapered tube moves along the internal fluid channel and rotates, under fluidic pressure of the drilling fluid, pushing the obstruction disposed downstream of the tapered tube. In some implementations, the tapered tube includes an impeller secured to the wall of the tapered tube such that rotation of the impeller causes rotation of the tapered tube.

In some implementations, the drill bit further includes a sleeve coupled to the rim of the tapered tube. The sleeve is disposed around an internal surface of the spring. The sleeve covers the spring from obstructions within the internal fluid channel.

In some implementations, the inwardly projecting shoulder is disposed downstream of the rim of the tapered tube. The internal fluid channel further includes a second inwardly projecting shoulder upstream of the inwardly projecting shoulder with the spring disposed between the two inwardly projecting shoulders. The two inwardly projecting shoulders constrain the rim of the tapered tube to movement between the two inwardly projecting shoulders.

Implementations of the present disclosure include a wellbore tool that includes an outer wall and a spring-loaded shoe. The outer wall is disposed within a wellbore and defines an internal fluid channel that flows fluid toward a downhole end of the wellbore. The spring-loaded shoe is disposed at least partially inside the internal fluid channel. The spring-loaded shoe moves under fluidic pressure toward an outlet of the internal fluid channel, pushing an obstruction in the internal fluid channel out of the internal fluid channel.

In some implementations, the wellbore tool includes a drill bit that is coupled to a downhole end of a drill string. The drill bit includes a bore in fluid communication with the drill string. The internal fluid channel is disposed downhole of and in fluid communication with the bore. The fluid channel receives and flows drilling fluid received from the bore and out the drill bit.

In some implementations, the spring-loaded shoe includes a coupling end and a wall extending away from the first end. The wall includes a surface extending in a direction non-parallel with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the internal fluid channel such that the surface resists a flow of a fluid flowing through the internal fluid channel. The fluid pushes the spring-loaded shoe under a change of fluidic pressure of the fluid. In some implementations, the internal fluid channel includes an inwardly projecting shoulder that prevents the coupling end of the spring-loaded shoe from moving past the inwardly projecting shoulder.

In some implementations, the wellbore tool further includes a spring coupled to and disposed between the inwardly projecting shoulder and the coupling end of the spring-loaded shoe. The spring-loaded shoe is movable under fluidic pressure in a flow direction of the fluid to compress or extend the spring. In some implementations, the wellbore tool further includes a sleeve coupled to the coupling end of the spring-loaded shoe and disposed about an internal surface of the spring. The sleeve covers the spring from obstructions within the internal fluid channel. In some implementations, the inwardly projecting shoulder is disposed downstream of the coupling end and the internal fluid channel further includes a second inwardly projecting shoulder upstream of the inwardly projecting shoulder with the spring disposed between the two inwardly projecting shoulders. The two inwardly projecting shoulders constrain the coupling end of the spring-loaded shoe to movement between the two inwardly projecting shoulders.

In some implementations, the internal fluid channel includes a nozzle disposed at a fluid outlet of the internal fluid channel. The spring-loaded shoe pushes the obstruction out the internal fluid channel through the nozzle.

In some implementations, the spring-loaded shoe is rotatable about a central longitudinal axis of the internal fluid channel. The spring-loaded shoe moves along the internal fluid channel and rotates, under fluidic pressure of a fluid, pushing the obstruction disposed downstream of the spring-loaded shoe.

Implementations of the present disclosure include a method of removing an obstruction in a drill bit. The method includes flowing, during a wellbore drilling operation, a drilling fluid through a drill string and out a drill bit of the drill string. The drill bit includes a tubular wall, an internal fluid channel, a shoe, and a spring. The tubular wall defines a bore in fluid communication with the drill string. The internal fluid channel is in fluid communication with the bore and configured to receive and flow the drilling fluid from the bore out the drill bit. The shoe is disposed inside the fluid channel and includes a rim. The spring including a first end coupled to a wall of the internal fluid channel and a second end opposite the first end. The second end is coupled to the rim of the shoe. The shoe is movable under fluidic pressure in the flow direction to compress or extend the spring. The shoe pushes an obstruction in the fluid channel out of the fluid channel upon movement of the shoe. The method also includes determining, based on a change in fluidic pressure of the drilling fluid within the drill string, that there is an obstruction in the internal fluid channel of the drill bit. The method also includes increasing a fluidic pressure of the drilling fluid upstream of the shoe, pushing the shoe under fluidic pressure and removing the obstruction from the internal fluid channel.

