Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Rotatable multi-head ball bits
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Application No.: US16991630Application Date: 2020-08-12
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Publication No.: US11608689B2Publication Date: 2023-03-21
- Inventor: Guodong (David) Zhan , Bodong Li , Chinthaka P. Gooneratne , Timothy Eric Moellendick
- Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
- Applicant Address: SA Dhahran
- Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
- Current Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
- Current Assignee Address: SA Dhahran
- Agency: Osha Bergman Watanabe & Burton LLP
- Main IPC: E21B10/16
- IPC: E21B10/16 ; E21B10/52

Abstract:
A drill bit having a rotatable ball bit includes a first bit head and a second bit head, a first set of cutters on the first bit head, and a second set of cutters on the second bit head. The rotatable ball bit is configured to rotate between a first position and a second position, wherein the first bit head is distal to the second bit head in the first position, and wherein the second bit head is distal to the first bit head in the second position. A method of operating a rotatable ball bit includes orienting the rotatable ball bit in a first position, wherein a first bit head is oriented distally, rotating the rotatable ball bit about a longitudinal axis, orienting the rotatable ball bit in a second position, wherein a second bit head is oriented distally, and rotating the rotatable ball bit about the longitudinal axis.
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