Drilling Engineering Lab Practical

OBJECT : To demonstrate the core bit.

INTRODUCTION: The core bit is used to obtain a rock sample in such a manner that rock
retains the same properties that it had before it was removed from the formations. Core bit drills the
cutting samples from the underground reservoir rock. Cores are tested to obtain information about
rock properties such as porosity, permeability and fluid saturations.

Background: Rotary coring was probably first introduced by the French Engineer Leschat in
1863; however it did not come in to general use in the oil industry until the early 1920’s. In order
to obtain a core with rotary drilling tools, provision must be made for cutting the formation in
the desired shape and retaining the core. The rotary coring bit is used to cut the core and a core
barrel is used to retain the core after it has been cut.

Types of Core Bit: There are two types of core bits which are widely used for coring.
1. Diamond Bit
2. Rotary Core Bit

Diamond Core Bit:

In order to increase both core recovery and
penetration rate, use has been made of a
diamond-faced coring bit. Diamond bits may
be used to advantage in coring hard, dense
formations where the cost of the coring with
roller cutter bits is high. Although the cost
of a diamond core bit may be as much
as fifteen to twenty times the cost of a
conventional core bit, the reduction in
the number of round trips and the increased penetration rate in many cases make the diamond
bit more economical. Diamond core bit are more frequently used because of their durability and
capacity to cut rock. Because the diamond bit can stay on the bottom of the hole longer, the can cut
longer cores. The core bits differs from diamond drilling bits in two ways; first core bits have round
opening so that core can pass through to the barrel and second the core bits have threads for the
core barrel instead of pin connections.

Core bits for hard formations usually have small diamonds embedded in the bit. Core bits for soft
formations usually have large diamonds embedded in the bit. Diamond core bits have three main
parts

1. Crown
2. Blank
3. Shrank

Crown: on which the diamonds are embedded.

Blank: the steel body to which the crown is fixed.
Shank: which contains the thread for the attachment of core
barrel.
Drilling Engineering Lab Practical

Rotary Core Bit (RCB):

Similar to a drillbit, the rotary coring bit consists of solid metal
with diamonds or tungsten for cutting at the reservoir rock; but
unlike a drillbit, a rotary coring bit has a hollow center. On a
rotary coring bit, the cutting apparatus surrounds a hollow center,
called the core barrel, where the core sample is stored. This core
barrel is made up of an inner and outer barrel separated by ball
bearings, which allow the inner barrel to remain stationary and
retain the core sample while the outer barrel is rotated by the
drillstring and cuts the core.

BOTTOM HOLE ASSEMBLY:

Drill Sting Coring is done by using special drilling
bits, with an inner core barrel and outer metal
barrel, each of approximately 9 meters in length.
These can be joined in multiple for an increased
core recovery. In conventional coring methods, the
inner core barrel remains stationary, while the
outer barrel, on which the bit is attached, rotates,
pushing the rock into the inner barrel. The core
catcher prevents the sample from shipping out.

The core barrel should be equipped with safety

joints that enables the inner barrel to be removed
from the outer barrel, if the outer barrel get stuck.
The outer barrel can be fished out later.

The main parts of core barrel are:

• Swivel

• Bearing Assembly

• An inner tube shoe assembly with core catcher

• Safety joints

Swivel: enables the outer barrel to rotate around the inner barrel

Shoe Assembly: keep the inner barrel in place and stationary inside the outside barrel, protects the
core upon entry, support the core catcher

Core catcher: holds the core by wedging between the core and inside of shoe.

Stabilizers: are important because they affect the contact between the bit and formation. Stabilizers
improve the cutting of core because they hold the bit flat against the bottom of hole and avoid
wobbling. Wobbling can cause uneven wear on the bit, mud leakage, and reduced penetration rate
and core breakage. Thus Stabilizer enhance the core recovery. Stabilizer prevents the core to be cut
in wavy or spiral direction.
Drilling Engineering Lab Practical

FACTORS FOR THE SELECCTION OF BIT:

There are several factors which are to be considered while selecting coring bit

 Characteristics of formation
 Capabilities of mud pump
 Composition and properties of drill fluids
 Number of stabilizers are used
 Amount of coring to be done
 Core size

Diamonds may be lost if the bit is not properly selected.