Bit Balling

Bit Balling
Big impact on costs
poor ROP
bad trips
additional trips
high demand on bits
swabbing
difficult to make correct bit selection
torque fluctuation
additional mud chemical added
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Saturday, 24 February 2007

 Bit Balling

WBM problem, not known to occur in OBM

Thought to be inevitable!
Will occur while drilling Shale and Mudstones
Not predictable
Bit & Stabilisers will ball up

Bit Balling
Is it the mud?
Introduction of PDC bits, increased
occurrences of balling
Bit companies working on solutions
Coatings for the bit
Electrical current used to change the potential
of the BHA
No balling around Monel stabilisers
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Saturday, 24 February 2007

 Bit Balling
Yes, it is the Mud:
it doesn’t occur in OBM
common with WBM
the same bit in the same rock will not always
ball-up
Mud treatments will reduce balling

Bit Balling

What is the process?

bit cuts dryto rock
the

interaction with mud starts

cuttings move from the

DRY Plastic Wet

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Saturday, 24 February 2007

 Bit Balling
Oil wetting and total inhibition will prevent
the Plastic state from occurring
The severity of the Plastic state will be
effected by
formation disperability
water content
polymer content
solids content of the mud
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Bit Balling
To prevent balling:
know the formation’s mineralogy
identify the dispersive formations to be drilled
look at minimising the solids content when
drilling these formations
control polymer content
condition the mud to make water available

Saturday, 24 February 2007