Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Drill Bits Dec2002
Drill Bits Dec2002
SUGAR LAND
LEARNING CENTER
Drill Bits
USEFUL PRE-REQUISITES
Introduction to Self-Learning
Self-Learning enables you to learn at your pace, in your time, and in your
way. This course book provides the content, structure, and organization of
your learning, which would otherwise be managed by an instructor in a
class. It also gives you some review questions to help you to confirm your
understanding. Below is some information to help you get started.
- It is useful, but not essential for you to have met the pre-course
requirements stated on the course book cover.
Table of Contents
OBJECTIVES ............................................................................................... 4
INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................ 5
Objectives
Upon completion of this Drill Bit Self-Learning Package, you should be able
to do the following things:
Introduction
Reservoir development starts with the drill bit. With today’s technology, to
drill for oil and gas a drill bit is needed.
There are two major drill bit types: Roller Cone and Fixed Cutter.
Within the roller cones there are two types bits - insert bits and tooth bits.
Within the fixed cutters there are two types of bits: PDC bits
(Polycrystalline Diamond Compact) and Natural Diamond/Impreg.
Customer’s Expectations
- they may expect the bit to drill the interval faster than on
previous wells
- they may want a good dull condition from the drill bit once
it comes out of the hole
- they may have some other criteria that they are interested in
From a drill bit aspect, bit cost-per-foot is going to be the best measure of
performance. But, the customer is not always interested in cost-per-foot.
Sometimes they are interested in making sure they can drill the interval in a
specific amount of time irregardless of how much it costs them. Sometimes
they have to drill the interval at a certain ROP (Rate Of Penetration) in order
to meet the criteria that they have for a specific well. Another situation that
customers might need is to have a good dull condition. This is important
because sometimes customers rerun bits on multiple wells. Sometimes
directional accuracy is the most important for a customer. This is extremely
important if you are drilling horizontal or directional wells anywhere in the
world. The directional accuracy could be far more important than how much
it cost for the bit, or how much it cost to drill a specific interval of the well.
If the customer cannot hit their targets, then they are not going to get the
reservoir development that they expect. There could be some other things
that customers expect out of bits; for example, hours. There are some
customers in parts of the United States that if the bit does not drill a certain
amount of hours then their expectations have not been met.
Another way drill bits are sold is in the office. They are sold to operating
companies, to drilling engineers, and to purchasing departments. Typically
it is better not to sell bits to purchasing departments because they are only
interested in price. Drill bits are not a commodity. They are a “performance
tool”.
Drill bits are also sold directly to directional drillers and drilling contractors.
There are a lot of wells that are drilled, especially in the US and Canada, on
a footage basis. Footage means that a drilling contractor has agreed with an
oil company that they will drill a specific depth of a well for a certain price.
In this case the contractors are responsible for purchasing the bits. The drill
bits will be sold directly to the drilling contractor as opposed to the oil
company. There are some situations where directional drillers are
responsible for buying the bits. Directional companies will turnkey a
directional well, or a section of a well. Being part of Drilling &
Measurements, Schlumberger Drill Bits will need to take advantage of this
situation when D & M has the directional job and is buying the bits.
Drill bits are also sold by tender to national oil companies. Basically what
this means is that a national oil company will put out a bid for bits.
Sometimes this is for a 6-month supply, a year supply, or some other period
of time that they will designate. All of the major drill bit companies get to
bid on the tender. The bits are typically bought from whomever provides
them with the lowest price.
Another way drill bits are sold is by supply contracts to major oil companies.
This is typically driven by management consultants and purchasing
managers. When this happens the companies are trying to reduce their costs
over a period of time by buying bits in bulk from one or more of the major
drill bit suppliers. Many of the major oil companies do have some kind of
supply contracts with one or more of the drill bit companies.
There are 4 major drill bit competitors that control approximately 92% of the
$1 billion dollar worldwide drill bit market.
There are several other drill bit competitors around the world that
collectively have approximately 8% market share. There are RBI, Varel,
Walker-Macdonald and TSK which are all roller cone companies. There are
also many regional and local PDC companies located around the world.
The drill bit market is basically split out into the 2 major bit types - roller
cone and fixed cutter. The roller cone is approximately 60% or $600
million, and the fixed cutter is about 40% or $400 million.
To understand the drill bit market, it is necessary to look at the market in the
past and then where it is today.
PDC
Penetration Rate
Tooth
Insert
Impreg
& N.D.
The chart shows the PDC, the tooth, the insert, and the impreg / natural
diamond bits. As indicated, there is very little overlap between the PDC, the
tooth bits, the insert bits, and the diamond / impreg. If a customer wanted to
drill in a specific area it would be pretty easy to identify what type of bit
they were going to need to run for the particular formation. Based on how
fast they wanted to drill it, and the compressive strength of the rock, it would
dictate which one of the four bit types would actually be used in that
particular application.
PDC
Penetration Rate
Tooth
Insert
Impreg
& N.D.
With the evolution of PDC cutter technology, the evolution of tooth bits and
of insert bits, and the improvements to the impreg and natural diamond bits,
there is now quite a bit of overlap in the present bit market. If a customer
wanted to drill in a specific formation, a decision would have to be made on
which drill bit type would be the best to use. This was one of the major
reasons why all 4 of the major roller cone drill bit companies and the major
fixed cutter drill bit companies combined as one instead of operating as two
separate companies.
Hughes Christensen
The first strength of Hughes Christensen is that they were the first in Bit
Optimization Service. Basically they were the first ones to put a drill bit
engineer in a customer’s office, at no charge, to do all of the analytical and
business requirements for the customer’s drill bit needs. In some cases they
were given a bit contract to provide a certain number of bits. Hughes was
first in this Bit Optimization service. Smith and Security quickly followed
and Schlumberger Drill Bits were the last ones to offer that service.
Their second major weakness is sometimes they are slow to respond. Since
they have such large volumes of product they cannot always get their bits
out to the market in as a timely manner as they would like to. Also the
actual drill bit market is not predictable. So if activity increases faster than
planned, sometimes Hughes Christensen can be a little slow to get their
products out to the market place.
Smith Geodiamond
The second strength of Smith Geodiamond is that they were second in the
market with Bit Optimization Service. Soon after Hughes Christensen, they
started putting their engineers in the offices to help make bit selections.
The third strength of Smith Geodiamond is that they market new technology
very well. Any time they come up with what new products or features, they
have brochures coming out, they have covers on the major oil publications,
and they do an excellent job of marketing their product.
The final major strength for Smith Geodiamond is customer relations. They
spend a lot of money, time, and resources on making sure they take care of
their customers. They give away jackets, shirts, cups, hats, etc. They also
take their customers on expensive trips. They are the drill bit company that
are the most committed to spending money on customer relations.
Smith Geodiamond
Schlumberger Drill Bits also have several weaknesses. First was the
company’s focus on margin. While this may not be a bad strategy, if you are
going to try to gain market share, margins may not be the primary focus.
Currently under D & M, the focus is on market share first.
To become the #1 drill bit company in the world, it will require better
customer response and getting products on time to the market as quickly as
possible.
Security DBS
The first strength of Security DBS is their synergy with Sperry Sun. This
gives them access to related drilling technologies and packaging
opportunities.
The third strength of Security DBS is that they were right behind Hughes
and Smith with Bit Optimization Service.
The last strength of Security DBS is their fixed cutter technology. In their
fixed cutter bits, they have some excellent products and some excellent
cutter technology.
Security DBS also has several weaknesses. The first weakness is their roller
cone technology. Most of their roller cone bits are not competitive with
Hughes, Smith, and Schlumberger. However, they do make a few good
products, especially in their bigger bits that have performed well in the Gulf
of Mexico and in other offshore applications.
The final weakness of Security DBS is that they tend to operate as 2 separate
companies. Since they have such a strong fixed cutter side and such a weak
roller cone side, most of the focus is on fixed cutter bits. Even though they
are one company, they tend to operate as two. This prevents them from
being a fully unified company.
Drill bits have unique design concepts. There is a lot of design work that
goes into fixed cutter and roller cone bits. There are materials issues,
bearings, elastomers, grease, moving parts, and cutter development.
Drill bits have manufacturing issues. One of the reasons why there are only
4 major drill bit companies that control approximately 92% of the worldwide
market, is because roller cone manufacturing is a very capital-intense and
complicated business. Not everybody can easily get into the roller cone
manufacturing business. That is one of the reasons for the major oilfield
service companies such as Schlumberger, Baker, and Halliburton aligning
themselves with an established drill bit company. It would be very difficult
for someone to start up a new roller cone company.
Finally, patents are what are unique to drill bit technologies. There are many
patents that are filed on drill bits that never get into bits. It is a very
competitive market with only 4 major competitors in the market place. All
of the drill bit companies are actively trying to patent everything they can to
prevent the competitors from copying their designs or taking advantage of
some of the concepts and innovations that have been developed.
There are two types of roller cone bits. There are tooth bits and there are
insert bits. Sometimes roller cone bits are referred to as rock bits. Under
tooth bits, these bits are sometimes referred to as steel tooth bits or mill tooth
bits. On the insert side, these bits are sometimes referred to as carbide bits
or button bits.
The roller cone bits are basically made up of the 3 major things. There are:
1) lugs, 2) cutters, and 3) component parts.
To make a roller cone bit there will be 3 lugs per bit. All 3 lugs will be
exactly the same. There will also be 3 cutters per bit. All 3 cutters will have
different cutting structures. Finally there will be a variety of component
parts.
Nose Cutter #1
Cutter #3
Gage Row Inner Row
Heel Row
Cutter #2
Shirttail Lug
In this diagram, the first area to identify is the API pin. The purpose of the
pin is to connect the bit to the drill string and to allow fluid to get through
into the body of the bit and out through the nozzles.
Next is the bit body. This is all the exterior part of the bit that is not the
cutter. So it includes all 3 of the lugs, the nozzle pods, and the areas that
are on the shirttail.
The next area is the lug. As mentioned before, it takes 3 lugs to make up 1
bit. So the lug is the area of the bit where the shirttail is located and the bit
body that goes down to the pin. It is the part of the bit that holds on the
cutter.
There are 3 cutters on each bit. There is Cutter #1, Cutter #2, and Cutter #3.
Each one of these 3 cutters will have a different cutting structure design.
The way to identify the 3 cutters is Cutter # 1 will have the insert or tooth
that is the closest to the centerline of the middle of the bit.
Nose Cutter #1
Cutter #3
Gage Row Inner Row
Heel Row
Cutter #2
Shirttail Lug
The nose of the bit is the area of inserts or teeth that is the closest to the
center of the middle of the bit. The inner row would be all of the rows that
are not the gauge. The gauge row is the row of inserts that are the furthest
on the outside of the cutting structure. The heel row are small, tungsten
carbide or diamond inserts that are put on the back face of the cutter.
The shirttail is the area of the lug where the grease reservoir cap, the hard
metal that is applied to protect the shirttail, the cone retention loading hole,
and the grease-loading hole is located. This is an important part of the bit
because it will identify some of the areas that will need to be protected.
Shirttail protection features that are added to the bits will be discussed later.
Nose Cutter #1
Cutter #3
Gage Row Inner Row
Heel Row
Cutter #2
Shirttail Lug
Then there is the nozzle pod and socket. This is the where the nozzles is
located. There is an O-ring and a snap ring that holds the nozzles in. This
whole assembly area where the nozzle goes in is called the nozzle pod and
nozzle socket.
Finally there is the bit bowl. This is all of the blank space, the void space
that is inside, the interior of the bit beneath the cutters, and inside of the
nozzle pod and nozzle sockets. In the bit bowl is where there may be drilled
cuttings. A lot of flow has to get through there in order to keep the bit clean.
This is also where your center jet would be installed if a center jet were to be
added to any bit.
Now that the external parts of the roller cone drill bit have been reviewed, it
is time to take a look at what is on the inside. The focus will be on the
bearings and seals. These are one of the most critical parts of a roller cone
drill bit. If the bearings and seals fail prematurely, your bit life will be
limited.
Bearings
• Main Bearing
• Retention Bearing
• Thrust Bearing
• Pin Bearing
There is the main bearing, the retention bearing, the thrust bearing, and the
pin bearing.
The main bearing, the thrust bearing, and the pin bearing are all load-bearing
surfaces. The function of the retention bearing is to attach the cutter to the
lug. However, through testing, and looking at the bits that have been cut
down for dull analysis, the retention bearings also do take some load.
There are 2 major types of main bearings in a roller cone bit. There are roller
bearings and there are friction/journal bearings.
Roller bearings are long cylinders that roll in tracks or grooves that have
been cut in the lug. Typically roller bearing bits will have two rows of roller
bearings, or three rows for the larger bits. They roll freely between the cutter
and the journal.
The friction or journal bearing bits have a bushing that rotates between the
lug and cutter. Schlumberger Drill Bits have a floating bushing that rotates
freely between the cutter and the lug. In the past these bearings were called
friction bearing. Today, most people in the drill bit industry call them
journal bearings.
There are two types of retention bearings. There are ball bearings and there
are threaded rings.
On most all drill bits, the cones or cutters are held onto the lug using ball
bearings. This is not a unique feature to Schlumberger. Ball bearings are
used by all 4 major drill bit competitors as their cone retention bearings.
Ball bearings roll in the track and keep the cutter from falling off of the lug.
The threaded ring, however, is a unique and patented feature that can only be
used by Schlumberger Drill Bits. It is attached by the threads in the cutter
shell and the corresponding threads located on the threaded ring. The
threaded ring rides in a groove on the lug, and allows the cutter to be
attached to the lug. A retention tool holds the threaded ring in place while
the cutter is screwed on. Once the cutter is on, the retention tool is taken
out, and a peening tool is inserted. The peening tool will peen or deface the
threads on the cutter to prevent the cutter from backing off. The advantages
of having a threaded ring retention bearing over a ball bearing is:
- the threaded ring will help reduce the lost cone rate by two-thirds
- it becomes an integral part of the cutter, so it allows the cutter to
have more freedom and be better tolerant of cutter movement
- it has surface contact as opposed to point loading of the balls
bearings
With ball bearings there is point loading that can cause spalling,
Spalling is little particles of metal that have flaked off of the lug surface.
This makes the surface uneven and no longer will run smoothly. This
affects the bearing performance. As soon as the bearing performance is
negatively affected, then the bit life will be limited.
Seals
At Schlumberger there are 4 major types of seals that are used. The first is
an O-ring seal. Years ago the O-ring seal was patented by Hughes and was
not allowed to be used by any of the other major bit companies. What
Hughes actually patented was the amount of squeeze on the O-ring to seal
the bit to keep the drilling fluids out and keep the bearing grease in.
HNBR
Ribbed
Texturized
HNBR
Texturized
O-Ring
and
HNBR Radial
The O-ring seal is used in Schlumberger’s 4-3/4" and smaller inch diameter
bits. All of the bits larger than 4 3/4, use the HNBR radial seal. The radial
seal provides several advantages. It runs cooler, it is recessed and is better
protected, and it is more tolerant of cutter movement. A radial seal is flat
and has more surface contact.
HNBR
Texturized
Seal
By trapping the grease into these little pockets, it allows the seal to run
cooler. Typically motor bits are running at higher RPM (Revolutions Per
Minute) so running cooler is important to extending bit life.
Shirttail
Snag
Seal Land
Ball Race
Ball Bearing (Bearing Race)
Ball
Retaining Radial Seal Seal Groove
Plug
Floating Bushing
Thrust Washer
From this diagram, the bearing terms can be identified. Starting on the right-
hand side of the picture an insert bit cutter is shown. The ball race is where
the ball bearings roll and allow the cutter to move around the lug. Moving
from the right side of the diagram into the middle of the cutter is the cutter
bore. The cutter bore has the internal bearing surfaces that match up with
the corresponding parts on the lug. There is also a groove in which the seal
is recessed. Moving on into the center part of the diagram is the thrust
washer. The thrust washer is a washer that is silver-plated. The silver is
used as a dry lubricant so as the thrust washer heats up, takes loads, becomes
hot, and develops friction; the silver will melt and form a lubricant. Next
there is the floating bushing. This is a copper beryllium bushing that is also
silver-plated for dry lubricant. Next is the HNBR radial seal. This could be
a texturized radial seal, a ribbed texturized radial seal, or an O-ring. This
shows the order in which component parts and the cutter fit on the lug.
Moving over to the journal part of the lug is the thrust pin bearing and the
pilot/friction pin bearing. Next there is the main bearing surface, the ball
bearing groove, the seal land, and the back face of the cutter. The ball
retention plug is used to secure the cutter once it is connected to the lug.
The ball bearings are loaded through this ball-loading hole on the backside
of the journal. After the proper number of balls are loaded, the retaining
plug is inserted and is welded with what is called a frogeye weld.
Grease System
On sealed bearing roller cone bits there is a grease system. This diagram
shows Schlumberger Drill Bits’ greasing system. The grease reservoir is
where the extra grease for the bearings is located. The grease is pumped
from the grease reservoir through a grease passage holes into all of the
bearing surfaces. To ensure that grease gets to all the bearing surfaces,
grease is painted on every bearing surface before the bit is assembled. A
grease-compensating diaphragm is used. If too much pressure builds up in
the reservoir or bearing system, the grease can vent or release through the
diaphragm so it does not burst the seal. Once the seal is damaged or fails,
the drilling fluid will flow in, compromise the bearing system, and will limit
the bearing life. On top of the diaphragm is a reservoir cap that is held in
place with a snap ring. A hex nut is screwed in with an Allen wrench that
closes off the grease-loading hole.
Grease Reservoir
Diaphragm
Reservoir Cap
Grease
Passage
Snap Ring Holes
Grease Loading
Hole Plug
Threaded Ring
Access Hole Plug
Earlier the ball-loading hole for a ball bearing retention system was
discussed. If the bit has a threaded ring, the threaded ring access hole is
where the tool to hold the threaded ring still is located. It also serves as the
access hole for the peening tool used to deface the threads on the cutter side
of the threaded ring assembly. A threaded ring access hole plug is then
inserted and sealed off with a frogeye weld.
Radial Main
Seal Bearing Retention
Bearing
Hole Wall
Lug
Pin
Bearing
Heel Cutter
Row
Thrust
Bearing
Gauge Inner
Row Row
This diagram shows a view of the cutter assembled to the journal on the lug.
Starting on the left side is the borehole wall. Moving inward from the left
side of the picture are the heel row inserts that are in contact with the
borehole wall. Next are gauge row inserts. This diagram shows how much
of the insert is actually in the cutter and how much of the insert is protruding
out from the cutter shell. On the top of the picture is the radial seal and the
groove where the radial seal is recessed. Next is the main bearing - in this
case a journal bearing. On the bottom of the picture are the inner row
inserts. Finally there is the thrust bearing, thrust washer, and the pin
bearing.
The cutting structure is also important for the life of a drill bit. If the cutting
structure fails the bit is finished. If the cutting structure wears out, the
inserts break, or the cutting structure gets damaged, the bit will have to be
pulled out of the hole because it will no longer be able drill the formations
economically. Sometimes the cutting structure of a bit is called the “cone”
or the “cutter”. These two terms can be used interchangeably.
Seal Flange
Spear Point
(Spade)
Cone Shell
Back Face
Cone Profile
Cone Groove
Heel Face
(Gage Face)l Outer Rows Inner Rows
Starting on the right side of this diagram is the cone profile. The cone
profile identifies how aggressive the bit is going to be in terms of cutting
formation. A more rounded cone profile would be for a more aggressive bit.
A flatter cone profile will be used for a slower drilling, more durable cutting
structure type bit, typically used in harder formations. Beginning on the
right side of the picture and moving inward, the first insert is the spear point
or the spade. This is also the nose insert. When identifying the nose insert
on the cutter, this is the insert that is closest to the center of the middle of the
bit.
Seal Flange
Spear Point
(Spade)
Cone Shell
Back Face
Cone Profile
Cone Groove
Heel Face
(Gage Face)l Outer Rows Inner Rows
Next are the insert pads. The insert pads are created as a result of the
designed cone grooves. Since the bit has 3 cutters, each with a different
cutting structure, the cutting elements have to intermesh with each other.
The cone grooves are machined into the cutter to allow the inserts to
intermesh. Another reason for the insert pad is to support the insert. If the
insert is not protected, and the proper amount of the insert is not in the cutter
shell, the insert will not be properly supported and will break.
Next are the inner row inserts. These are all the inserts that are not the gauge
row inserts and not the nose row inserts. The remaining row of inserts are
called the interlock row. An interlock row means that part of the interlock
insert is intersecting the line of the gauge row inserts. This does not mean
that these inserts are on top of each other. It just means that they intersect
the line of the gauge row inserts. Finally there is the heel row. The heel row
inserts are on the back face of the cutter.
Mill tooth bits have their tooth shape milled out of steel. Once the teeth are
milled, a hard metal is welded to each tooth to make the tooth more durable.
There are 4 basic types of hard metal that are used on Schlumberger’s mill
tooth bits.
First there is the standard Duraclad hard metal. This is a tungsten carbide
matrix composite. The hard metal is welded onto the teeth in a manual
process. Duraclad has a lot of porosity. It is a durable product but is
typically use this in Schlumberger’s non-premium tooth bits.
The next type of hard metal is called Armorclad. This is much more dense
and much less porous type of material. It has a much higher concentrated
mix of tungsten carbide pellets. Armorclad is typically use this in the
premium mill tooth bits such as EHT, MHT, and the SL - Slim Line bits.
Armorclad II is a new hardmetal that has just been introduced. This is a
premium hard metal that is an upgrade from Armorclad. This hardmetal will
be used on the new Titan tooth bit products.
Finally there is the “built-in” hard metal – PMC (Powdered Metal Cutter).
Schlumberger has as patented process of using powdered metal to make a
tooth cutter. Because of the patent protection, Schlumberger is the only drill
bit company that can use this “built-in” hard metal. The PMC product
technology has been in development for more than 12 years. In 2001 the
first PMC products will be going standard. The first product lines will be
FMJ (Full Metal Jacket) and CMC (Composite Matrix Cutter).
PMC is a “built-in” hardmetal that is built using a mold. This hard metal is
more durable, more abrasive-resistant, and provides a lot longer life for the
tooth. PMC will also allow more flexibility in designing tooth shapes. For
Schlumberger Drill Bits, the PMC process for making tooth bits may
become the way tooth bits are made in the future. It will be more
economical to manufacture once the process is fully developed. All of
Schlumberger’s competitors use welded hard metal on their tooth bits.
Hydraulic Configurations
Hydraulics are very important for a drill bit. The primary purposes of
hydraulics for the drill bit are to keep the bit cool and to get the cuttings off
the bottom of the hole and up the annulus. There are 3 basic Schlumberger
hydraulics configurations: Conventional, Mudpick, and Mudpick II.
First is conventional hydraulics. This means that the drilling fluid comes out
of the nozzle and goes straight to the bottom of the hole. There is no tooth
cleaning and the fluid cleans the rock between the cutting zones. There is
stagnant flow at the cutting zone where the inserts or teeth are in contact
with the bottom of the hole. There is no cleaning where the cutters are
actually in contact with the formation. All of the competitors use some form
of conventional hydraulics.
In the late 1970s, early 1980s, Reed started developing improved hydraulics.
The objective was to find a way, given the same set of hydraulic conditions,
that ROP could be improve by changing the direction of the hydraulic flow.
In the early 1980s, Reed introduced the patented Mudpick hydraulics.
With Mudpick hydraulics, as you can see in this picture, the position of the
nozzle is re-directed so that now the flow is cleaning the gauge row and
interlock row inserts. The rock is being cleaned at the leading edge of the
cutting zone. The stagnant flow has been shifted to the trailing side of the
cutter. Now there is better cleaning on the bottom of the hole. With
Mudpick there was an increase in rate of penetration given the same set of
hydraulic conditions. Without changing nozzle diameter, the flow rates, and
any of the variables for hydraulics, ROP was improved by changing to
Mudpick hydraulics. We use Mudpick hydraulics on all of the
Schlumberger product lines, except those that use the Mudpick II hydraulics.
In the early 1990s, almost ten years after the development of Mudpick,
Mudpick II hydraulics was introduced. Mudpick II cleans the gauge row
and inner row of teeth. It cleans the rock at the cutting zone right at the
corner as the inserts are coming around to make contact with the formation.
It cleans the cuttings from the bottom of the hole and removes the stagnant
flow completely from the cutting zone. The stagnant flow is shifted outside
the area where the inserts are in contact with the formation. Mudpick II has
shown that ROP was increases an average of 20% - 22% over the offset bit
runs. Mudpick and Mudpick II hydraulics are patented features of
Schlumberger. None of the other drill bit companies can use these hydraulic
configurations.
NOZZLES AVAILABILITY
SIZE (32ND) 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 18 20 22 24 28
TFA in² 0.049 0.062 0.077 0.093 0.110 0.130 0.150 0.173 0.196 0.249 0.307 0.371 0.442 0.601
STANDARD TYPE
AAK
AK
CK
DK
EK
SHROUDED TYPE
AACK
ACK
CCK
DCK
STANDARD ECK
TYPE NOZZLE AAK AK CK DK EK
TYPE AACK ACK CCK DCK ECK
NOZZLE OUTSIDE DIAMETER IN
0.811 0.926 1.173 1.297 1.609
TFA WITHOUT NOZZLE IN²
0.517 0.673 1.081 1.321 2.033
The standard type nozzle has got a flat surface on the top and the snap ring,
which is what holds the nozzle in the bit. On the shrouded type nozzle, the
snap ring is covered by a recessed groove. The purpose for shrouded
nozzles is for use with highly abrasive fluids or if there are highly abrasive
formations. The shroud protects the snap ring. All nozzles are measured in
32nds of an inch in terms of the diameter. In the picture on the previous
page there is a 14 stenciled on top of the nozzle above the center hole. This
means that this nozzle is a 14/32nd nozzle.
Hughes Christensen also used the same types of roller cone nozzles as
Schlumberger. In fact the nozzles are interchangeable. Smith Geodiamond
uses a screw type nozzle. Security DBS uses a nozzle that is held in by a
nail. The Smith and Security roller cone nozzles are not interchangeable
with Schlumberger.
Soft 11-
Mill
to to
Tooth
Hard 34-
The second digit of the IADC code tells the hardness of the bit within the
series. So a 11 would be the softest of the mill tooth bits. A 12 would be
the next hardest, and 13 would be the hardest. On inserts, for example, there
may be a 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, etc. So within the series, the harder the bit, the
higher the second number will be.
The IADC roller cone classification code basically looks like this:
4 1 7
Bearing Special
Series Type
Gage Features
1 1 5 M
If you look at this diagram, there are two examples. There is a 417 and a
115M. The first number represents the series. The 4 means it is an insert
bit. The 1 means it is a mill tooth bit. The second number represents the
type within that series. The third number in the IADC code represents the
bearing and gauge package. Most of the time there will be three numbers in
the IADC code. Occasionally, in the fourth position, there will be a letter.
This letter represents special features. It is not used very often but
sometimes the drill bit manufacturer wants to indicate that this bit has some
kind of special feature.
There are 7 different types of bearing and gauge configurations in the IADC
code. They are:
1. Standard roller
2. Roller air cooled
3. Roller with gauge protection
4. Sealed roller
5. Sealed roller and gauge protection
6. Friction/Journal bearing
7. Friction/Journal bearing and gauge protection
The codes that are used the most often are IADC code numbers 1, 5, 6, and
7.
There are several letters used in IADC to represent these special features.
They are not used very often. Most of the time the bit manufacturer will
choose to identify the special feature in their nomenclature as opposed to the
IADC code. Below is a list of these special features:
A = air application
B = special bearing /seal
C = center jet
D = deviation control
E = extended jets
G = gauge or body protection
H = horizontal or steering application
J = jet deflection
L = lug pads
M = motor application
S = standard steel tooth model
T = a two-cone bit
W = enhanced cutting structure
X = predominantly chisel tooth inserts
Y = conical tooth insert
Z = other shaped insert
The M letter is used most often to designate a bit is designed for motor
application.
The IADC code for roller cone bits has several uses. It is a good starting
place when trying to compare roller cone bits on offset bit records. In order
to determine what bit is going to be run in a specific application, bit
performance has to be evaluated. By looking at offset bit records, the IADC
code of the offset bits can be identified. Why would the IADC code be only
a starting place? If a customer says, “I need a 12-1/4” IADC code 517,”
sure, which one do they want? Within the industry there are probably 60+
12 ¼” 517 type bits. The IADC code gives a general indication of what kind
of cutting structure is needed. The features, or combination of features, will
then be selected for the specific application.
12 ¼” EHP 51 H DLK
IADC Design Added
Size Product Cutting Variant
Line Features
Structure
17 ½” EMS 13 GC
The first set of numbers, the 12-1/4 and the 17-1/2, represent the size in
inches. The size is also indicated in metric on Schlumberger’s box labels
for those that work in the metric system.
The next two numbers are the first two numbers of the bit’s IADC code.
Schlumberger Drill Bits is the only company that uses the first two numbers
of the IADC code, to identify their cutting structure. All the rest of the
competitors use different sets of nomenclature and different sets of numbers
to identify their bit types. In the top example, the 12-1/4" EHP51, the 51
indicates that the first two numbers of the IADC code for this bit is a 517.
In the bottom example, the 17-1/2" EMS13, the IADC code for this bit is
135. So the first two numbers of the IADC code is represented in our
nomenclature as 13. In 2001, Schlumberger launched three product lines
which do not use the first 2 numbers of the IADC code in it’s nomenclature.
The numbers used in the FMJ, DJ, and DR product lines are not associated
with the IADC code.
The next letter, if there is one, would represent the design variant. There are
three different design variants frequently used by Schlumberger. They are
designated by A, H, and X. Below are the design variants:
There are several benefits to running center jets. They reduce bit balling and
help keep the nose and inner rows of the cutting structure clean. The major
disadvantage of center jets is that they can reduce the outer cutter cleaning.
If a bit has three nozzles, and then a center jet is added, there will be less
fluid exiting out of the 3 outside nozzles.
Another disadvantage is the center jet can aggravate the nose area. With
high flow rates through your center jet, there can be nose cone erosion in the
center of the bit. The applications for center jets are basically in bits 12-1/4"
and larger. It is available in 7-7/8" and larger, and on occasion, a center jet
has been installed in a bit smaller than 7-7/8". Typically center jets are used
in medium to very soft, very sticky, gumbo type formations, or where
cleaning around the center of the bit is most important. Generally, no more
than 18% of the TFA (Total Flow Area) should be going through the center
jet. If the center jet is more than 18% TFA, the outside nozzles could be
starved for fluid and will not keep the gauge row of inserts cleaned.
The benefits of PDC-coated inserts, the D feature, are that it does eliminate
abrasive wear and thermal fatigue. There are some downsides, however. It
is costly. Some of the PDC-coated inserts could cost $25, $50, or $100 per
insert. The application must be right for using these inserts because it does
increase the cost of the bit. Another downside is it will not solve fracture
due to overload. If the inserts are breaking due to overload, using diamond
PDC-coated will not solve the problem. It will only help if the bit is
experiencing abrasive wear and thermal fatigue. The applications for the D
feature would be any application where abrasive cutting structure wear or
thermal fatigue limits bit life. It can also be used in directional applications
where there would be excessive wear on the gauge row inserts. The
diamond PDC-coated insert would be a good solution to that gauge wear
problem.
Flame
Spray
Cutter
The benefits of Flame Spray are that it reduces cutter shell erosion and
eliminates cone wear. The downside is that the coating may flake due to
differences in modulus of elasticity between the tungsten carbide pellets and
the steel. The best applications for flame spray is directional, or any
application where there is off-center rotation, gyration, or cutter wear limits
bit life due to erosion. Sometimes this happens with poor solids control or
high solids in the mud. Flame spraying has to be done in the before the bit
is assembled. It is not something that can be done in the field. It has to be
requested while the bits are being built. If there is a very abrasive formation,
the abrasive formation will erode the steel. The problem with cutter shell
erosion is that when the cutter shell is eroded, there is no longer support for
the inserts. Once the inserts fall out, the bit will not drill at an adequate
ROP. The bit will have to pull out of the hole and be replaced.
G = heel row inserts on a tooth bit. Not all of tooth bits come with heel row
inserts. Typically it is included on the directional tooth bits and on the
motor tooth bits. The G feature is standard on all insert bits, so it is not
included as a part of the insert bit nomenclature.
“G” Feature
The benefit of the G feature is that it helps maintain gauge. It is in contact
with the borehole wall and it does help protect the gauge teeth on a mill
tooth bit. It does have side cutting ability and it is diamond-compatible.
The downside is that in some designs, it can reduce the total carbide on
gauge. If the gauge row carbide were compromised in order to
accommodate the hole for the G feature, it probably would not be added.
The applications would be any application where gauge rounding results in
an under gauged hole or premature bearing failure. This feature will be used
in bits that are for directional applications, or any tooth bits that are run in a
motor application.
The next features are shirttail and lug protection. There are 3 configurations
of shirttail and lug protection used by Schlumberger Drill Bits:
- K, KP, DK, and DKP
- KPR and DKPR
- L and DL
“K”, “KP”,
“DK”, & “DKP” “L” & “DL” “KPR” & “DKPR”
K, KP, DK, and DKP are holes that are drilled into the shirttail where flattop
tungsten carbide inserts are pressed into the drilled holes. There are standard
patterns that are use for the K and KP shirttail protection. However, there is
the flexibility to install any kind of design pattern as long as the pattern does
not violate the specs in terms of the relationship of the inserts to each other,
to the grease-loading hole, to the grease reservoir cap, and to the hard metal.
This is an add-on feature. It can be done after the bit is built, either in the
factory or at a machine shop that has been certified at a field location.
The second type of protection is L, or DL, which stands for lug stabilizer
pad. This is a piece of steel that is welded onto the shirttail and then
machined. Once the piece of steel is machined to the proper diameter,
holes are drilled and tungsten carbide inserts or diamond-coated inserts are
pressed into the lug pad. The benefits of the lug pad are they stabilize the
bit, they help to maintain gauge by reducing side loads, and they also reduce
bit body wear. The downside is that sometimes the lug pads extend the
gauge length of the bit. This can be a possible problem in a directional well
with the overall length and steerability of the bit. So if the lug pads extend
the gauge length and affect directional steerability, they will not be installed
on the bit.
The third type of shirttail protection is KPR and DKPR. This is shirttail
protection that is premium. The R stands for raised inserts that are rounded
and protruding from the shirttail. This feature was introduced in 2000 and
has become a very effective shirttail feature. This feature can also be
installed in both the factory and in the field. There is a new KPR insert that
is just being introduced. It is called Mega KPR. This is an insert that is
going to be used on the “Titan” product line. The difference between Mega
KPR and the standard KPR, is that the standard KPR insert is 5/8" diameter
and the Mega KPR inserts are 3/4" diameter. The applications for this is
directional or any application where: 1) off-center wear or bit rotation is
encountered, 2) bit stability could be a problem or be a limiting factor, or 3)
in any application where a little more insurance is wanted. They can also be
used in situations where a customer just wants to make sure that they do not
have any shirttail damage or they just want a little extra protection.
These shirttail features do not cost very much and is a very effective tool to
help ensure that you have a longer bit life. In a directional or off-center
wear application, these features are very important because they do help
protect the shirttail and protect the gauge row. In a directional situation, the
bit is laying on the low side of the hole the majority of the time. The
shirttail and gauge row inserts are taking an abnormal amount of wear.
Also, in a directional application, there are more opportunities for downhole
vibrations, off-center wear, and gyrations. This shirttail protection, gives the
bit added bit life when running in a directional application.
T = GageGuard. This is the insert that is located in between the gauge row
inserts as shown in the picture below.
GageGuard
In order to make the space to drill the hole and press in the GageGuard
insert, some of the gauge row inserts would have to be moved or eliminated.
In some designs, it is not worth sacrificing the gauge row inserts for the
GageGuard feature. If the gauge row inserts are spread out too far, or the
configuration is changed, the gauge row could be weakened. It is not
beneficial to weaken the gauge row by adding GageGuard. If it does cause a
reduction in the gauge count for some designs, GageGuard would not be
added. GageGuard is a factory-installed feature. It is not an add-on feature.
The bit has to be designed with GageGuard on it from the beginning.
GageGuard does come standard on some Schlumberger products but is not
available on all of the product lines. Most applications will see benefits of
GageGuard unless there is a reduction in the gage count that limits the run.
JA = Jet Air. It is design differences that are used for durable bit geometry
for under-balanced drilling. It typically has a low offset, an open cutting
structure, and has special nozzle ports. There are only two areas in the
world that typically use jet air bits. They are used in the Northeast and in
West Texas, U.S.A. The bit is only built in two sizes, 7-7/8" and 8-3/4".
The applications are for under-balanced drilling using air, foam, or mist.
Diamond Features
With Schlumberger’s roller cone cutting structure and shirttail features, there
is the opportunity to use diamond PDC-coated inserts. If a bit has diamond
PDC-coated inserts, the following designations are used:
DA - Diamond Coating on All Inserts
DN - Diamond Coating on Nose Row Inserts
DI - Diamond Coating on Inner Row Inserts
DG - Diamond Coating on Gage Row Inserts
DT - Diamond Coating on GageGuard Inserts
DH - Diamond Coating on Heel Row Inserts
DK - Diamond Coating on Shirttail Inserts
DKP - Diamond Coating on Premium Shirttail Inserts
DKPR - Diamond Coating on Premium Shirttail Raised Inserts
DL - Diamond Coating on Lug Pad Inserts
In Schlumberger Drill Bits there are 3 major roller cone product lines:
1) Roller Bearing Non-Sealed, 2) Journal Bearing Sealed, and 3) Roller
Bearing Sealed. Below is a list of all the current Schlumberger roller cone
product lines (red indicates new product lines):
• Y • HP • SL • MS
• EHP • DJ • ETS
• MHP • FMJ • EMS
• EHT • CMC • T
• MHT • TD • DR
• JA • TDD • TD
• TDD
The 3 types of fixed cutter bits are 1) PDC bits, 2) Natural Diamond and
TSP bits, and 3) Impregnated Diamond bits.
Tungsten Diamond
Carbide Table
Support
Polycrystalline
Diamond
Compact
There are 5 basic cutter sizes that are used in the oilfield to make PDC drill
bits. These PDC cutters range in size from 19 millimeter down to 8
millimeter.
The PDC cutters are inserted into the bit body at an angle away from normal.
This is called the backrake angle. Depending the on this angle of orientation
of the cutters, it determines how aggressive the bit's cutting structure will be.
The lower the backrake angle, the more aggressive the bit. Typically the
backrake angle of PDC bits will be between 18% and 40%.
BLADE
PDC CUTTER
Backrake
Angle
When finally assembled the soft formation PDC bit looks something like the
picture below. Shown are the cutters, the blades, and the pin.
Cutters
Blade
Pin
BLADE
NOZZLE
TSP Bit
The failure methods of the 3 fixed cutter bits are shown below:
PDC BIT:
SHEARING
F
The advantage of fixed cutter bits is they have no moving parts. Why is this
an advantage? Primarily there is less risk of leaving any junk in the hole like
the cones off of a roller cone bit. Losing cones is a disadvantage when
drilling horizontal holes especially when fishing the cones is a big problem.
In addition, there are no temperature concerns up until about 700 degrees
centigrade with PDC bits. The grease and rubber products in roller cone bits
are temperature-sensitive, which can be a problem when drilling hot wells.
In terms of operating procedures for fixed cutter bits there are many
different thoughts on this. Many people in the oilfield seem to think that the
only thing needed is to put the pin up, connect it to the drill string, and then
turn it to the right. It is not that simple. Fixed cutter bits, especially PDC
bits, are very lithology-sensitive and drill more efficiently if drilling
parameters are adjusted every time the rock type changes. This is difficult
unless particular attention is paid to the fixed cutter bit while it is drilling.
SHOULDER
CUTTERS
• FACE
• GAUGE
• UPREAMING
DIAMOND
WELD GROOVE GAGE PAD
MAKE UP FACE
API PIN CONNECTION SHANK
FIXED PORT
GAUGE
GAUGE INSERTS
BEVEL
The majority of steel and matrix body PDC bits use one of four diameter
cutters: 8 mm, 13 mm, 16mm, or 19 mm. Some bit styles use more than one
cutter size in a single bit. Schlumberger’s PDC cutters have a bevel or
chamfer around the periphery of the cutting face to increase initial impact
resistance.
Posts (or studs) are used as the PDC support primarily in steel bodied bits.
Schlumberger has the facility to bond the PDC onto a post. The posts are
manufactured from cemented tungsten carbide to provide a strong, erosion
resistant support for the diamond. The post diameter varies according to the
compact diameter. In addition, posts for 13mm cutters are available in short
and long versions to allow the bit designer to make trade-offs between cutter
interference and retention requirements.
Bit Body
The 2 main PDC bit body types are matrix body and steel body. The
functions of the bit body are:
- to retain and support the cutters & nozzles
- to strengthen the bit downhole
- flow control
- attachment to the drill string
The factors dictating the bit body material are bit life, strength, accuracy,
repairability, and bit length.
Blades
Support Cutters
CYLINDERS POSTS OR STUDS
Cutters
Hybrids
BLADE
HEIGHT
Resist Loads
Profiles
There are 3 major profiles used for PDC bits: 1) short, 2) medium, and
3) long.
Profiles
Bit Length
Diamond Impregs
Although Schlumberger’s steel and matrix Hybrid PDC drill bits can both
have diamond impregnated studs (generally referred to as impregs), the
impregs are of different construction. Matrix Hybrid bits have impregs cast
in situ during the manufacturing stage. Steel bits utilize separate
components that are manufactured from tungsten carbide. Both types
contain many tiny natural diamonds in the end toward the formation. The
impregs used in Reed-Hycalog's patented Hybrid PDC bits help ensure a
uniform wear pattern for all PDC cutters across the face of the bit, which
contributes to longer bit life. Additionally, the impregs are beneficial in
protecting the PDC cutters from impact damage by stabilizing the bit
downhole. In essence, the impregs serve as built-in protection against bit
whirl. Because the impregs contain diamonds, they can continue to protect
the PDC cutters from damage in hard or highly abrasive formations.
Diamond Impregs
IMPREGS
Gauge Protection
Schlumberger utilizes 2 types of gauge inserts in steel bodied bits. The first
type consists of a cylindrical piece of hot pressed tungsten carbide with
fluted sides to improve retention. The second type is like the first but also
contains surface-set cube diamonds, orientated to their crystallographic
optimum, to provided enhanced abrasion resistance. Reed-Hycalog holds a
patent on using this technique for providing diamond gauge protection in a
steel bodied bit. Schlumberger gauge inserts are manufactured with a radius
on the outside face so when they are assembled in the bit gauge, they will be
flush with the steel surface.
Gauge Protection
Steel Bodied Bits
Gauge Protection
Gauge Protection
Matrix Bodied Bits
PDC Nozzles
Cone
The cone of the bit provides a degree of stability when the bit is drilling, due
to the resultant cutting forces from the PDC set within the cone generally
urging the bit to rotate about its central axes. The resulting central cone of
rock further enhances this stabilizing effect, as it helps prevent the bit from
shifting the location of the central axis. The cone of the bit is usually lighter
set than elsewhere on the bit face as the rock cone is unconfined and
consequently less force is required to remove it. Also less rock per
revolution of the drill bit is removed towards the central region of the bit.
Nose
The nose of the bit is that region of the face that is the furthest from the pin
end. It is, therefore, the first part of the bit to encounter any change in
formation when drilling a vertical or near vertical hole. Because of this, it is
desirable to have a relatively large number of cutters set on the nose to
prevent overloading during the transition to a harder formation.
Taper
The taper (or flank) of the bit is the section between the nose and the gauge.
It may provide a degree of stability and its length is usually governed by the
cutter density requirement. A bit designed for tough applications, which
needs a large number of cutters, would tend to have a more extended taper
than a product for drilling a soft formation. However, an alternative way to
achieve a higher cutter density without increasing the taper is to increase the
number of blades.
The Outer Diameter Radius (ODR) refers to that region of the bit profile
where the radius at the end of the flank leads into the gauge of the bit. This
region of a bit is extremely important, especially in motor or turbine
applications where rotating speeds are high. The cutters must withstand the
effects of high velocity due to their radial position on the face of the bit.
Although the angular velocity of cutters at the bit gauge is identical to that of
cutters within the cone, the tangential velocity is greater since it is a function
of radial location.
PDC Cutters
Cutters are distributed across the bit face in such a way as to satisfy various
requirements. Naturally the cutter layout must result in a full gauge hole
being cut as the bit is rotated. As with most bits, satisfying one condition
may well be at the cost of another. Judgments based on experience must be
used to produce an optimized bit design.
Cutter Wear
It is desirable to get even wear across all the cutters of the bit. If one cutter
wears appreciably more than the others, it could result in a weak spot.
Additionally, even wear results in the efficient utilization of the PDC.
Cutter Placement
The cutters are arranged across the bit in such a way as to provide maximum
bit life and to take into account expected rates of penetration and product
cost.
Cutter Balance
The lateral imbalance force, resulting from the vectorial addition of all the
cutting forces as the bit is drilling, is calculated at the design stage. Certain
types of anti-whirl drill bits utilize this force in conjunction with a cutter
devoid area and a low friction zone at the gauge to reduce the incidence of
backward whirling, a detrimental motion of the bit which can occur under
certain conditions. On most products, however, it is desirable to minimize
this lateral force and the cutters are positioned accordingly.
Cutter Redundancy
There are performance steps that are followed in the development of cutter
technology. First, the best performing cutters in the industry are identified.
Currently, Schlumberger primarily utilizes in-house cutters but will also use
five outside vendors as suppliers. Whenever a new cutter design is
developed, it is tested to assure consistent quality and reliability. Currently,
only between 10 and 15% of cutters evaluated actually meet the test criteria.
Schlumberger continually evaluates it’s own standard cutters to make sure
they are all up to the standards.
Here are some interesting facts about diamond. Diamond is in fact 10 times
harder than steel. It is also twice as hard as tungsten carbide. Remember,
tungsten carbide is the substrate that is used in the PDC cutters. Diamond is
10 times more wear resistant than tungsten carbide. In compression,
diamond is 20 times stronger than granite, which is probably one of the
hardest rocks. Diamonds also have the lowest coefficient of friction of any
known material. Friction of course creates heat. Convection cooling is not
as efficient in maintaining low temperatures as reducing friction. Diamonds
are one of the best thermal conductors known. This means if heat is
transmitted to the cutter it will soon spread throughout the diamond layer.
Diamond also turns to graphite at approximately 1,300 degrees Centigrade at
ambient pressure, and in the presence of oxygen will burn at 800 degrees
Celsius. Diamond is non-wettable which means it must be combined with
another material in order to bond. What Schlumberger uses is cobalt to bond
the diamond. Unfortunately at 700 degrees C, the cobalt will actually force
the diamond apart. Therefore the challenge is to mix the diamond grit with
the cobalt and the tungsten carbide to develop a superior PDC cutter.
Salt is used as an excellent thermal conductor and will not deform under the
massive pressures. As the pressure and heat is applied the cobalt is driven
down from the substrate by a concentration gradient into the diamond grit.
Once it mergers with the diamond grit it then bonds it together, and also
bonds the diamond layer to the tungsten carbide substrate.
Cobalt
driven by concentration gradient
Diamond Grit
When Hycalog first started developing PDC cutters, they referred to the
impact resistance axis as R, S, T, U and V and the abrasion resistance axis
as C, D, E, F, G, H, I.
V
U
Impact T
Resistance
S
R
C D E F G H I
Abrasion Resistance
Shown here is what historically has been the tradeoff. By using larger
diamonds to give impact resistance a smaller diamond grit was needed to
give abrasion resistance. It was soon realized that if larger and smaller
diamond grit could be combined, there would be a more abrasion and impact
resistance cutter. This would actually move away from that trade-off line.
Trade-off line
Impact
Resistance
Abrasion Resistance
For several years now Schlumberger has been using both tri-modal and
quadra-modal grits, which are grits with either 3 or 4 different sizes of
diamond. After the diamond compact is manufactured it then needs to be set
on to an additional tungsten carbide substrate. This substrate or support is
what actually holds the cutter to the face of the bit. The attachment process
for attaching the compact to the substrate is called LS bonding. LS bonding
is quite a difficult process as the LS bond has to be heated up higher than the
critical level for the diamond layer. So as the induction coil applies heat to
the support the diamond layer is actually being continually cooled with a
layer of cooling water being passed above it. LS Bonding is shown below:
Cooling
Water
Carbide Contact
Shim
PDC LS Bond
Induction Coil
(Heat Supply)
Historically, the interface layer between the diamond and the tungsten
carbide was planar. However in recent years Schlumberger has changed to
non-planar interface (NPI) type cutters. The NPI cutters have several
advantages:
- they give reduced stresses of the interface of the diamond and
the tungsten carbide substrate
- they allow between 25% and 40% more diamond on the cutter
- they have increased impact resistance
Fan Iris
One of the problems with PDC cutters when used at very high back rake
angles is that there has been a greater incidence of impact damage.
This is due to the fact that there is less tungsten carbide support at a small
depth of cut, as you can see in the diagram below.
15º Back
45° 45º Back
Rake 15°
Backrake Rake
Backrake
Backrake Angles
TuffEdge™ Cutter
The PDC is not totally supported by the carbide rim. Basically it goes
around about 300 degrees leaving the PDC only exposed at the actual cutting
interface of the bit. It also is fitted around a conventional NPI (non-planar
interface) substrate.
TReX Cutters
The picture below shows the effect of repetitive impact shocks and loads are
to a PDC cutter.
Toughness
Wear Life
The properties which influence the life of the PDC in the oilfield are its
toughness and its wear life, or its impact resistance and abrasion resistance.
If a coarse diamond grit is used the large grains tend to absorb the shock.
However, the downside is that loss of an edge grain represents significant
wear amount. Small grains on the other hand are less shock resistant. If a
smaller grain is lost it is less significant than if a larger diamond grit grain is
lost. Throughout the years small improvements have been made mainly by
the introduction of thicker cutters and of non-planar interface (NPI) cutters.
Old-style planar interface cutters with thicker diamond wafers improve the
wear life of the bit but they did result in a weaker bit in terms of abrasion
resistance or toughness. Thick diamond and NPI substrates did in fact give
wear and toughness improvements, but these were not greatly significant.
The new TReX cutter is a significant departure from existing technology. It
uses a multi-modal diamond grit concept, and the cutting edge is ultra wear
resistant and very, very tough. Currently, this technology is patent pending.
It uses existing NPI substrates, the only difference being the composition of
the diamond grit.
For optimum performance benefits from the TReX cutters the selection of
the application is crucial. The objective of the run must be defined and if
possible the run should be supervised. This ensures that the correct drilling
parameters are used at all times and also allows identification of anything
strange happening during the run which may lead to premature failure of the
bit. For TReX cutters it is important to have good offset data and to present
a good case study following the run.
• Hybrid-PDC™ • DuraDiamond™
• BiCentrix™ • 300 SERIES
• SteeringWheel™ • 400 SERIES
• 500 SERIES
• Transformation™
• 600 SERIES
RS prefix is used for Schlumberger’s bits that were designed for use
specifically with rotary steerable drilling systems. These systems drill
directional wells without the use of a motor and therefore will require
specific bit designs.
Rotary
Steerable
Bit
SB is used for the Stable BiCentrix™ range of bits. These bits have drill-out
capabilities and can be used on directional wells. Stable BiCentrix™
SideTrack Bit
SteeringWheel™ Bits
Transformation™
Bit
X prefix is added to the DS, RS or SB to designate that the bit has the new
TReX cutters.
12 1/4 DS 70 A4 HF+GLUV
After the numbers that designate the variant, are the letters that designate the
various features on the PDC bit.
DiamondBacks
Hardfacing
H = Hybrid - means the bit has a hybrid or impreg backup cutters – these
are diamond-impregnated studs located behind the PDC cutters. The
primary functions of Hybrids are to:
- enhance bit stability
- reduce torque fluctuations
- protect PDC cutters
- create smoother cutting action
- increase bit life
H = Hybrid
Hybrid Bits
L = Long Gauge - means the bit has a longer gauge than standard,
sometimes which is used when drilling tangent sections. The long
gauge acts as an integral near bit stabilizer and assists in holding
angle.
S = Short Gauge – the bit has a gauge that is shorter than normal. Short
gauge bits are generally used for their steerability in a directional or
horizontal well.
Upreaming Cutters
Conventional SwitchBlade
SwitchBlade™ Hydraulics
Sugar Land Learning Center (SLC) Web Site – Drill Bit Training
http://dm.sugar-land.oilfield.slb.com