Smith Bits Sales :

MLC
Roller Cone
Hydraulics

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 Critical Hydraulic
Functions
Efficient Cuttings
Evacuation: removes
drilled formation from
Cutting Structure the cutting
Cleaning: structure/hole bottom
removes into the annulus
formation from
between the teeth
or
inserts and
from between
rows
Hole Bottom Cleaning:
allows the cutting
structure clear
access to undrilled
formation

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 Cutting Structure
Cleaning

Cutting structure cleaning

 Prevent “balling”
 Prolong cutting structure
life
 Maximize ROP

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 Cutting Structure
Cleaning
• Milled tooth bit with Extensive Bit
Balling

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 Cutting Structure
Cleaning
• TCI bit with Gage and Adjacent-to-Gage
Balling

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 Bottom-hole
Cleaning
Allocate available hydraulic
energy
towards the bottom-hole to:

 Lift all generated cuttings

to prevent re-drill
 Prolong cutting structure
life
 Maximize ROP

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 Bottom-hole
Cleaning
Anatomy of a Typical Insert Impact Location
Fractured region
Much larger solids,
much more
difficult to remove.
Often reground
into smaller chips.
Crushed zone
Small sized, easy
to remove solids.

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 Cuttings
Evacuation
Allocate available hydraulic
energy
to:

 Remove all generated cuttings to

improve cutting efficiency
 Prolong cutting structure life
 Reduce bit balling tendencies
 Extended seal life
 Improve ROP
 Improve dull condition

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 Configuration
s
Standard-Flow

Cross-Flow

Vectored-

Flow

 Definition
 Flow
Characteristi
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 Standard-Flow
Definition
A roller cone bit manufactured with the traditional or
so- called “standard” jet orientation fitted with three
nozzles, identical in size and extension

For example:
 three Series 95 11/32”
or
 three Series 98 14/32”

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 Standard-Flow
Characteristics
Flow Field
Regime

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 Standard-Flow
Characteristics
Hole-bottom Velocity
Vectors
Jet Impact Collision Zones
Location

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 Standard-Flow Field
Visualization
Three identical flow
patterns. One per
leg

Hydraulic energy
midway between
cones

Recirculation zones
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 Cross-Flow
Definition
A roller cone bit manufactured with standard or traditional jet
orientation

Nozzle selection varies in size (TFA) and/or extension to create

sweeping flow under the cones and/or maximize impingement
pressure on the hole bottom

For example:
 one Series 98 16/32”; one Series 97 14/32”; one Series 95 12/32”
or
 two Series 98 14/32”; one blank nozzle

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 Cross-Flow
Characteristics

Leg with nozzles on Leg with nozzle and Strong up-flow near Leg with nozzle and
either side is blank on either blanked nozzle. blank on either
similar to side creates side creates
Standard-Flow sweeping action sweeping action
pattern under cone. under cone.

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 Cross-Flow
Characteristics

Jet Impact
Locations

Fluid sweeping under two

cones

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 Cross-Flow Field
Visualization
More uniform flow field compared
to Standard-Flow

Hydraulic energy impacts midway

between cones

Strong sweeping flow under two

cones Strong updraft near blanked

nozzle

Mini-extended nozzles offer much

higher impingement pressure
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 Vectored-Flow
Definition

A roller cone bit manufactured with Vectored or directed

jet orientation fitted with three nozzles
 Nozzle blanks are not recommended

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 Vectored-Flow
Characteristics

Vectored Flow Visualization

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 Vectored-Flow
Characteristics
Vectored-Flow engaging TCI cutting
structure

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 Vectored-Flow
Characteristics
Hole-bottom Velocity
Vectors

Jet Impact
Location

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 Vectored-Flow Field
Visualization

Uniform flow field

Hydraulic energy directed

towards cutting
structure

Minimized recirculation
zones

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 Nozzle
s

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 Fluid Velocity
Comparison
Standard Mini-Extended
Nozzle Nozzle

7⅞” Bit
260
gpm
10 ppg
mud
1 2 / 32 ”

Nozzle

Fluid Velocity
0 60 120 180 240 (ft/sec)
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 Revie
w
3 key hydraulics functions?

Standard nozzle versus Mini-

jets? Advantages and

disadvantages:
 Standard Flow
 Cross Flow
 Vectored Flow
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