Bit Hydraulics Equations:

Bit hydraulic horsepower (HHP), impact force (IF) and fluid velocity (V) are related to the pressure
drop across the bit and the flow rate of the drilling fluid. We may express these quantities as follows:
HHP = (Pbit

q)/1714

(1)

(HHP per square inch = HSI = HHP/Aflow )

IF = 0.0173

(2)

(PbitW)

Fluid velocity = (.32086

1/2

(3)

q)/Aflow (ft/sec)

(4)

where:
HHP, IF and V are expressed in units of horsepower, pounds and feet per second,
respectively
Pbit = pressure drop across bit, psi
q = flow rate, gallons/minute
MW = mud weight, pounds per gallon
1714 and 0.32086 = conversion constants
Aflow = total flow area across the bit, square inches
The pressure drop across the bit face, Pbit, is given by the formula:
Pbit = (MW
q2 )/[10,858
(Aflow )2]
(5)
Where the flow rate and mud properties are constant, Aflow is the one factor that will cause the HHP,
fluid velocity and pressure drop across the bit to vary. It follows, therefore, that we can control these
quantities by changing the flow area (i.e., nozzle sizes) at the face of the bit.
We may also express the pressure drop across the bit in terms of the surface pressure at the mud
pumps and the pressure losses in the circulating system:
Pbit = Psurf - Psys
Where:

(6)

Psurf = surface pressure at mud pump discharge

Psys = pressure losses through circulating system, including surface equipment, drill string and
drill string/hole annulus
It can be shown mathematically that:

o Bit hydraulic horsepower reaches a maximum when the pressure drop

across the bit is equal to approximately 65% of the mud pump discharge
pressure, or

Pbit = .65 Psurf

(7)

o Bit impact force reaches a maximum when the pressure drop across the
bit is equal to approximately 48% of the mud pump discharge pressure, or

Pbit = .48 Psurf

(8)
For derivations of these relationships, refer to the section titled, "Determination of Optimal Bit
Energy", which is found under the heading, "References & Additional Information".
For a given flow rate through a particular drill string, and with constant mud properties, P sys will be a
constant. The limiting factor on Pbit is the pressure that can be supplied by the mud pumps. That is, if
pressure losses in the circulating system should increase with increasing well depth, and the mud
pump is already working at its maximum operating pressure, there will be less pressure available at
the bit.