HYBRID DRILL BIT

SAURAV KUMAR, POOJITH KARRI

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF PETROLEUM AND ENERGY,VISHAKAPATNAM

Drilling is one of the stages of oil exploration, carried out after the prospecting phase, and
involves all the operations done since the beginning of the well to its delivery, (to the production
team). The objective of this study is to analyse and characterize exactly the major processes
performed during the drilling of an oil well. These are processes that involve a high investment
and financial risk, where safety and efficiency are key words and crucial for an economic
viability. The correct sizing of these processes, the way they are guided and run, become the key
to a drilling´s success. It is in this context that the analysis of procedures and the operational
issues relating to these processes, become extremely important for the oil industry, and for
society, since oil is the main source of energy today, contributing to the formulation of best
practices and improvement of the drilling technology.

Hybrid drill bit combines the rock-crushing strength and stability of roller cones with the
cutting superiority and continuous shearing action of PDC bits. It is essentially a steel-body
PDC bit on which the secondary blades have been replaced by rolling cutters. The central
portion of the cutting structure is a conventional PDC cutting structure, while the bit’s nose,
shoulder and gauge benefit from the combination of both rolling cone and PDC cutting
elements. Having the roller cone design surround the hybrid bit’s outer structure assures smooth
rotation while the bit’s fixed blades mechanically clean the borehole bottom and eliminate the
tracking, which can limit ROP in conventional roller cone bits.As a result, the hybrid bit can
substantially increase ROP compared with roller cone bits and reduce the potential for bit
bounce. Compared with PDC bits, durability is significantly improved in interbedded formations
with less risk of stick-slip. Additionally, overall drilling torque levels are lower and more
consistent, while stability and directional control are improved.

New type of nozzle system is introduced in this drill bit.The jet pump bit has a single jet pump
which is concentric with the bit. The drilling fluid mixed with cuttings in the cavity is pumped
into the jet pump cavity by the jet pump, then its pressure increases. The cuttings are separated
by the helix baffle and along with some of the higher pressure, they flow into the discharge ports
and go out to the surface. The remaining parts of higher pressure flow downwardly through the
pressure drawdown nozzle to clean the bottom-hole and carry the cuttings to the cavity. So, the
reduced pressure drilling fluid can always flow back to the drilling surface.