TRICONE BITS OR PDC BITS: WHICH DOES YOUR

PROJECT REQUIRE?
Posted on March 15, 2013

THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TRICONE BITS AND PDC

FIXED CUTTER BITS
The most straightforward difference between Tricone bits and PDC bits is the moving
parts used in tricones bits. Tricone bits consist of three “cones” which must all rotate
on lubricated bearings. This lubrication in turn requires a grease reservoir and for any
medium or large scale project some sort of bearing seal to prevent debris from
entering the tricone and stopping rotation. Conversely, PDC fixed cutter bits are solid
and consist of no moving parts. PDC bits are made by combining fine grained artificial
diamonds and tungsten carbide under extremely high heat and pressure, as the metal
cools the tungsten carbide shrinks more quickly, keeping the diamonds suspended in a
matrix within the tungsten carbide. The specifics of this process are carefully guarded
trade secrets.
ADVANTAGES OF TRICONE BITS
One of the largest advantages enjoyed by tricone bits is the length of time they have
been around. This longer stretch of time has allowed the design and manufacture of
tricone bits to advance significantly, incorporating advances in material technology
such as Tungsten Carbide Inserts, or advances in engineering like sealed journal
bearings. Tricone bits are also easier to control in tricky situations, providing more
options in regards to torque and Weight On Bit. Tricone bits are also better for varied
rock formations, especially for hard formations. The action of the individual rollers on a
tricone bit serves to fracture the rock, making it significantly more flexible in terms of
the range of formations one bit can be used on. One of the most important
considerations on any drilling project is always cost, where all things being equal
tricones tend to come out ahead. However, depending on the specifics of the drilling
project there may be circumstances that let PDC bits pull ahead.

ADVANTAGES OF PDC FIXED CUTTER BITS

The solidity and strength of PDC bits lends them many advantages that a tricone bit
can’t match. Most significantly, PDC bits have a longer lifespan which means they don’t
need to be replaced as often as tricone bits. That reason alone explains much of the
shift towards PDC bits for large scale projects. Additionally PDC bits can achieve a
higher Rate Of Penetration than tricone bits under optimal circumstances. These
factors combined mean that in formations where the rock type is established and the
correct PDC bit is selected you can drill faster and further with a single PDC bit,
bringing the cost per foot down below that of a tricone. Even though tricone bits may
be cheaper up front, in the right kind of project that can take full advantage of the
features of a PDC bit, you will wind up saving money in the long run by going with PDC
bits. Lastly as tricone bits consist of several different moving parts, it is possible to lose
part of the tricone in the borehole, a danger that does not exist with PDC bits.

Click for a list of available Tricone Bits and PDC bits.

SELECCIÓN DE UNA BARRENA TRICÓNICA O DE CORTADORES FIJOS (PDC)
PARA PERFORAR.
STAFF OIL & GAS MAGAZINE 22 NOVIEMBRE 2012.

22 de Noviembre de 2012
Para el proceso de selección es fundamental conocer los objetivos de perforación, que incluyen
todo tipo de requisitos especiales del personal para perforar el pozo. Esta información ayudará a
determinar las mejores características de la barrena que requiere la aplicación y a concentrar sus
esfuerzos en satisfacer las necesidades de Pemex y sus requisitos de perforación. Rendimiento.
Uno de los principales objetivos del personal técnico es perforar el pozo en el menor tiempo
posible. Esto significa orientar la selección de barrenas hacia la búsqueda del tipo que más
duración tenga; se busca principalmente la máxima cantidad de metros en un tiempo de rotación
aceptable, eliminando así el costoso tiempo del viaje. Direccional.

El tipo de pozo direccional es un criterio importante cuando se deben de seleccionar las

características de las barrenas ya sea tricónicas o de diamante. Una ventaja específica de las
barrenas de diamante es su gran alcance y sus posibilidades para perforar en sentido horizontal.
Estos tipos de pozos, por lo general, tienen secciones homogéneas muy prolongadas que son
óptimas para las aplicaciones con barrenas de diamante. La densidad de los cortadores, la
cantidad de aletas, el control de la vibración y el calibre de la barrena son, todos ellos,
parámetros de selección fundamentales cuando se estudian las aplicaciones direccionales.
Economía. El medio ambiente económico es un factor fundamental para la aceptación de los
diseños con diamante, siempre y cuando los análisis de costos así lo determinen; en caso
contrario se debe seleccionar barrenas tricónicas.
MINING INDUSTRY DRILL Drill Bit Selection: Simplifying the
Process
< All stories in this section

Tim Lahay — Jan 01, 2009

With many choices available today, selecting the proper bit for a particular application can
become quite confusing. There are spade, drag and shear type bits, point attack bits, PDC
bits, milled tooth and TCI (tungsten carbide insert) roller cone bits. There are IADC codes, soft,
medium, and hard categories for each bit, sealed, non-sealed, roller, and friction bearings. The list
goes on forever. What is a contractor to do when the success of the drilling operation is directly
related to what is screwed on the end of the drill pipe? In an effort to simplify the process, I am
going to suggest a simple, systematic approach. This process involves a few simple steps and will
get you in the ballpark every time:

• Identify – Soil/Rock type(s)

• Classify – Soil/Rock category
• Choose – Bit type within the category
• Optimize and Adjust – Operating parameters/subsequent selection

Identify – Obtain geotechnical information. This part of the process is the most important. When
done correctly, it will ensure proper tool selection and application through reaming. On larger
pipeline jobs, owners often supply contractors with accurate formation properties including rock
compressive strengths. In many cases where detailed information is not provided, I suggest the
following:

• Perform a site (or sight) survey. Sometimes actual geology is exposed from pre-existing
road work, other construction, or through onsite potholing.
• Contact the U.S. Geological Survey for geology specific to a location.
• Contact the Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil Conservation Service)
for soil surveys in a specific area.
• Contact local water well drillers.
• Contact local construction companies.
• Contact tooling suppliers/manufacturers, they may provide information related to past
experiences in specific areas.
 Remember, you are interested in the geology that exists within 100 ft (or less) of the surface.
The more information you obtain the better equipped you’ll be to make the right choice.

Compressive Range Soil & Rock

Strength/Hardness Types

Dirt, Clay, Cobble, Talc,

Shale, Siltstone,
0 to 10,000 psi/Low
Unconsolidated
Sandstone, Slate

Limestone, Dolomite,
10,001 to
Sandstone, Coarsely
30,000/Mid
Grained Granites

Finely Grained Granites,

30,000 +/High Trap Rock, Chert, Iron
Formations, Quartzite

Classify – Define soil/rock category. To simplify, I suggest the following categories.

Choose – Choose a bit within the category. Bit choices progress from softer to harder in
descending order. Choices listed within each category should produce cost-effective results.
However, there can be overlap between hardness categories. Use of a downhole motor can
influence bit choice. Blade and point attack type bits are commonly used without a downhole motor.

Compressive Strength/Hardness Range Suggested Bit Types

Drag or Blage Type (duckbill, spade, etc.) Point Attack,

0 to 10,000 psi/Low Shear Type (PDC) Milled Tooth & TCI Roller Cone,
Single Cone TCI

10,001 to 30,000/Mid Milled Tooth Rollar Cone

TCI Roller Cone with conical or round top (dome)

30,000 +/High
inserts

Optimize – Utilization and adjust subsequent selection if required.

• Talk to suppliers and manufacturers of these products. They can provide recommended
operating parameters and guidelines for optimal use.
 • Noting and identifying cuttings return characteristics while drilling can help in refining
ongoing utilization and selection.

Other General Considerations:

• Rig operating limits can influence bit selection.

• Torque requirements become greater in softer
• materials.
• WOB (weight on bit) requirements become greater in harder materials.
• Sealed, friction bearing, roller cone bits are preferred for fluid applications. However, open
bearing roller cone bits are used successfully on shorter bores of less than 200 ft.
• TCI roller cone bits with round top shaped inserts will produce the slowest ROP (rate of
penetration).
• Maximum gage, shirttail, (skirt) and leg protection is a must for roller cone bits.
• Your rig operating cost investment outweighs the cost of a drill bit. Choose a bit that
produces the most cost effective balance of ROP and total run time. Trip time is costly –
improved ROP equals less drilling hours and money spent.
• Conventional “petroleum” roller cone bits are not always best suited for HDD.
• Certain bits, designed specifically for HDD, can prove to be more cost effective.
• Re-run roller cone bits are “used bits.” No one can tell you how used they are. These bits
are considered a risk and discarded by petroleum operators. Consider the investment in
your bore and weigh the risks.

Tim Lahay is responsible for product and business development for Sandvik HDD
Products. BITS