DRILLING BITS

Dr. Gaurav Pandey

Assistant Professor
UPES

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 ABOUT BITS
SIGNIFICANCE OF BIT

• The bit which does the actual drilling is attached to

the lower end of the drill collar. In the rotary system
of drilling the hole is made by lowering the string of
drill pipes and drill collars until the bit touches or
approaches the bottom of the hole. Circulation of the
drilling fluid is established down through the drill
pipe, and the fluid is discharged through the nozzles
in the bit so that the bit and bottom of the hole will be
kept cleaned

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CUTTING ACTION OF
THE ROLLER BIT

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 Types of bits

Drag bits
Roller Cone bits
Diamond bits
PDC (Polycrystalline Diamond Compact) bits
Tri-cone roller bits are most widely used.

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Drag bits : They have no moving parts and drill by
the shoveling action of their blades on the
encountered formation. Bits of these types were once
used widely for drilling soft, sticky formations, but in
recent years have been largely replaced by rolling
cutter types. These blades are manufactured from
various alloy steels and are normally hard-faced with
tungsten carbide. The drag bits
can be classified according to
their number of blades :
1. Four blade
2. Double blade
3. Triple blade
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 DRAG BIT
• No independent moving part.
• Have cutting blades 2-4 in numbers made up of hard
alloy or tunguston carbide.
• Each blade has one nozzle which throws the water jet to
clean the sticking mud or cuttings from the blade
surfaces.
• Drag bit cut the formation by Gauging and Scrapping
action specially utilized in soft formation drilling.
• The blade rotates along with the rotation of drill string
and penetrates the formation and cut that in small
cuttings.
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DRAG BIT

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Different types of drag bits

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DRAG BIT

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 DIAMOND BIT
• They drill by a scrapping, drag-bit action of
the stones which protrude by the steel matrix.
Their use is justified in many areas where their
long life and the consequent reduction in trip
time affords sufficient advantage to offset the
higher bit cost. They are normally used in the
harder formations.

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DIAMOND BIT

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 DIAMOND BIT
• Diamond bits are also similar to Drag bits
having no moving part.
• They drill by direct abrasion or Chipping
and grinding action against the bottom of
the hole.
• Diamonds are much harder than the rock
materials and can cut the formation
efficiently.

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 MANUFACTURING DIAMOND BIT

• A steel bit blank is machined with threads.

• Diamonds are placed in a bit mold and covered with powdered
material.
• With the bit blank held in position, the assembly is heated till the
powdered material fuses and then is allowed to cool.
• In this manner the diamonds are held in a matrix, which is attached
to the steel bit blank.
• The matrix is compressed of hard tunguston carbide material.
• The binder materials must melt at a sufficiently low temperature so
that the diamonds may not be injured in the process.
• The hard particles in matrix are necessary in order to prevent the
erosion and wear in the bit causing the loss of diamonds.

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DIAMOND BIT

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DIAMOND BIT PROFILE

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ROLLING CUTTER BITS

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 ROTARY ROLLER BITS
• The most widely used bits are rolling cutter bits.

• The bits are classified as cone type bits as cross roller bits.

• Rows of the teeth are cut on to the rolling cones generally 2-3 in numbers.
•
• The teeth are hard surfaced made of Tunguston Carbide.
•
• The toothed wheel (cone) rotate independently, as the drill string rotates.
•
• For each cone bit has separate one nozzle which flows mud stream jet on
the cone cutters to clean it after cutting the formation and removes all the
drilled cuttings as rapidly as possible.
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•
 ROTARY ROLLER BITS
• The size of cone is limited by the geometry of
the bit and diameter of the hole.
• A further design criteria is the size of the bearing
in the cone center and the thickness of the hub
of the cone and the teeth depth.
• Rolling cutter bits are designed for soft, medium
and hard formations.
• They cut the formation by gauging and
scrapping action and chipping and grinding
action both.
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Roller cone bits
This bit, allows the rotary method to compete with cable tools in
hard formations which are un-drillable with drag bits.
Three cone bits having milled or inserted tooth with proper,
spacing and pattern are balanced to obtain the fastest penetration
rate with a minimum balling between teeth.
Cones are offset i.e. cone axes don’t intersect at a common point.
It imparts a drag action to the bit as the teeth is rotated enabling
soft formation drilling. (refer to fig. in the next slide)

Jet bits
They are roller cone bits having fluid nozzles. Each nozzle
directs a high velocity fluid jet directly on the hole bottom
which rapidly removes the cuttings.
This allow each bit tooth to strike new formations rather than
expend it’s energy in regrinding the cuttings.
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 TCR bit teeth are of two types :

1. Milled tooth : used for relatively softer formations

2.TC Insert tooth :used for harder formations

Milled Tooth Bit Insert Bit 21

ROCK CUTTING MECHANISM
• Rotary drilling bits cut the formation by applying frictional
force on the formation in two different mechanisms.
•

• - Gauging and scrapping action (Shoveling action)

• - Chipping and crushing action (Grinding action)

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GAUGING AND SCRAPPING ACTION

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GAUGING AND SCRAPPING ACTION

• Gauging and scraping action or Shoveling

action) is the drilling mechanism of soft
formation by pit blade (tooth) penetration
and applying the movement of inertia force
on the formation.

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CHIPPING AND GRINDING ACTION

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 CHIPPING AND GRINDING ACTION

• Chipping and crushing action or Grinding

action is drilling mechanism of hard
formation in which the harder edged
surface of cutters grind the hard formation
into small cuttings. In such mechanism bit
teeth are not able to penetrate the
formation but they can scratch and grind
the same with their harder cutters.

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The cutting action of the PDC bits are shearing action unlike the other
bits , which enables it to be operated at higher ROP and allows it to drill
faster with a lesser amount of supplied energy, compared to other bits.

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 TCR bit teeth are of two types :
1. Milled tooth : used for relatively softer formations

2.TC Insert tooth :used for harder formations

Milled Tooth Bit Insert Bit

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DESIGN CRITERIA OF ROLLING CUTTER BITS:

• Journal Angle.
• Cone Offset.
• Cutting structures
• Metallurgy
• Strength
• Bit Bearings

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 JOURNAL ANGLE

• Journal angle
It is the angle formed between
a line perpendicular to cone
axis or journal axis and the
main axis of the bit.

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JOURNAL ANGLE

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Design parameters of TCR bits
The design parameters for
TCR bits are as flows:
• Journal angle
It is the angle between the
perpendicular to cone or
journal axis and the bit axis

• Cone offset
It is the distance between the
cone axis or journal axis and the
bit axis. Greater the offset more is
the gauging and scraping action of
the TCR bit.

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JOURNAL ANGLE

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 JOURNAL ANGLE
• Bit Type Journal Angle (Degrees)
• X 3A (1,1) 33
• R2(1,2) 33
• R3(1,3) 33
• R4(2,1) 36
• R7(3,1) 36
• R8(3,1) 36

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Effect of journal angle on cutting
action of TCR Bit

The journal angle goes on increasing the portion of the

cones digging into the formation goes on increasing.
This causes an increase in the chipping and grinding, and
reduction in the scraping and grinding action.

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Cone offset

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 CONE OFFSET
• The degree of cone offset is defines
as “horizontal distance between the
axis of the bit and a vertical plane
through the axis of the journal”.

Greater the offset more is the

gauging and scraping action of the
TCR bit.
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MILLED TOOTH BIT
(NOMENCLATURE)

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Design parameters of TCR bits
• Cone angles
The heel cone and inner cone angles
as shown in the fig. decide the size of
the cone. For softer formations bigger
cone and so greater cone angles are
needed.

• Skew angle
Skew angle is the angle between the
line joining the nodal point to he skew
point, and the line joining he bit
center with the skew point. Greater
the skew angle, more is the cone
offset, and lesser the chipping &
grinding action.

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 CONE ANGLES

• The single cone has its apex at the center

of bit rotation and moves in a circle
centered at the apex. This movement
produces a true rolling action.

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 CUTTERS DESIGN
• There are three parameters for the
specifying the cutters shape and size of
rolling cutter bits.
• Height or depth of the tooth (h)
• Spacing between the teeth (s)
• Included angle of the teeth (α)

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 CUTTERS DESIGN
• For soft formation drilling-
• Maximum tooth height.
• Minimum spacing and included angle.
•
• For hard formation drilling-
• Minimum tooth height.
• Maximum spacing and included angle.

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 METTALLURGY AND STRENGTH

• Bits are manufactured from high strength

Ni-Mo steel alloy or Tunguston Carbide-
Steel alloy. All bits after manufacturing
undergo for body heat treatment and
carburising treatments.

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 BODY HEAT TREATMENT:

• This type of treatment carries on the cones

and their bearings. The major portion of bit
is made of carbon and iron. In heat
treatment, the heating and cooling is
applied by different methods. The bit is
treated for greater temperature change
tolerance

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CARBURISING TREATMENT:

• Carburising treatment is also a type of

heat treatment. In this an additional layer
of Tunguston Carbide alloy is molded on
the bit for greater temperature tolerance
and increasing hardness of the bit.

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 STENGTH TESTS:

• After heat treatment all bits undergo for

the strength test for checking the friction
bearing capacity of the bit tooth and load
bearing capacity of journal bearings.
Currently two different type of bearings,
anti-friction and frictional types, are used
to form the bearing set of rolling cutter
bits.

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BIT BEARING SECTION

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Lubrication of TCR bit bearing

• The lubrication of the bearings are

done through the use of lubricant
that is loaded in the reservoir.
Whenever the bearing lubrication
level falls the resulting pressure
differential across the pr.
equalizing diaphragm actuates pr.
eq. ports, vents to allow lubricant
to flow down to the bearings.

• The lubricant can filled into the

reservoir through the fill hole.

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TEETH DESIGNED TO MINIMIZE TOOTH WEAR

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 Insert shape for TCR bit
The TC inserts designed for the drilling of soft formations are long and
have a chisel-shaped end. The inserts used for harder formations are
short and hemispherical in shape. Thus with an increasing hardness of
the formation to be drilled the shape of inserts undergo a transformation
form long chisel-shape to a mere button.

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TUNGSTON CARBIDE INSERTS FOR SMITH BITS

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 IADC BIT CODING PATTERN

• First Code : Bit classification and Series:

• First code or digit defines the series classification.
• Code 1 requires long, slim and widely spread teeth for
efficient drilling.
• Code 2 requires short and less widely spread teeth in
order to with stand the high compressive strength.
• Code3 requires very short and closely spaced teeth for
maximum bit life and efficient drilling.
• Code 5 to 8 are for insert bits for increasing rock
strength.

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 First Code : Bit classification and Series:

• Classification 1– Milled tooth bit

• Soft formations having low compressive strength and high drillability.
• Medium to medium hard formations with high compressive strength,
• Hard semi abrasive or abrasive formation.
• For future use.
•
• Classification 2– Insert bit
• Soft to medium formation with low compressive strength.
• Medium hard formation with high compressive strength.
• Hard semi abrasive or abrasive formation.
• Extremely hard and abrasive formation.

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BIT TYPE SERIES A FORMATIONS INDICATED BY ‘A’

MILLED TOOTH 1 Soft formations with low compressive strength and high
drillability

2 Medium and medium hard formation with high compressive

strength

3 Hard semi abrasive to abrasive formations

INSERT TOOTH 4 Soft formations with low compressive strength and high
drillability

5 Soft to medium hard formations with low compressive

strength

6 Medium hard formation with high compressive strength

7 Hard semi abrasive to abrasive formations

8 Extremely hard and abrasive formations

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 Second Code : Type or sub category of
formation strength in first code.

• Second code relates to formation hardness subdivision within each

group and carries the number 1 to 4 signifying formation hardness
from soft to extreme hard within each series.

• 1. Low rock strength 2. High rock strength

• 3. Harder rock 4. Extreme-hard rock.

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 Third Code : Features of the bits.

• Third code defines mechanical features of the bit.

• 1. Standard 2. ‘T’ gauge
• 3. Gauge insert 4. Roller seal bearing
• 5. Seal bearing and gauge. 6. Friction seal bearing.
• 7. Friction bearing and gauge 8. other 9. Other.

• Examples:
• Bit type 1-2-4:
• Code 1: indicates that the bit is milled bit
• Code 2: is selected for high rock strength reducing tooth wear.
• Code 4: is for a Roller sealed bearing.

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TOOTH DULLNESS TREND

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TOOTH WEAR GAUGING

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TOOTH WEAR FOR MILLED
TOOTH BIT

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 PDC bits

They are the most advanced type of drilling bits. Unlike

diamond bits, here the artificial diamonds are so placed that
they come in the contact at an angle with the formation. A
PDC bit is designed to break the formation by shearing action
whereas diamond bit/TCR bit cut the Formation by
compression force. Breaking of rocks in shearing action
needs less energy than compression i.e. less WOB, resulting
less wear and tear on the rig and drill string.

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Examples of PDC bits

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The cutting action of the PDC bits are shearing action unlike the other
bits , which enables it to be operated at higher ROP and allows it to drill
faster with a lesser amount of supplied energy, compared to other bits.

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Cutter orientation
The cutter orientation is
defined in terms of back
rake, side rake and chip
clearance or cutter
expposure.

Back rack angle

Higher rack angles are required
for softer formations. At
present a negative angle of 200
is taken standard.
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Cutter orientation
• Side rake angle
Side rake assists in pushing
the cuttings formed to the
side of the hole, much in the
action of the plough. Angle
varies from 450 to 900.

Cutter exposure
Provides room for cutting to
peel off the hole bottom
without impacting against
the bit body.

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 Beyond the breakeven depth, we can use
PDC bit. The higher cost of the bit has to be
compensated by faster ROP.
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DIFFERENT DESIGNS
OF
PDC BITS
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 SELECTION OF BIT
1. The type of bit to be used is governed by the characteristics
and conditions of the rocks.

2. Economic considerations involved the lowest possible cost per

foot.

3. The total cost per foot depends upon, the average rate of
drilling and the total feet drilled per bit.

4. The total footage drilled per bit becomes significantly important

at greater depths where more rig time is required for a round trip
to replace the worn-out bit.

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4.Drag bits are used to drill soft formations with low for motion
strength. The mechanism is that of 100% Scraping & Gauging
action.

5. TCR bits are used to drill formations relatively harder but not for
very hard formations. The cutting mechanism is partly Scraping &
Gauging action and partly chipping and grinding .

6. Diamond bits are used for extremely hard formations . the

mechanism is that of 100% chipping and grinding.

7. PDC bits are used to drill hard formations in ERD, deep,

deviated wells and horizontal wells in unison with sub-surface
motors.

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 Bit Performance
1. Specific Gravity.

2. Cost perfoot of drilling.

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 Specific Energy
• Specific energy is defined as the energy
required to remove a unit volume of rock
from the bore hole. It can be desired by
considering the mechanical energy E
expanded at the bit in one minute time.
• E=Wx2πRxN inch-pounds (1)
• W = weight on bit in pounds, N = RPM or rotary speed
• R = radius of bit in inches PR = penetration rate ft/ hr.

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 Specific Energy
• The volume of rock removed in one minute time is –
• V = π R2 x PR inch3 (2)
• Specific Energy = SE = E / V (3)
• SE = (W x 2 π R x N) / (π R2 x PR) (4)
• SE = 10 W . N / (R x PR) (5)
• D = Diameter in inches F = footage drilled in feet/ hr.

• SE = 20 W . N . t / (D x F) Inch pounds / inch3 (6)

•
• SE = 2880 W . N . t / (D x F) ft. pounds / ft.3 (7)
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 COST PER FOOT OF DRILLING:

• Cumulative cost per foot of drilling at any

particular depth should be at minimum for the
best performance of any bit. Thus it becomes
one of the selection criteria of the bit as to look
for the minimum cost.
• The average trip time can be calculated on the
basis of 6 hour per 8000 feet.
•
• C = {B + (T + t) R} / F (8)

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 COST PER FOOT OF DRILLING:

• F = footage drilled in feet/ hr.

• C = Cost per foot of drilling
• B = Bit cost ($)
• T = Trip time (hr.)
• t = rotating time (hr.) – 6 hours per 8000 ft
deep well.
• R = Rig rating cost ($ /hr.)

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