Dull Bit Grading

Unit 1: Dull Characteristic Recognition

Fixed Cutter Bits

BOND FAILURE [IADC BF]
The assembly has failed at
the surface where the PDC
was bonded to the long
substrate. This leaves a
clean, smooth surface.

Possible Causes:
•Manufacturing Problem (L.S. Bonding)
•Vibration may initiate damage, but inherent defect
•Overheating (fluid starvation, low flow, large wear
flats)

2
BROKEN POST [IADC BT]
The post has suffered an
irregular break.

Possible Causes:
•Bit / BHA Whirl
•Other vibration
•Junk
•Drilling into an ultrahard rock
(e.g. chert)

3
BROKEN SUBSTRATE [IADC BT]
A significant part of
the cylinder or post
is missing.

Possible causes:

• Whirl and/or Stick-Slip

• RPM too high

• Flow Rate too low

• Formation too hard and/or

abrasive for the bit design

• Bit kept in hole too long

4
BROKEN CUTTER [IADC BT]
The assembly exhibits a
break which passes
through the diamond table
and into the support.

Possible Causes:
Severe vibration, most commonly
whirl

Anything which can inflict

massive impact loading

5
DELAMINATION [IADC BT/CT]
All or part of the diamond
layer has come clean
away from the TC
substrate.

Caused by the difference in

thermal expansion rates of the
Polycrystalline Diamond Layer
and the Tungsten carbide
support.

6
BALLED UP [IADC BU]
The waterways and or junk slots are
locally or totally plugged . This is usually
Formation, but may be cement, plug debris
or even junk.

Possible causes:

•Poor bit hydraulics when drilling reactive clays with

WBM

•Poor mud characteristics

•Flow Rate too low
•Too much WOB / Bit “spudded” after connection/trip
•Improper Bit selection for application– Volume too
small
7
CORED [IADC CR]
The cutting structure in the
center of the bit has been
removed.

•Possible causes:
• Junk
Conglomerate, Chert or Pyrite
• Formation too hard and/or abrasive for the
bit design
•Impregs – insufficient WOB when run on
motor

8
CHIPPED CUTTER [IADC CT]
Part of the diamond table and/or
the TC substrate, away from the
wear flat, exhibits a sharp and
irregular fragmentation.
Possible Causes:

• VIBRATION!!!!!
• VIBRATION!!!!!
• VIBRATION!!!!!

9
EROSION [IADC ER]
The erosion may be the steel bit
body or may even be the
tungsten carbide substrates of
the cutters.

Possible causes:
Flowrate too high

Too much solids/sand in mud

Lot of sand in interval drilled–poor solids

control equipment

Hydraulic energy at bit too high

Can be associated with plugged

nozzles/waterways
10
HEAT CHECKING [IADC HC]
The Tungsten Carbide of the cutter
substrate or the Matrix bit body
exhibits very fine microfractures.

Possible causes:
Whirl and/or Stick-Slip

RPM too high

Flow Rate too low

Formation too hard and/or abrasive for the

bit design

Bit kept in hole too long

11
JUNK DAMAGE [IADC JD]

Massive
catastrophic
damage to the
cutting structure
and/or gauge
pads and/or bit
body. Check for
rust marks on
Matrix bodied
bits.

12
LOST NOZZLE [IADC LN]
The Bit is pulled with 1 or more of the
nozzles missing.

Possible causes:
Severe downhole vibrations

Poor initial installation – improperly seated

Poor initial installation – not tight enough

Poor initial installation – too tight, retainer

cracked

O-ring failure / no or incorrect O-ring

installed.

13
BRAZE FAILURE [IADC LT]
The cutter assembly has
gone, leaving an empty
pocket

Possible Causes:
Manufacturing / Repair Problem
Bit / BHA Whirl
Other vibration

14
PLUGGED NOZZLE [IADC PN]
The port or nozzle is plugged
with extraneous material.

Possible Causes:
•Poor mud properties / mixing at surface
•Bit “spudded” on-bottom
•Reverse circulation / “U-Tubing” effect
•Nozzles or ports too small to handle
mud additives

•Downhole tool failure – motor

“chunking”
15
RING OUT [IADC RO]
All or most of the assembly is missing. This
could be, for example, due to wear, mechanical
damage or even erosion.

Possible Causes:
•Formation
•Incorrect Operating Parameters (WOB,
RPM, Flow)
•Excessive Bit Hydraulics / Mud properties
•Vibration

16
WASHED OUT (BIT) [IADC WO]
The bit has suffered a failure
so that fluid can pass from
the inside to the outside
bypassing the nozzles/ports..

Possible Causes:
Manufacturing defect
Jarring on stuck bit?

17
WORN TEETH [IADC WT]
Cutter exhibits
normal wear.

• This is how a PDC cutter should

look – this is abrasive wear
•No mechanical damage to the
Diamond Layer or TC substrate

18
NO WEAR OR DAMAGE [IADC NO]
Cutter exhibits no wear
or damage.

• The cutter shows no evidence of wear or damage

19