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Procedia Engineering 73 (2014) 78 – 83

Geological Engineering Drilling Technology Conference (IGEDTC), New International

Convention Exposition Center Chengdu Century City on 23rd-25th May 2014

Development of Multi-stage High Matrix Diamond Coring Bit

Sun Rongjuna,b*, Wang Chuanliua
a
Xi’an Research Institute of China Coal Technology and Engineering group corp, xi’an, 710077, China
b
Xi’an University of Science and Technology, xi’an, 710077, China

Abstract

An important way to improve overall drilling efficiency is to crease each bit’s life and footage, , high matrix diamond coring bits
are especially used in deep hole. In this paper, the brazing process of designing and manufacturing high matrix diamond coring
bit was introduced. Firstly, impregnated diamond blocks were manufactured using hot pressing method; secondly, new drill bit
steel body including waterway was processed; in the end, the impregnated diamond blocks was welded on the new drill bit steel
body using brazing process. Using brazing process, a φ75/54.5 two-stage high matrix diamond coring bit was developed, its work
layer is 15 mm, the experimental results showed that the drilling efficiency increased, and the bit life improved over 50%
comparing with the conventional impregnated diamond coring bit. And then, a φ75/54.5 three-stage high matrix diamond coring
bit was developed, its work layer is 22 mm, and the bit life improved over 120%.
© 2014 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license.
© 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of Geological Engineering Drilling Technology
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of Geological Engineering Drilling Technology.

Keywords: High Matrix Diamond Drill Bit; Impregnated Diamond Block; Welding Process

1. Introduction

In recent years, the efforts on energy and mineral resources exploration has been intensified in China, in order to
support the rapid development of national economy. As the drill holes are deeper and deeper, especially, complex
formation and hard rock are not easy to drill, so the exploration is very difficult. So much money and materials were
wasted, especially in the deep hole. Drill bit is a pioneer to drill rock, its structure and performance have an
important effect on drilling speed, the drilling quality and exploration cost.

*
SUN Rongjun, Tel.: +86-29-81778288; fax: +86-29-81778286.
E-mail address:sunrongjun@cctegxian.com

1877-7058 © 2014 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license.
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of Geological Engineering Drilling Technology
doi:10.1016/j.proeng.2014.06.173
 Sun Rongjun and Wang Chuanliu / Procedia Engineering 73 (2014) 78 – 83 79

In order to solve the problem of short life and low drilling efficiency of impregnated diamond bit, researchers in
China conduct a lot of researches and obtain some results, such as development of new matrix, improvement of
sintering process, designing some new structure, selecting high quality diamond particles, etc., but the drill
efficiency and bit life were not improved obviously[1-8] . Based on the new technology about diamond bit from home
to abroad, the new structure of bit is proposed, combining with hot pressing process and welding method, the high
matrix diamond bit was developed[9-12].

2. Research Idea of Multi-stage High Matrix Coring Bit

Impregnated diamond bit is used generally while drilling hard formation, it has only a layer of nozzle, so
impregnated diamond bits can be manufactured easily, and hardness of matrix and diamond concentration can be
adjusted according to performance of formation drilled. At present, the hot pressing sintering method is used to
manufacture impregnated diamond bit, but because of uneven temperature field and pressure transmission
attenuation, the height of its working layer is between 5mm to 7mm, but not more than 10mm, otherwise, the matrix
part will be weakened, it is easy to destroy the matrix, so the life of impregnated diamond bit is limited because of
the height of working layer, which lead to add the assistant time, low drilling efficiency and high drilling cost.
Referring to foreign advanced technology, this paper puts forward multi-layer nozzle structure, to increase the
working layer height for extending the life of drill bit. Because of limited of material and manufacturing technology,
the process is complex, so the production efficiency is low and the defective rate is high, therefore, the welding
method is introduced to manufacture the high matrix drill bit with impregnated diamond blocks.
The principle of the welding method is shown as Fig.1, and the impregnated diamond blocks are manufactured by
hot pressing sintering method, and the steel body including waterway is processed by machining, then the
impregnated diamond blocks and the steel body are welded together. The nozzle in the steel body can be two layers,
three layers or more according to the height of the impregnated diamond block.

4
3

1-impregnated diamond block; 2-bit steel body; 3-first nozzle; 4-second nozzle
Fig.1 Schematic of Welding High Matrix Diamond Bit

3. Design and Manufacture of Multi-stage High Matrix Coring Bit

3.1. Design and Manufacture of Two-stage High Matrix Coring Bit

According to the needs of user, Φ75/54.5 two-stage high matrix drill bit was designed as Fig.2. Two drill bits
were made for drilling experiment, and the matrix hardness was HRC25~30 and HRC30~35, the diamond
concentration was 85%, meanwhile the polycrystalline diamond were put into the impregnated diamond blocks. The
working layer was 15mm, and the crown was arc-shaped.
According to the specification and impregnated diamond bit block size process steel body᧨Its characteristic is
80 Sun Rongjun and Wang Chuanliu / Procedia Engineering 73 (2014) 78 – 83

different height and staggered with 2 mm overlap two layers nozzle. Some inside sink is 3 mm,some outside sink is
2 mm. Some welding grooves are processed between the two nozzle, they use to welding mole.The size of the
welding groove is determined by the mole. Thickness at the ends of the welding groove is used for reinforce mole
bending strength to prevent broken and falling.
The steel body including waterway was processed by machining, and the impregnated diamond blocks were
manufactured by hot pressing sintering method, at last, the steel body and the impregnated diamond blocks were
welded together by brazing method. The two-stage new bit was made as Fig.3.

4
3

1
2

1-impregnated diamond block; 2-bit steel body; 3-first nozzle; 4-second nozzle
Fig.2 Structure of Φ75/54.5 Two-stage High Matrix Diamond Bit

Fig.3 A Φ75/54.5 Two-stage Diamond Bit

3.2. Design and Manufacture of Three-stage High Matrix Coring Bit

According to the above research idea, the structure of three-stage high matrix diamond bit was designed as Fig.4,
its feature was that the steel body included three layer staggered water nozzles, and there is an overlap between a
nozzle and its adjacent nozzle, the third layer nozzles were just above on the first layer nozzles. Impregnated
diamond blocks parameters: matrix hardness HRC25~30, diamond concentration 85%, size of diamond 46+60 mesh.
In order to improve the security of outer diameter and inner diameter, two line polycrystalline diamond were
implanted into the impregnated diamond block, and the height of whose working layer was 22mm, non-working
layer height 2mm, and the crown is arc-shaped. The process of manufacturing three-stage high matrix diamond bit
was similar with that of two-stage high matrix diamond bit. The two-stage new bit was made as Fig.5.
 Sun Rongjun and Wang Chuanliu / Procedia Engineering 73 (2014) 78 – 83 81

3
4
5
2
1

1-impregnated diamond block; 2-bit steel body; 3-first nozzle; 4-second nozzle; 5-third nozzle
Fig.4 Structure of Φ75/54.5 Three-stage High Matrix Diamond Bit

Fig.5 A Φ75/54.5 Three-stage Diamond Bit

4. Experiment of Multi-stage High Matrix Coring Bit

4.1. Experiment of Two-stage High Matrix Coring Bit

The test site is located in Qumarlêb County, Yushu city, Qinghai Province. The drilling purpose is to carry out
the preliminary exploration for the site selection of a dam on Tongtian river. The drilling stratum is mainly
compacted sandstone and slate, which contained quartz sandwich. And the degree of hardness is 7~9, the
abrasiveness is medium-to-low. While the overlying stratum are alluvial, alluvial-diluvial, diluvial and slope wash,
which is mainly sandy gravel, and the thicknesses varies from 3~26m.
The hole depth is 100 meters, and its structure is relatively simple, the casing operation was done after drilling
through the overlying stratum, and doing the open hole drilling in bedrock layer. The test equipment is XP-2 core
drill rig, the washing liquid is water. The BHA is relatively simple, which used a conventional Φ73mm single-acting
two pip core-drilling tool with Φ50mm drill pipe.
The drilling parameters was as follow: the drilling pressure was 800 ~ 1200kg, the rotational speed was 960 r/min
and the pump output was 10 ~ 15 L/min. Two high matrix diamond bits were alternated used to execute the coring
drilling, Fig.6 is the high matrix diamond bit in use. The worn bits were observed, and the diamond exposure was
good, the wear is normal and there is no adverse phenomenon such as dropping of blocks and broken, only the
internal and external diameter of bit wear serious than ordinary impregnated diamond bit, but the bits could be used
still. Fig. 7 was normal impregnated diamond bit, which working layer was only 7 mm and its life was 31m.
Two bits are only tested at the last drilling hole because the drilling work is nearing completion when testing.
According to test data, the life of one bit was 42.1m and the average drill efficiency was 1.7 m/h, another bit 37.2 m
82 Sun Rongjun and Wang Chuanliu / Procedia Engineering 73 (2014) 78 – 83

and 1.3 m/h. According to field data, the life of ordinary impregnated diamond bit was 28m, and the longest life
34m.The matrix height of two high matrix diamond bit was worn about half, but the life improves by 50.4% and
32.9% compared with ordinary impregnated diamond bit. In addition, the drill efficiency improves obviously.

Fig.6 Used Two-stage High Matrix Diamond Bit Fig.7 Used Ordinary Diamond Bit

4.2. Experiment of Three-stage High Matrix Coring Bit

The test site is located in Jiacha County, Tibet. The drilling stratum is mainly compacted sandstone and phyllite,
contained quartz sandwich. And the degree of hardness is 7~8᧨the abrasiveness is medium. The hole depth is 150
meters. The high matrix diamond bits were used in the bed rock. The drilling parameters was as follow: the drilling
pressure was 700 ~ 1100kg, the rotational speed was 750~900 rpm and the pump output was 15L/min. Two high
matrix diamond bits were alternated used to execute the coring drilling. The two new bits drilled six holes. The life
of one bit was 86m, and another 93m. However, the drill efficiency was not accurate because of the inadequate data,
so the drill efficiency was only a reference value. Fig.8 showed the new bit in use, the he diamond exposure was
good, the wear is normal and there is no adverse phenomenon such as dropping of blocks and broken. The ordinary
impregnated diamond bit can serve about 39m, and whose working layer height was 7 mm. The two three-stage high
matrix diamond bits have achieved the desired results, the life improved by 120% and 141% comparing with
ordinary impregnated diamond bit.

Fig.8 Used Three-stage High Matrix Diamond Bit

5. Conclusions

(1) Using welding process, multi-stage high matrix diamond bits have been developed, take advantage of both
hot-press sintering method and brazing method, so through arranging multilayer waterway and creasing matrix
heigth, the welding method could improve the life and drill efficiency of diamond coring bit.
(2) A kind of Φ75/54.5mm two-stage high matrix diamond bit was developed by welding process, and its
working layer was 15mm, the production test results showed that the life improved over 50% comparing with
ordinary impregnated diamond coring bit.
(3) A kind of Φ75/54.5mm three-stage high matrix diamond bit was developed by welding process, and its
working layer was 22mm, the production test results showed that the life improved over 120% comparing with
ordinary impregnated diamond coring bit.
 Sun Rongjun and Wang Chuanliu / Procedia Engineering 73 (2014) 78 – 83 83

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