Learning Objectives

 Fully understand the importance of dull bit grading

 Know the eight components of the IADC dull grade system
 Inner and Outer cutting structure ‘wear’
 Major cutting structure dull condition
 Location of major cutting structure dull

Dull Bit Grading 


Condition of seals and bearings
Gauge condition of the bit
 Other dull conditions present
 Reason the bit was pulled
 Avoid the common grading errors, which are -
 Never grading 0 wear
 Grading 8 to avoid re-running the bit
 Picking the obvious major dull, not the root cause dull

© 2011 NOV 1 © 2011 NOV

Why Grade a Dull Bit? The Old I.A.D.C. System

 “Paint a Mental Picture” of the worn bit’s condition T2 B4 In

T5 B2 4
 Aid optimum bit selection
 Help avoid catastrophic failure Bearing Condition Gauge Wear
 Identify bits that may be suitable for re-run
 Suggest optimum operating parameters T B Fractions of 1 inch
 Provide insights for improving bit design 0-8 0-8 3/6”, 1/8 etc
 Aid optimum bit design, selection and operation

Lower Cost per Foot TBG

Tooth Condition
© 2011 NOV © 2011 NOV

IADC 1992 Dull Bit Grading

Inner Outer Major Location Seals/ Gauge Other Reason

Teeth Teeth Dull Bearing Dull Pulled

1 Inner Cutting Structure (All Inner Rows)

The Current IADC System 2 Outer Cutting Structure (All Outer Rows)
3 Major Dull Characteristic (Use Codes, Cutting Structure Only)
4 Location (Where Major Dull Characteristic Occurs)
5 Bearing / Seals (Condition of Roller Cone)
6 Gage (What is the Final Gage Diameter)
7 Other Dull Characteristic (Use multiple codes, not limited to CS)
8 Reason Pulled (Use Codes, Termination of Bit Run)

© 2011 NOV 5 © 2011 NOV

1
 The Current I.A.D.C. System Inner versus Outer Teeth – Insert Bit

Cutting Structure

Inner Outer Major Location Seals/ Gauge Other Reason

Teeth Teeth Dull Bearing Dull Pulled

Interlock row Gauge Guard row

Inner
Teeth
Outer
Teeth
Major
Dull
Location Seals/
Bearing
Gauge Other
Dull
Reason
Pulled
Gauge row
Heel row
© 2011 NOV © 2011 NOV

Inner versus Outer Teeth – Tooth Bit Inner versus Outer Teeth - FC Bit

• Not gauge cutters & others

Inner Teeth • Not 1/3 & 2/3 cutter count
• Not cone & shoulder/nose
Outer Teeth • But radius

Fixed
Cutter

Do not grade gauge cutters!

Inner Outer Major Location Seals/ Gauge Other Reason Inner Outer Major Location Seals/ Gauge Other Reason
Teeth Teeth Dull Bearing Dull Pulled Teeth Teeth Dull Bearing Dull Pulled

© 2011 NOV © 2011 NOV

Tooth Height Grading Tooth Height Grading

Assign a tooth wear grading:

Two numbers –
•Inner wear in 1/8ths
•Outer wear in 1/8ths

“A measure of combined cutting structure

reduction due to lost, worn and/or broken 0-0
inserts/teeth.”

Inner Outer Major Location Seals/ Gauge Other Reason

Milltooth and Insert Inner Outer Major Location Seals/ Gauge Other Reason
Teeth Teeth Dull Bearing Dull Pulled
Teeth Teeth Dull Bearing Dull Pulled

© 2011 NOV © 2011 NOV

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 Grading Uneven Wear Tooth Height Grading

Assign a tooth wear Assign a tooth wear grading :

grading for the inner
Two numbers –
cutting structure only:
One number – •Inner wear in 1/8ths
•Inner wear in 1/8ths •Outer wear in 1/8ths
There are the same number
of inserts in the outermost
row of the inner rows, as in
the other two inner rows
combined. Consider only the
single cone that is wholly
visible.

(1 x .5) + (8 x .5) = 4.5 = 5 Inner Outer Major Location Seals/ Gauge Other Reason
Inner Outer Major Location Seals/ Gauge Other Reason
Teeth Teeth Dull Bearing Dull Pulled
Teeth Teeth Dull Bearing Dull Pulled

© 2011 NOV © 2011 NOV

Grading Uneven Wear Cutter Wear Grading

Assign a tooth wear

grading for the inner
cutting structure only: Blade
One number – 0
•Inner wear in 1/8ths
There are the same number
of inserts in the outermost
row of the inner rows, as in
the other two inner rows
combined. Consider only the
single cone that is wholly
Blade
visible. 4

Inner Outer Major Location Seals/ Gauge Other Reason

Teeth Teeth Dull Bearing Dull Pulled

© 2011 NOV © 2011 NOV

Cutting Structure Bearings/ Other Reason

Inner Outer Dull Char. Location Seals
Gage
Dull Char. Pulled Location
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

3 Major Dull Characteristics (Use only Cutting Structure Related Codes)

*BC - Broken Cone FC - Flat Crested Wear RG - Rounded Gage
BF –Bond Failure HC - Heat Checking RR –Re-Runnable
BT - Broken Teeth/Cutters *LC - Lost Cone SD - Shirrtail Damage
BU - Balled Up Bit LN - Lost Nozzle SS - Self Sharpening Inner Outer Major Location Seals/ Gauge Other Reason
Wear Teeth Teeth Dull Bearing Dull Pulled
*CC - Cracked Cone LT - Lost Teeth/Cutters
TR - Tracking
*CD - Cone Dragged NR – Not-Rerunnable
WO - Washed Out Bit
CI - Cone Interface OC - Off Center Wear
WT - Worn
CR - Cored PB - Pinched Bit Teeth/Cutters
CT - Chipped Teeth/Cutters PN - Plugged NO - No Dull
Nozzle/Flow Passage Characteristics
ER - Erosion
Cutting Structure Only
* Show Cone No(s) under Location (4)
© 2011 NOV © 2011 NOV

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 Roller Cone Bit Locations
Identifying Cones On A Roller Cone Bit

Cone No.1

 Use standard abbreviations

N = nose
M = middle
G = gauge
A = all
Inner Outer Major Location Seals/ Gauge Other Reason
Cone No.3 Cone No.2 Cone No.3 Cone No.2
Teeth Teeth Dull Bearing Dull Pulled

© 2011 NOV © 2011 NOV

Cone Numbers PDC Blade Number

Cone 3 Innermost cutter is

on blade number 1

Cone 2
Cone 1

Inner Outer Major Location Seals/ Gauge Other Reason Inner Outer Major Location Seals/ Gauge Other Reason
Teeth Teeth Dull Bearing Dull Pulled Teeth Teeth Dull Bearing Dull Pulled

© 2011 NOV © 2011 NOV

PDC Locations Seals and Bearings

 C = Cone

 N = Nose
Inner Outer Major Location Seals/ Gauge Other Reason
 T = Taper
Teeth Teeth Dull Bearing Dull Pulled
 S = Shoulder

 G = Gauge

 A = All Areas

Inner Outer Major Location Seals/ Gauge Other Reason

Teeth Teeth Dull Bearing Dull Pulled

© 2011 NOV © 2011 NOV

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 Seals and Bearings Gauge

• X grading is not applicable – fixed cutter

 E Seals are effective

Inner Outer Major Location Seals/ Gauge Other Reason
 F Seals have failed
Teeth Teeth Dull Bearing Dull Pulled
 N Seals cannot be graded

 0 to 8 - for unsealed bearings only

Inner Outer Major Location Seals/ Gauge Other Reason

Teeth Teeth Dull Bearing Dull Pulled

© 2011 NOV © 2011 NOV

Measuring Gauge Proper Gauge Ring

Locate the gauge ring Gauge Rings:

hard against two of the
cones. Calibrated

Measure the smallest Labelled

gap.
 Size
Take 2/3 of this value.  Type

For fixed cutter bits take

The measured value.

Inner Outer Major Location Seals/ Gauge Other Reason Inner Outer Major Location Seals/ Gauge Other Reason
Teeth Teeth Dull Bearing Dull Pulled Teeth Teeth Dull Bearing Dull Pulled

© 2011 NOV © 2011 NOV

Gauge Tolerance Reason Pulled

Roller Cone Go Gauge

Roller Cone No-Go Gauge

Inner Outer Major Location Seals/ Gauge Other Reason

Teeth Teeth Dull Bearing Dull Pulled

Fixed Cutter Go Gauge

Fixed Cutter
No-Go Gauge
Inner Outer Major Location Seals/ Gauge Other Reason
Teeth Teeth Dull Bearing Dull Pulled

© 2011 NOV © 2011 NOV

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 Dull Codes - Reason Pulled Knowledge Check

 What does IADC stand for?

BHA - Change Bottom Hole CM - Condition Mud TD - Total Depth  International Association of Drilling Contractors
Assembly CP - Core Point Casing Depth
 How many parts are in the IADC dull grading system?
DMF - Downhole Motor TQ - Torque
DP - Drill Plug
Failure FM - Formation TW - Twist Off  Eight parts
Change WC - Weather
DTF - Downhole Tool Failure  Can all of these be determined from looking at the bit?
Conditions
DSF - Drill String Failure HP - Hole Problems
RIG - Rig Repair  No. Reason pulled requires documentation or rig input.
DST - Drill Stem Test HR - Hours on Bit
 Which parts refer only to cutting structure?
LOG - Run Logs PP - Pump Pressure

LIH - Left in Hole PR - Penetration Rate  Inner wear, Outer wear, Major Dull, Location

 What are the other four parts?

 Seals/Bearing condition, Gauge, Other Dull, Reason Pulled

Inner Outer Major Location Seals/ Gauge Other Reason
Teeth Teeth Dull Bearing Dull Pulled

© 2011 NOV © 2011 NOV

Knowledge Check Knowledge Check

 What is wear measured in?  What grades can apply to seals on a sealed bearing tooth bit?

 ⅛ths of the cutting structure worn  E, effective; F, failed; N, unable to grade.

 ¾ of the gauge inserts and ½ the inner inserts are worn. What  Would you re-run a bit with this grade: 3-2-WT-A-E-I-NO-PR?
is the wear grade for this insert bit?
 Not without looking at the bit and the application
 4-6
 The smallest gap on an insert bit when gauged is ½”. What do
 ½ the cutters on the outer ⅔ of a PDC bit are lost. What is the you put in the gauge box?
grade for the outer cutting structure?
 5 ⅔ x ½ = 5/16
 Not clear. We do not know the loss distribution over inner/outer.
 If only one bearing has failed what is the seal/bearing grade?
 Can plugged nozzle or erosion be major dulls?
 F
 Plugged nozzle, no. Erosion of blades or cone shells is
 What does DMF mean?
considered by some to be cutting structure erosion.
 Downhole motor failure
© 2011 NOV © 2011 NOV

Dull Condition – Dull Character

Inner
Teeth
Outer
Teeth
Major
Dull
Location Seals/ Gauge
Bearing
Other
Dull
Reason
Pulled Questions?

Cutting Structure Only

© 2011 NOV © 2011 NOV 36