Drilling Engineering I

PET31103

Part 6
Drilling Bits

By

Dr. Ahmed Abdulhamid Mahmoud

2 Drilling Bits
• The drill bit is not a component of the BHA.
• The basic function is to cut rock at the bottom of the
hole.
• The bit consists of a cutting element (cutters) and a fluid
circulation element (nozzles).
• The drill bit is rotated mechanically to crush and
penetrate new formations.
• The penetration rate of a bit is a function of several
parameters including WOB, RPM, mud properties and
hydraulic efficiency.
• There are several bit sizes ranges from 3¾ inches to 26
inches in diameters.
3 Bit Types
• The main types of drill bit are:
 Drag Bit
 Roller Cone Bits
 Fixed Cutter bits (Diamond Bits)

Drag Bit Roller Cone Bit Fixed Cutter Bit

(Diamond Bit)
Roller Cone Bit

4
5 Basic Features
6 Basic Features
• There are two types of roller cone bits:

• Milled tooth bits

– Here the cutting structure is milled
from the steel making up the cone

• Insert bits
– The cutting structure is a series of
inserts pressed into the cones.
7 Insert Bits
8 Cone Profile
• The cone profile determines the durability of the drill bit.
• Cones with flatter profile are more durable but give lower ROP,
whilst a rounded profile delivers a faster ROP but is less durable
9 Cutting Action
10 Cutting Action
Fixed Cutter Bit

11
12 Fixed Cutter Bit

PDC Bit Natural Diamond Bit Impregnated Bit

13 Polycrystalline Diamond Compact (PDC)
14 PDC Bit Cutting Mechanism

• PDC Bits drill by shearing the

rock.

• Rocks typically fracture more

easily with shear loading (less
energy, WOB).

• Most efficient cutting action.

15 Natural Diamond Bit
16 Natural Diamond Mechanics

• Natural Diamond Bits drill by

ploughing and grinding the
rock.

• Normally require higher RPM

for better performance (e.g.
high speed motor or turbine).
17 Cutting Mechanisms Summary

Roller Cone Bits

– Shipping and crushing, or gouging and scaping

PDC Bits
– Shearing

Natural Diamond & Impregnated Bits

– Ploughing and grinding
Cost per Foot

18
19 Cost per Foot
• The criterion for bit selection is normally based on cost/ft (C) and
this is determined using the following equation:

• Bit cost (B) and hole section (F), C, cost/ft will be highly sensitive to
changes in rig cost per hour (R), trip time (T) and rotating time (t).
• The trip time (T) is the sum of RIH and POH times.
• If the bit is pulled out for some reason, say, to casing shoe for a
wiper trip, such duration, if added, will influence the total trip time (T)
and, in turn, cost/ft.
20 Example
• Using the data in the table below, select the bit to be used to drilled in
Well-3 by comparing the cost of the two bits used in the older wells.

Well No. Bit Type Depth in Depth Footage Rotating Trip time
(ft) out (ft) Drilled Time (hrs)
(ft) (hrs)
1 XXX 6468 9138 3670 244 8
2 YYY 5973 8795 3822 280 8

Assuming the bit cost of $20,000 and rig cost of 1800 $/hr
21 Solution
Fluid Flow through Drilling Bits

22
23 Fluid Flow through Drill Bits

Tri-cone bit
24 Example 3
• A drilling engineer was assigned to find out the nozzle sizes of a tri-
cone bit which will be used for an immediate drilling operation. The
supervisor asked the engineer to use 500 gpm of mud circulation at
a pressure drop of 1200 psi through the bit. It is noted that the mud
density is 10 ppg.
25 Solution of Example 3
26 Solution of Example 3
 Drilling Engineering I
PET31103

Part 6
Drilling Bits

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