Dull Grade Procedure

Rev Date: 01/01/2022 Rev No: 2

Applications Engineering Department

Dull Grade Procedure

Eccentric SlickWELL™ Reamer (SWRE)

Date: 01st January 2022

Disclaimer: Although the information contained in this report is based on sound engineering practices, the copyright owner(s) does (do) not accept any
responsibility whatsoever, in negligence or otherwise, for any loss or damage arising from the possession or use of the report whether in terms of correctness
or otherwise. The application, therefore, by the user of this report or any part thereof, is solely at the user’s own risk.
 Dull Grade Procedure
Rev Date: 01/01/2022 DOC-SWRE-DGP-2

Table of Contents
1 SCOPE .............................................................................................................................................................................. 3
2 DULL GRADE PROCEDURE ....................................................................................................................................... 3
2.1 Cleaning of the tool .......................................................................................................................................... 3
2.2 Casing Protection Inserts Inspection .......................................................................................................... 3
2.3 Gauge inspection ............................................................................................................................................... 3
2.3.1 Broken PDC Cutters.................................................................................................................................. 3
2.3.2 Uniformly Worn PDC cutters ................................................................................................................ 3
2.4 TCIs Inspection .................................................................................................................................................... 4
2.5 Cutters Inspection .............................................................................................................................................. 4
2.6 Body Inspection .................................................................................................................................................. 4
2.7 Connections Inspection ................................................................................................................................... 4
3 INSTALLING/REMOVING CASING PROTECTION INSERTS........................................................................... 5
3.1 Personal Protective Equipment ..................................................................................................................... 5
3.2 Tools needed ....................................................................................................................................................... 5
3.3 Installing Casing Protection Inserts ............................................................................................................. 6
3.4 Removing Casing Protection Inserts ........................................................................................................... 7

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 Dull Grade Procedure
Rev Date: 01/01/2022 DOC-SWRE-DGP-2

1 SCOPE

This document covers the inspection procedure post

SWRE run.

2 DULL GRADE PROCEDURE

• Witness the drill string being pulled out of hole 2.3 Gauge inspection
and take photos if possible.
2.3.1 Broken PDC Cutters
• Record BHA balling, bit balling, PDC Eccentric
Drilling Reamer balling. If more than 40% of total PDC cutters are broken on
the gauge area, the tool needs to be returned for
• Number each blade with a marker pen as per DDS
repair.
instructions (Blade #1 aligned with the REF hole,
blades’ number up on the opposite direction of
tool rotation).
BT - BROKEN CUTTER
• Dull grade the SWRE using DDS dull grading
Fracture damage through the diamond table and
inspection sheet (DOC-SWRE-RR-1).
into the carbide substrate.
• Use the dedicated GO/NO GO gauge rings or
appropriate measuring tools.
• Take photos for every blade (crown area, reaming
taper, back-reaming taper, neck TCIs,
connections).

2.1 Cleaning of the tool

• Wash the body using fresh water, flushing out any
drilling fluid remains, cuttings, or dirt in the
mudways, between the TCIs, between the steel
domes, and between the PDCs.
• Clean the connections thoroughly.

Make sure the SWRE blades & PDC cutters do not

touch the rotary table to avoid PDC cutters impact
damage.
On the rig, put the SWRE above a piece of
2.3.2 Uniformly Worn PDC cutters
plywood or a rubber.
a. Remove the casing protection inserts as per
Section 3 below.
2.2 Casing Protection Inserts Inspection
b. Try to pass the relevant OPERATIONS NOGO ring
If a Casing Protection Insert is still domed, it could be
gauge over the blades from the pin side of the
reused on next run.
tool (drilling side).
If the Casing Protection Insert is uniformly flat or
c. If the OPERATIONS NOGO ring gauge passes over
broken, it should be replaced as per Section 3 below.
the entire crown area, then full redressing of the
gauge section is needed.

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 Dull Grade Procedure
Rev Date: 01/01/2022 DOC-SWRE-DGP-2

d. If the OPERATIONS NOGO ring gauge passes only

over a certain length of the crown area, then the
CT –CHIPPED CUTTER WT –WORN CUTTER
tool is rerunnable.
Diamond Edge Flat, Smooth Wear
e. The local applications engineer will thoroughly
Chipping through the carbide
inspect the pictures of the blades, cutters and TCIs
substrate
and will decide whether the tool could be rerun.

2.4 TCIs Inspection

a. Count the number of damaged/broken TCIs.
b. If the number of damaged TCIs exceeds 15% of
total TCIs, then all the TCIs need to be replaced.
c. If the tool is under-gauge, TCIs need to be
replaced.

2.5 Cutters Inspection

a. Inspect all PDC cutters on the leading, trailing and
crown areas. Use DDS dull grading inspection
sheet (DOC-SWRE-RR-1).
b. If any PDC needs replacement, follow the usual
procedure applied in drill bits, i.e. debrazing,
removing or rotating the damaged PDC,
preparing the pocket, and rebrazing the new PDC.

2.6 Body Inspection

Based on clear pictures, the regional
• Use Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI) to check if
application engineers will prepare the SWRE
there are hidden cracks in the body. Inspection
Dull Grade Report and decide if the PDC
includes necks, blades, mudways, and areas
cutters should be reused, rotated or replaced.
around TCIs and PDCs.
• If any cracks, contact the regional applications
engineer to check if the tool can be re-run or
should it be repaired.

2.7 Connections Inspection

a. Inspect the connections visually and using MPI.
b. A body must be rethreaded if any of the below
conditions apply:
i. A connection has developed cracks.
ii. The thread of the connections has galled,
pitted, or found worn.
iii. The sealing surface of the connections
was found damaged
c. If rethreading is required, measure the length(s) of
the neck(s) needed for rethreading:

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 Dull Grade Procedure
Rev Date: 01/01/2022 DOC-SWRE-DGP-2

i. If the bottom neck (pin connection side)

will be 7 inches long or more after thread
Pin
cutting, then rethreading is possible. Else,
the tool CANNOT be reused. (specific for the
SWRE size)
ii. If below minimum fishing neck lengths
are satisfied, rethreading is possible.
Otherwise, the body CANNOT be reused. Circlip
(specific for the
Min. fishing neck SWRE size)
Neck OD [in]
length [in]
OD <= 3 ½ 12

3 ½ < OD <= 8 15
Oil
OD > 8 18

3 INSTALLING/REMOVING CASING
PROTECTION INSERTS

• This section details how to redress a Casing

Protection Insert after a SWRE run. Hammer
• The Casing Protection Insert is a consumable part
of the SWRE, designed to protect the casing and
the PDC cutters from heavy damage.

3.1 Personal Protective Equipment

Plier
The professional working on replacing the inserts
should wear PPEs:
• Safety glasses
• Safety helmet
Air Blow Gun
• Safety gloves
• Safety arm cover
• Safety shoes

3.2 Tools needed Pin Remover

Casing
Protection
Inserts
(specific for the
Circlip Pliers
SWRE size)

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 Dull Grade Procedure
Rev Date: 01/01/2022 DOC-SWRE-DGP-2

3.3 Installing Casing Protection Inserts

• Remove grease, dirt, debris, mud from the insert
pocket using compressed air (air blow gun) and
using a piece of cloth if needed.
• Be sure that the pocket is pristine clean and that
the bottom side is unobstructed.
• Add few drops of oil into the insert pocket.

INSERT MISALIGNMENT

• Slide the insert on the pocket, dome up, and hole

facing the SWRE lateral hole.

USE THE PLIER ON THE FLATS

• Hammer the insert in place.

• If the insert hole is not aligned with the SWRE

holes, use the plier on the upper flats of the insert
and rotate it to right direction. • Place the pin on the lateral hole.
The insert should easily rotate. DON’T deform • Hammer the pin until it passes the insert.
it with the plier.

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 Dull Grade Procedure
Rev Date: 01/01/2022
• Use the Pin remover to hammer the pin until the
end of the stroke. You will hear a ringing sound.
• Using the circlip plier, fix the circlip on the internal
groove. The circlip is a back-up retention
mechanism to avoid losing the pin and the insert
downhole due to vibrations.
• Repeat the previous step for each insert.
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DOC-SWRE-DGP-2
3.4 Removing Casing Protection Inserts
• Remove grease, dirt, debris, mud from the insert
compressed air (air blow gun) and using a piece
of cloth if needed.
• Remove the circlip using the circlip plier.
• Remove the lateral pin using the hammer and the
pin remover.
• Add few drops of oil on the lateral hole.
• Try to remove the insert using the plier. Push
against the insert flats if still visible.
• If the insert is stuck on the pocket, screw a screw
on the insert and pull sharply.
• Remove grease, dirt, debris, mud from the insert
pocket using compressed air (air blow gun) and
using a piece of cloth if needed.
• Repeat the previous step for each insert.
END OF DOCUMENT
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 Dull Grade Procedure
Rev Date: 01/01/2022 DOC-SWRE-DGP-2

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