Drillbits-Slb 04

DRILLING & MEASUREMENTS
SUGAR LAND
LEARNING CENTER

Drill Bits

SELF - LEARNING PACKAGE

USEFUL PRE-REQUISITES

Knowledge of the Drilling Process.
Knowledge of the Rotary Rig and its Components.
Drill Bit Self- Learning Package December 2001

Sugar Land Learning Center Page 2
DRILLING & MEASUREMENTS
SUGAR LAND LEARNING CENTER

DRILL BITS SELF-LEARNING PACAKAGE

Welcome to Drill Bit Self-Learning Package. This package is design to
give you an introductory understanding of Drill Bits.

Introduction to Self-Learning

Self-Learning enables you to learn at your pace, in your time, and in your
way. This course book provides the content, structure, and organization of
your learning, which would otherwise be managed by an instructor in a
class. It also gives you some review questions to help you to confirm your
understanding. Below is some information to help you get started.

How To Use This Self-Learning Package

- Try to do the course in a maximum of 2 sessions, close together:
(For example: Work session - - Break - - Work session)

- Set yourself up in a suitable learning environment: no noise, no
interruptions, and no distractions.

- Use the review questions to confirm that you have understood.
They are for your benefit. They are not assessed or marked. If
you get an answer wrong, just go back through the material.

- It is useful, but not essential for you to have met the pre-course
requirements stated on the course book cover.

Everything you need to complete the Drill Bit Self-Learning Package is
contained in these notes. To get started turn to the next page.

Table of Contents

OBJECTIVES......................................................................................... 4
INTRODUCTION................................................................................... 5
DRILL BIT INDUSRTRY OVERVIEW................................................ 6
- Drill Bit Competitors........10
- Drill Bit Market Past & Present...........12
- Drill Bit Competitors: Strengths & Weaknesses... . .13
- Hughes Christensen........13
- Smith Geodiamond.....14
- Schlumberger Drill Bits......... 15
- Security DBS.... .........16
- Drill Bit Industry Summary.................17
ROLLER CONE BITS......................................................................... 19
- Component Parts...19
- Exterior Parts....20
- Interior Parts..... 23
- Bearings......23
- Seals....26
- Grease System........29
- Assembled Components..... ...30
- Cutting Structure...31
- Insert Bits.......31
- Tooth Bits.... ..34
- Hydraulic Configurations.........36
- Nozzles.....38
- IADC Code...40
- Schlumberger Nomenclature....43
- Schlumberger Features... .45
- Schlumberger Product Lines.54
FIXED CUTTER BITS......................................................................... 55
- PDC..... .55
- Natural Diamond & TSP......56
- Impregnated Diamonds.....57


FIXED CUTTER BITS......................................................................... 58
- PDC Components..... .. .58
- PDC Nozzles ....... 67
- PDC Designs.....68
- PDC Cutters .........69
- Schlumberger PDC Cutter Technology....71
- NPI PDC Cutters .... .....75
- TReX Cutters........76
- Schlumberger Fixed Cutter Product Lines...79
- Schlumberger Fixed Cutter Nomenclature... ...82
- Schlumberger Fixed Cutter Features... ....83
DRILL BIT LINKS ON THE SCHLUMBERGER HUB..................... 88

Objectives

Upon completion of this Drill Bit Self-Learning Package, you should be able
to do the following things:

?? Describe the Drill Bit industry
?? List the 4 major Drill Bit competitors and their strengths & weaknesses
?? Identify the interior components of a roller cone bit
?? Identify the exterior components of a roller cone bit
?? Identify the component parts of a roller cone bit
?? Describe the different roller cone hydraulic configurations
?? Describe the roller cone IADC Code
?? Demonstrate an understanding of Schlumbergers roller cone
nomenclature
?? List and describe Schlumbergers roller cone features
?? List Schlumbergers roller cone product lines
?? Identify the major types of fixed cutter bits
?? Identify the major components of PDC bits
?? Describe Schlumbergers PDC cutter technology
?? List Schlumbergers fixed cutter product lines
?? Demonstrate an understanding of Schlumbergers fixed cutter
nomenclature
?? List and describe Schlumbergers fixed cutter features

Introduction

Reed-Hycalog (Schlumberger Drill Bits) is the combination of two strong,
technologically advanced leaders in the supply of drill bits and expertise to
the petroleum drilling industry. The union of the two companies provides a
totally integrated, full-service company dedicated to implementing drill bit
solutions on a worldwide basis.
The history behind the two companies is as diverse as the product lines they
collectively distribute. Reed Tool Company was formed in 1915 when
Clarence E. Reed formed a partnership with J.H. Giesey to manufacture
drilling tools. Throughout the years, Reed has designed, manufactured, and
sold thousands of different products to make drilling around the world more
efficient. Today, Reed focuses its technical resources on developing
premium roller cone drill bits with over 400 different sizes and types of bits
in its product line.
J.R. Frenchie Mayeaux and Dan Grady in Shreveport, Louisiana formed
Hycalog (HYdroCArbon-LOGging) in 1946. This company was later
combined with the US operations of Drilling and Service and the Rucker
companies. Originally operating as a core bit company, Hycalog has now
grown into the leading supplier of PDC and natural diamond drill bits
worldwide with the number one market position in most drilling areas.
The most recent chapter in this history was the acquisition of Reed-Hycalog
(via Camco International) by Schlumberger. Reed-Hycalog is now an
integral part of Drilling & Measurements, which is part of Schlumbergers
Reservoir Development Group. In 2001, Reed-Hycalog began the transition
of changing the companys name to Schlumberger Drill Bits.
Schlumberger Drill Bits has four strategically located ISO 9001 certified
manufacturing facilities with the most modern CNC manufacturing
equipment in order to meet customers requirements. Roller Cone
manufacturing plants are located in Houston, TX and in Singapore. The
Fixed Cutter manufacturing plants are located in Houston, TX and in
Stonehouse, England. The safety record within these facilities, and in the
field, surpasses the industry standard defined by Drill Bits and by
Schlumberger. In addition to ISO 9001, Schlumberger Drill Bits meets the
API Q1 standard and the Schlumberger QHSE standards.

Drill Bit Industry Overview
Reservoir development starts with the drill bit. With todays technology, to
drill for oil and gas a drill bit is needed.
Schlumberger (Reed-Hycalog) sells drill bits. There is a major difference
between the Drill Bit segment of Schlumberger and all of the other
segments. Drill Bits manufacture and sell tools (bits) that are supported by
service. The other Schlumberger segments sells services that are supported
by tools. This means that there is a major philosophical difference in the
way that Drill Bits sells and conducts business from all of the other
Schlumberger segments. Drill bits are often bought one at a time on the rig
site. As they come out of the hole, the performance of the bit is evaluated.
The other Schlumberger segments basically sell their services before the
well starts and then support it with tools. This is the major difference
between the Drill Bit segment of Schlumberger and all of the other segments
of Schlumberger.
There are two major drill bit types: Roller Cone and Fixed Cutter.
Within the roller cones there are two types bits - insert bits and tooth bits.
Roller Cone Bits:

Insert Bit Tooth Bit

Within the fixed cutters there are two types of bits: PDC bits
(Polycrystalline Diamond Compact) and Natural Diamond/Impreg.

PDC Bit Natural Diamond / Impreg Bit

Customers Expectations
In order to sell drill bits, specific customers expectations must be met.
There are several things that the customer might expect from a drill bit when
they buy it:

- they may expect the bit to drill an entire interval
- they may expect the bit to drill the interval faster than on
previous wells

- they may want the bit to drill it at the lowest cost-per-foot

- they may want a good dull condition from the drill bit once
it comes out of the hole

- they may be interested in directional accuracy

- they may have some other criteria that they are interested in

Which one of these customers expectations are the most important?
From a drill bit aspect, bit cost-per-foot is going to be the best measure of
performance. But, the customer is not always interested in cost-per-foot.
Sometimes they are interested in making sure they can drill the interval in a
specific amount of time irregardless of how much it costs them. Sometimes
they have to drill the interval at a certain ROP (Rate Of Penetration) in order
to meet the criteria that they have for a specific well. Another situation that
customers might need is to have a good dull condition. This is important
because sometimes customers rerun bits on multiple wells. Sometimes
directional accuracy is the most important for a customer. This is extremely
important if you are drilling horizontal or directional wells anywhere in the
world. The directional accuracy could be far more important than how much
it cost for the bit, or how much it cost to drill a specific interval of the well.
If the customer cannot hit their targets, then they are not going to get the
reservoir development that they expect. There could be some other things
that customers expect out of bits; for example, hours. There are some
customers in parts of the United States that if the bit does not drill a certain
amount of hours then their expectations have not been met.
So which one is most important? The answer is it depends. It depends on
what that specific customer's expectations are out of the drill bit. It is the
responsibility of the Drill Bit Engineers and Specialist to find out what are
the customers' expectations. Once the customers expectations are
identified, the proper bit to meet the proper application can be selected.
Drill Bit Sales
Drill bits are sold in a variety of different ways.
One of the ways drill bits are sold is at the rig site.
In this situation bits are loaded up in the back of a
pickup truck and an Engineer or Specialist, in a
geographically assigned area, will go out into the
field and sell the bits at the drilling rigs. Contact is
made with the people that are buying the bits. Then
a decision is made on what bits are going to meet
that customer's expectations on that specific
location.

Another way drill bits are sold is in the office. They are sold to operating
companies, to drilling engineers, and to purchasing departments. Typically
it is better not to sell bits to purchasing departments because they are only
interested in price. Drill bits are not a commodity. They are a performance
tool.
Drill bits are also sold directly to directional drillers and drilling contractors.
There are a lot of wells that are drilled, especially in the US and Canada, on
a footage basis. Footage means that a drilling contractor has agreed with an
oil company that they will drill a specific depth of a well for a certain price.
In this case the contractors are responsible for purchasing the bits. The drill
bits will be sold directly to the drilling contractor as opposed to the oil
company. There are some situations where directional drillers are
responsible for buying the bits. Directional companies will turnkey a
directional well, or a section of a well. Being part of Drilling &
Measurements, Schlumberger Drill Bits will need to take advantage of this
situation when D & M has the directional job and is buying the bits.
Drill bits are also sold by tender to national oil companies. Basically what
this means is that a national oil company will put out a bid for bits.
Sometimes this is for a 6-month supply, a year supply, or some other period
of time that they will designate. All of the major drill bit companies get to
bid on the tender. The bits are typically bought from whomever provides
them with the lowest price.
Another way drill bits are sold is by supply contracts to major oil companies.
This is typically driven by management consultants and purchasing
managers. When this happens the companies are trying to reduce their costs
over a period of time by buying bits in bulk from one or more of the major
drill bit suppliers. Many of the major oil companies do have some kind of
supply contracts with one or more of the drill bit companies.


Drill Bit Competitors
There are 4 major drill bit competitors that control approximately 92% of the
$1 billion dollar worldwide drill bit market.
First is Hughes Christensen. Hughes Christensen is owned by Baker Hughes
International. They are the #1 drill bit company in the world with
approximately 30% market share. Hughes is the roller cone portion of the
business and Christensen is the fixed cutter portion of the business.
Second is Smith Geodiamond. Smith GeoDiamond is owned by Smith
International. They are the #2 drill bit company in the world with
approximately 27% market share. Smith is the roller cone portion of the
business and Geodiamond is the fixed cutter portion of the business.
Third is Reed-Hycalog which in 2001 were changing the name to
Schlumberger Drill Bits. Reed-Hycalog is owned by Schlumberger and is
part of Drilling & Measurements. They are the #3 drill bit company in the
world with approximately 20% market share. Reed is the roller cone portion
of the business and Hycalog is the fixed cutter portion of the business.
Fourth is Security DBS. Security DBS is owned by Halliburton. They are
the #4 drill bit company in the world with approximately 15% market share.
Security is the roller cone portion of the business and DBS is the fixed cutter
portion of the business.
There are several other drill bit competitors around the world that
collectively have approximately 8% market share. There are RBI, Varel,
Walker-Macdonald and TSK which are all roller cone companies. There are
also many regional and local PDC companies located around the world.
The drill bit market is basically split out into the 2 major bit types - roller
cone and fixed cutter. The roller cone is approximately 60% or $600
million, and the fixed cutter is about 40% or $400 million.


Drill Bit Market Past and Present
To understand the drill bit market, it is necessary to look at the market in the
past and then where it is today.

Past Drill Bit Market

On the vertical axis is penetration rate, and on the horizontal axis is
formation compressive strength.

The chart shows the PDC, the tooth, the insert, and the impreg / natural
diamond bits. As indicated, there is very little overlap between the PDC, the
tooth bits, the insert bits, and the diamond / impreg. If a customer wanted to
drill in a specific area it would be pretty easy to identify what type of bit
they were going to need to run for the particular formation. Based on how
fast they wanted to drill it, and the compressive strength of the rock, it would
dictate which one of the four bit types would actually be used in that
particular application.

Formation Compressive Strength
P
e
n
e
t
r
a
t
i
o
n

R
a
t
e
PDC
Tooth
Insert
Impreg
& N.D.

Today the bit market has changed quite a bit.

Present Drill Bit Market

On the vertical axis is penetration rate, and on the horizontal axis is
formation compressive strength.

With the evolution of PDC cutter technology, the evolution of tooth bits and
of insert bits, and the improvements to the impreg and natural diamond bits,
there is now quite a bit of overlap in the present bit market. If a customer
wanted to drill in a specific formation, a decision would have to be made on
which drill bit type would be the best to use. This was one of the major
reasons why all 4 of the major roller cone drill bit companies and the major
fixed cutter drill bit companies combined as one instead of operating as two
separate companies.

Formation Compressive Strength
P
e
n
e
t
r
a
t
i
o
n

R
a
t
e
PDC
Tooth
Insert
Impreg
& N.D.

Drill Bit Competitors Strength & Weaknesses

Hughes Christensen
The first strength of Hughes Christensen is that they were the first in Bit
Optimization Service. Basically they were the first ones to put a drill bit
engineer in a customers office, at no charge, to do all of the analytical and
business requirements for the customers drill bit needs. In some cases they
were given a bit contract to provide a certain number of bits. Hughes was
first in this Bit Optimization service. Smith and Security quickly followed
and Schlumberger Drill Bits were the last ones to offer that service.
The second strength of Hughes Christensen is volume economics. They
build twice as many bits as Schlumberger Drill Bits. Their volume
economics allow them to have a lower cost per bit because they can absorb
the overhead from their factories over a greater number of products.
The third strength of Hughes Christensen is market strategy. They have
done an excellent job over the years of marketing their product. Every
innovation, every new feature, and every good performance are published in
many of the oil & gas publications.
The final major strength of Hughes Christensen is name recognition.
Hughes was the first roller cone drill bit company. They are very well
known throughout the industry. They have good competitive products.
Hughes Christensen does have several weaknesses. First, they have an
arrogant sales staff. This attitude has cost them some business in the past.
Their second major weakness is sometimes they are slow to respond. Since
they have such large volumes of product they cannot always get their bits
out to the market in as a timely manner as they would like to. Also the
actual drill bit market is not predictable. So if activity increases faster than
planned, sometimes Hughes Christensen can be a little slow to get their
products out to the market place.


Smith Geodiamond
The first strength of Smith Geodiamond is they have autonomy, which
allows them to focus. Since they are not owned by one of the major oil
service companies, they can spend more of their time focused specifically on
the drill bit segment.
The second strength of Smith Geodiamond is that they were second in the
market with Bit Optimization Service. Soon after Hughes Christensen, they
started putting their engineers in the offices to help make bit selections.
The third strength of Smith Geodiamond is that they market new technology
very well. Any time they come up with what new products or features, they
have brochures coming out, they have covers on the major oil publications,
and they do an excellent job of marketing their product.
The third strength of Smith Geodiamond is the fact they acquired
experienced personnel. A few years ago, Smith decided that they wanted to
go full force into building fixed cutter bits and becoming a dominant force in
the fixed cutter market. They decided to go after the #1 fixed cutter
company in the world at that time - Hycalog. They hired Hycalogs
President, their Vice- Presidents, their design engineers, and they selected
and hired the specific Hycalog salesmen that they wanted for specific
geographical areas. Instead of developing their company and their
personnel, they went out and bought them from Hycalog. This is one of the
things that contributed to Hycalog falling from the #1 fixed cutter company
in the world to #3, and has allowed Smit h Geodiamond to become a viable
fixed cutter competitor.
The final major strength for Smith Geodiamond is customer relations. They
spend a lot of money, time, and resources on making sure they take care of
their customers. They give away jackets, shirts, cups, hats, etc. They also
take their customers on expensive trips. They are the drill bit company that
are the most committed to spending money on customer relations.
Smith Geodiamond does have several weaknesses. The first weakness is a
lack of corporate structure. They are not owned by of one of the major
drilling service companies. This limits the amount of corporate support,
financial & technical resources, and personnel resources.

Smith Geodiamond
The second weakness of Smith Geodiamond is the lack of access to related
drilling technologies. Schlumberger Drill Bits has Drilling & Measurements
with the PowerDrive and PowerPak systems. Hughes Christensen has Baker
Inteq with the AutoTrack system. Security DBS has Sperry Sun with the
GeoPilot system. The lack of access to related drilling technologies does
put Smith Geodiamond at a disadvantage.

The final weakness of Smith Geodiamond is that they have limited
packaging opportunities. If you are not owned by one of the major service
companies, it is very difficult to package all the services in order to provide
the drilling solutions that the customers may need.

Schlumberger Drill Bits (Reed-Hycalog)

The first strength of Schlumberger Drill Bits is the differentiated
technologies. There are many developments that have been patented that
differentiates Schlumberger from their competitors.

The second strength of Schlumberger Drill Bits is fixed cutter market
recognition. A few years ago Hycalog was the #1 fixed cutter company in
the world. They are still recognized in several markets as being the #1 fixed
cutter company.
The third major strength of Schlumberger Drill Bits is the Schlumberger
resources. Financial, technical, and personnel resources are now available.
Schlumberger Drill Bits also have several weaknesses. First was the
companys focus on margin. While this may not be a bad strategy, if you are
going to try to gain market share, margins may not be the primary focus.
Currently under D & M, the focus is on market share first.
The second weakness of Schlumberger Drill Bits is late to service delivery.
It sometimes takes a lot longer to get products to the market place than it did
for the competitors.


To become the #1 drill bit company in the world, it will require better
customer response and getting products on time to the market as quickly as
possible.
The last major weakness of Schlumberger Drill Bits is struggling to
reorganize. There have been 3 reorganizations in the last 4 years. First,
Schlumberger acquired Camco International. This made Reed and Hycalog
part of Schlumberger. Second, was the reorganization of Reed Tool
Company and Hycalog to combine to form one company, Reed-Hycalog.
Finally, in January 2001, Reed-Hycalog reorganized into Drilling &
Measurements. Almost any company would have had difficulty surviving
three reorganizations in four years.

Security DBS
The first strength of Security DBS is their synergy with Sperry Sun. This
gives them access to related drilling technologies and packaging
opportunities.
The second strength of Security DBS is the modernization of their
manufacturing plant. Within the last two years they renovated their roller
cone manufacturing plant. They put in new machinery and new technology
to improve the speed and efficiency of building their roller cone bits.
The third strength of Security DBS is that they were right behind Hughes
and Smith with Bit Optimization Service.
The last strength of Security DBS is their fixed cutter technology. In their
fixed cutter bits, they have some excellent products and some excellent
cutter technology.
Security DBS also has several weaknesses. The first weakness is their roller
cone technology. Most of their roller cone bits are not competitive with
Hughes, Smith, and Schlumberger. However, they do make a few good
products, especially in their bigger bits that have performed well in the Gulf
of Mexico and in other offshore applications.


The final weakness of Security DBS is that they tend to operate as 2 separate
companies. Since they have such a strong fixed cutter side and such a weak
roller cone side, most of the focus is on fixed cutter bits. Even though they
are one company, they tend to operate as two. This prevents them from
being a fully unified company.

Drill Bit Industry Summary
Drill bits have unique technologies. There are different drilling demands.
Almost anywhere in the world that drilling is done the drill bit application
will be different. For example, in multiple places in the United States there
will be different formations and different drilling applications.
Drill bits have unique design concepts. There is a lot of design work that
goes into fixed cutter and roller cone bits. There are materials issues,
bearings, elastomers, grease, moving parts, and cutter development.
Drill bits have manufacturing issues. One of the reasons why there are only
4 major drill bit companies that control approximately 92% of the worldwide
market, is because roller cone manufacturing is a very capital-intense and
complicated business. Not everybody can easily get into the roller cone
manufacturing business. That is one of the reasons for the major oilfield
service companies such as Schlumberger, Baker, and Halliburton aligning
themselves with an established drill bit company. It would be very difficult
for someone to start up a new roller cone company.
Finally, patents are what are unique to drill bit technologies. There are many
patents that are filed on drill bits that never get into bits. It is a very
competitive market with only 4 major competitors in the market place. All
of the drill bit companies are actively trying to patent everything they can to
prevent the competitors from copying their designs or taking advantage of
some of the concepts and innovations that have been developed.


Drill Bit Industry
Drill Bit Industry
Review Questions
Review Questions
List the major Drill Bit types
List the 4 major Drill Bit competitors and their
market shares
List Schlumberger Drill Bits strengths & weaknesses
Describe the Schlumberger Drill Bit plan for market share
growth
List 4 Schlumberger Drill Bit Roller Cone differentiations
List 4 Schlumberger Drill Bit Fixed Cutter differentiations
List 6 things that are new for Schlumberger Drill Bits

Roller Cone Bits Component Parts

There are two types of roller cone bits. There are tooth bits and there are
insert bits. Sometimes roller cone bits are referred to as rock bits. Under
tooth bits, these bits are sometimes referred to as steel tooth bits or mill tooth
bits. On the insert side, these bits are sometimes referred to as carbide bits
or button bits.

The roller cone bits are basically made up of the 3 major things. There are:
1) lugs, 2) cutters, and 3) component parts.

To make a roller cone bit there will be 3 lugs per bit. All 3 lugs will be
exactly the same. There will also be 3 cutters per bit. All 3 cutters will have
different cutting structures. Finally there will be a variety of component
parts.

Lugs Cutters Component Parts

To make 1 roller cone bit, it takes:
- 3 lugs
- 3 cutters
- 3 sets of component parts.

The cutters are attached to the
lugs. Then the 3 lug and cutter
assemblies are welded together
to make a drill bit.


Roller Cone Exterior Parts

In this diagram, the first area to identify is the API pin. The purpose of the
pin is to connect the bit to the drill string and to allow fluid to get through
into the body of the bit and out through the nozzles.

Next is the bit body. This is all the exterior part of the bit that is not the
cutter. So it includes all 3 of the lugs, the nozzle pods, and the areas that
are on the shirttail.

The next area is the lug. As mentioned before, it takes 3 lugs to make up 1
bit. So the lug is the area of the bit where the shirttail is located and the bit
body that goes down to the pin. It is the part of the bit that holds on the
cutter.

There are 3 cutters on each bit. There is Cutter #1, Cutter #2, and Cutter #3.
Each one of these 3 cutters will have a different cutting structure design.
The way to identify the 3 cutters is Cutter # 1 will have the insert or tooth
that is the closest to the centerline of the middle of the bit.

Pin
Nozzle, Pod & Socket
Cutter #3
Shirttail
Heel Row
Gage Row
Cutter #1
Cutter #2
Inner Row
Lug
Bit Body
Bit Bowl
Nose


Once the Cutter #1 is identified, count the cutters in a clockwise manner to
find Cutter #2 and Cutter #3. The reason these cutter numbers are important
is when dull grading the bits, the location of the dulling characteristics will
be identified by the cutter numbers. When identifying whether the
bearings/seals are effective or have failed, the cutter numbers are used if all
3 of the cutters do not have the same grading.

The nose of the bit is the area of inserts or teeth that is the closest to the
center of the middle of the bit. The inner row would be all of the rows that
are not the gauge. The gauge row is the row of inserts that are the furthest
on the outside of the cutting structure. The heel row are small, tungsten
carbide or diamond inserts that are put on the back face of the cutter.

The shirttail is the area of the lug where the grease reservoir cap, the hard
metal that is applied to protect the shirttail, the cone retention loading hole,
and the grease-loading hole is located. This is an important part of the bit
because it will identify some of the areas that will need to be protected.
Shirttail protection features that are added to the bits will be discussed later.

Pin
Cutter #3
Shirttail
Heel Row
Gage Row
Cutter #1
Cutter #2
Inner Row
Lug
Bit Body
Bit Bowl
Nose


Then there is the nozzle pod and socket. This is the where the nozzles is
located. There is an O-ring and a snap ring that holds the nozzles in. This
whole assembly area where the nozzle goes in is called the nozzle pod and
nozzle socket.

Finally there is the bit bowl. This is all of the blank space, the void space
that is inside, the interior of the bit beneath the cutters, and inside of the
nozzle pod and nozzle sockets. In the bit bowl is where there may be drilled
cuttings. A lot of flow has to get through there in order to keep the bit clean.
This is also where your center jet would be installed if a center jet were to be
added to any bit.

Now that the external parts of the roller cone drill bit have been reviewed, it
is time to take a look at what is on the inside. The focus will be on the
bearings and seals. These are one of the most critical parts of a roller cone
drill bit. If the bearings and seals fail prematurely, your bit life will be
limited.

Pin
Cutter #3
Shirttail
Heel Row
Gage Row
Cutter #1
Cutter #2
Inner Row
Lug
Bit Body
Bit Bowl
Nose

Roller Cone Interior Parts

Bearings

In roller cone bits, there are generally 4 major bearings.

There is the main bearing, the retention bearing, the thrust bearing, and the
pin bearing.

The main bearing, the thrust bearing, and the pin bearing are all load-bearing
surfaces. The function of the retention bearing is to attach the cutter to the
lug. However, through testing, and looking at the bits that have been cut
down for dull analysis, the retention bearings also do take some load.

Retention Bearing
Thrust Bearing
Pin Bearing
Main Bearing

There are 2 major types of main bearings in a roller cone bit. There are roller
bearings and there are friction/journal bearings.

Roller bearings are long cylinders that roll in tracks or grooves that have
been cut in the lug. Typically roller bearing bits will have two rows of roller
bearings, or three rows for the larger bits. They roll freely between the cutter
and the journal.

The friction or journal bearing bits have a bushing that rotates between the
lug and cutter. Schlumberger Drill Bits have a floating bushing that rotates
freely between the cutter and the lug. In the past these bearings were called
friction bearing. Today, most people in the drill bit industry call them
journal bearings.

Roller Friction / Journal

There are two types of retention bearings. There are ball bearings and there
are threaded rings.

On most all drill bits, the cones or cutters are held onto the lug using ball
bearings. This is not a unique feature to Schlumberger. Ball bearings are
used by all 4 major drill bit competitors as their cone retention bearings.
Ball bearings roll in the track and keep the cutter from falling off of the lug.

The threaded ring, however, is a unique and patented feature that can only be
used by Schlumberger Drill Bits. It is attached by the threads in the cutter
shell and the corresponding threads located on the threaded ring. The
threaded ring rides in a groove on the lug, and allows the cutter to be
attached to the lug. A retention tool holds the threaded ring in place while
the cutter is screwed on. Once the cutter is on, the retention tool is taken
out, and a peening tool is inserted. The peening tool will peen or deface the
threads on the cutter to prevent the cutter from backing off. The advantages
of having a threaded ring retention bearing over a ball bearing is:
- the threaded ring will help reduce the lost cone rate by two-thirds
- it becomes an integral part of the cutter, so it allows the cutter to
have more freedom and be better tolerant of cutter movement
- it has surface contact as opposed to point loading of the balls
bearings
Balls Threaded Ring

With ball bearings there is point loading that can cause spalling,
Spalling is little particles of metal that have flaked off of the lug surface.
This makes the surface uneven and no longer will run smoothly. This
affects the bearing performance. As soon as the bearing performance is
negatively affected, then the bit life will be limited.

Seals

At Schlumberger there are 4 major types of seals that are used. The first is
an O-ring seal. Years ago the O-ring seal was patented by Hughes and was
not allowed to be used by any of the other major bit companies. What
Hughes actually patented was the amount of squeeze on the O-ring to seal
the bit to keep the drilling fluids out and keep the bearing grease in.

Reed-Hycalog decided to use a HNBR radial seal to counteract the patent
Hughes had on the O-ring. The HNBR radial seal is a patented feature that
only Schlumberger uses. Smith and Security decided that they would go
ahead and use the O-ring even though Hughes had a patent. Then several
years later there were lawsuits. Hughes was paid hundreds of millions of
dollars by Smith and Security for violation of their patent. The O-ring
patent has expired and is now used by Schlumberger Drill Bits.

O-Ring
and
HNBR Radial
HNBR
Texturized
HNBR
Ribbed
Texturized

The O-ring seal is used in Schlumbergers 4-3/4" and smaller inch diameter
bits. All of the bits larger than 4 3/4, use the HNBR radial seal. The radial
seal provides several advantages. It runs cooler, it is recessed and is better
protected, and it is more tolerant of cutter movement. A radial seal is flat
and has more surface contact.

The next seal used by Schlumberger is a HNBR texturized seal. HNBR
stands for Hydrogenated Nitrile Butadiene Rubber. It is obvious why this
seal is just called HNBR. The HNBR texturized seal was the seal that was
developed for Schlumbergers motor bit product line. This seal has a series
of Xs cut into the inside surface of the seal. The purpose of these Xs is to
trap grease in all of the little small pockets, as shown in this picture.

By trapping the grease into these little pockets, it allows the seal to run
cooler. Typically motor bits are running at higher RPM (Revolutions Per
Minute) so running cooler is important to extending bit life.

The HNBR ribbed textured seal is a brand new seal
that was recently developed to be put into
Schlumbergers new Titan bits. It is an upgrade
from the HNBR texturized seal in that it has a rib in
the middle that helps keep the grease on both sides of
the seal. As shown in this picture, once the grease gets
into the little pockets, it gets trapped and allows the
seal to run cooler. A cool running seal is critical when
running at high rotary speeds on motor bits.

HNBR
Texturized
Seal


From this diagram, the bearing terms can be identified. Starting on the right-
hand side of the picture an insert bit cutter is shown. The ball race is where
the ball bearings roll and allow the cutter to move around the lug. Moving
from the right side of the diagram into the middle of the cutter is the cutter
bore. The cutter bore has the internal bearing surfaces that match up with
the corresponding parts on the lug. There is also a groove in which the seal
is recessed. Moving on into the center part of the diagram is the thrust
washer. The thrust washer is a washer that is silver-plated. The silver is
used as a dry lubricant so as the thrust washer heats up, takes loads, becomes
hot, and develops friction; the silver will melt and form a lubricant. Next
there is the floating bushing. This is a copper beryllium bushing that is also
silver-plated for dry lubricant. Next is the HNBR radial seal. This could be
a texturized radial seal, a ribbed texturized radial seal, or an O-ring. This
shows the order in which component parts and the cutter fit on the lug.

Moving over to the journal part of the lug is the thrust pin bearing and the
pilot/friction pin bearing. Next there is the main bearing surface, the ball
bearing groove, the seal land, and the back face of the cutter. The ball
retention plug is used to secure the cutter once it is connected to the lug.
The ball bearings are loaded through this ball-loading hole on the backside
of the journal. After the proper number of balls are loaded, the retaining
plug is inserted and is welded with what is called a frogeye weld.

Insert Cutter
Cutter Bore
Floating Bushing
Radial Seal
Ball Bearing
Ball
Retaining
Plug
Thrust Washer
Seal Land
Snag
Main Bearing
Pilot Pin
(Friction Pin)
Shirttail
Seal Groove
Ball Race
(Bearing Race)

Grease System

On sealed bearing roller cone bits there is a grease system. This diagram
shows Schlumberger Drill Bits greasing system. The grease reservoir is
where the extra grease for the bearings is located. The grease is pumped
from the grease reservoir through a grease passage holes into all of the
bearing surfaces. To ensure that grease gets to all the bearing surfaces,
grease is painted on every bearing surface before the bit is assembled. A
grease-compensating diaphragm is used. If too much pressure builds up in
the reservoir or bearing system, the grease can vent or release through the
diaphragm so it does not burst the seal. Once the seal is damaged or fails,
the drilling fluid will flow in, compromise the bearing system, and will limit
the bearing life. On top of the diaphragm is a reservoir cap that is held in
place with a snap ring. A hex nut is screwed in with an Allen wrench that
closes off the grease-loading hole.

Grease Reservoir
Grease Loading
Hole Plug
Snap Ring
Reservoir Cap
Grease
Passage
Holes
Diaphragm
Threaded Ring
Access Hole Plug

Assembled Interior Components

Earlier the ball-loading hole for a ball bearing retention system was
discussed. If the bit has a threaded ring, the threaded ring access hole is
where the tool to hold the threaded ring still is located. It also serves as the
access hole for the peening tool used to deface the threads on the cutter side
of the threaded ring assembly. A threaded ring access hole plug is then
inserted and sealed off with a frogeye weld.

This diagram shows a view of the cutter assembled to the journal on the lug.
Starting on the left side is the borehole wall. Moving inward from the left
side of the picture are the heel row inserts that are in contact with the
borehole wall. Next are gauge row inserts. This diagram shows how much
of the insert is actually in the cutter and how much of the insert is protruding
out from the cutter shell. On the top of the picture is the radial seal and the
groove where the radial seal is recessed. Next is the main bearing - in this
case a journal bearing. On the bottom of the picture are the inner row
inserts. Finally there is the thrust bearing, thrust washer, and the pin
bearing.

Hole Wall
Gauge
Row
Radial
Seal
Thrust
Bearing
Retention
Bearing
Heel
Row
Inner
Row
Cutter
Lug
Main
Bearing
Pin
Bearing
Hole Wall
Gauge
Row
Radial
Seal
Thrust
Bearing
Retention
Bearing
Heel
Row
Inner
Row
Cutter
Lug
Main
Bearing
Pin
Bearing

Cutting Structure Insert Bits

The cutting structure is also important for the life of a drill bit. If the cutting
structure fails the bit is finished. If the cutting structure wears out, the
inserts break, or the cutting structure gets damaged, the bit will have to be
pulled out of the hole because it will no longer be able drill the formations
economically. Sometimes the cutting structure of a bit is called the cone
or the cutter. These two terms can be used interchangeably.

Starting on the right side of this diagram is the cone profile. The cone
profile identifies how aggressive the bit is going to be in terms of cutting
formation. A more rounded cone profile would be for a more aggressive bit.
A flatter cone profile will be used for a slower drilling, more durable cutting
structure type bit, typically used in harder formations. Beginning on the
right side of the picture and moving inward, the first insert is the spear point
or the spade. This is also the nose insert. When identifying the nose insert
on the cutter, this is the insert that is closest to the center of the middle of the
bit.

Spear Point
(Spade)
Heel Face
(Gage Face)l
Heel Row
Cone
or
Cutter
Cone Shell
Gage Row Interlock Row
Cone Groove
Inner Rows
Outer Rows
Back Face
Insert Pad
Cone Profile
Seal Flange
Teeth


Next are the insert pads. The insert pads are created as a result of the
designed cone grooves. Since the bit has 3 cutters, each with a different
cutting structure, the cutting elements have to intermesh with each other.
The cone grooves are machined into the cutter to allow the inserts to
intermesh. Another reason for the insert pad is to support the insert. If the
insert is not protected, and the proper amount of the insert is not in the cutter
shell, the insert will not be properly supported and will break.

Next are the inner row inserts. These are all the inserts that are not the gauge
row inserts and not the nose row inserts. The remaining row of inserts are
called the interlock row. An interlock row means that part of the interlock
insert is intersecting the line of the gauge row inserts. This does not mean
that these inserts are on top of each other. It just means that they intersect
the line of the gauge row inserts. Finally there is the heel row. The heel row
inserts are on the back face of the cutter.

Spear Point
(Spade)
Heel Face
(Gage Face)l
Heel Row
Cone
or
Cutter
Cone Shell
Gage Row Interlock Row
Cone Groove
Inner Rows
Outer Rows
Back Face
Insert Pad
Cone Profile
Seal Flange
Teeth


This picture gives a few examples of insert shapes by formation.
Schlumberger has over 100 different insert shapes and types that are used on
their roller cone drill bits. As illustrated, the inserts get shorter and more
rounded when going from soft formations to harder formations. The first
insert on the chart has a sharp tip and a lot of protrusion. The straight lines
that go across the picture indicate the protrusion. Everything below that line
represents the part of the insert that is buried in the cutter shell. Everything
above that line represents the part of the insert that is protruding from the
cutter shell and makes contact with the formation. The first insert has quite
a long protrusion and the insert shape is quite sharp. Looking at the very last
insert in this picture, that insert is much shorter and has a much rounder
shape. Selecting the right insert for the right bit is most important to provide
you the best bit performance in any given application.


Cutting Structure Tooth Bits

Mill tooth bits have their tooth shape milled out of steel. Once the teeth are
milled, a hard metal is welded to each tooth to make the tooth more durable.
There are 4 basic types of hard metal that are used on Schlumbergers mill
tooth bits.
Duraclad Hardmetal Armorclad Hardmetal

First there is the standard Duraclad hard metal. This is a tungsten carbide
matrix composite. The hard metal is welded onto the teeth in a manual
process. Duraclad has a lot of porosity. It is a durable product but is
typically use this in Schlumbergers non-premium tooth bits.

The next type of hard metal is called Armorclad. This is much more dense
and much less porous type of material. It has a much higher concentrated
mix of tungsten carbide pellets. Armorclad is typically use this in the
premium mill tooth bits such as EHT, MHT, and the SL - Slim Line bits.
Armorclad II is a new hardmetal that has just been introduced. This is a
premium hard metal that is an upgrade from Armorclad. This hardmetal will
be used on the new Titan tooth bit products.


Finally there is the built-in hard metal PMC (Powdered Metal Cutter).
Schlumberger has as patented process of using powdered metal to make a
tooth cutter. Because of the patent protection, Schlumberger is the only drill
bit company that can use this built-in hard metal. The PMC product
technology has been in development for more than 12 years. In 2001 the
first PMC products will be going standard. The first product lines will be
FMJ (Full Metal Jacket) and CMC (Composite Matrix Cutter).

PMC Built-In Hardmetal

PMC is a built-in hardmetal that is built using a mold. This hard metal is
more durable, more abrasive-resistant, and provides a lot longer life for the
tooth. PMC will also allow more flexibility in designing tooth shapes. For
Schlumberger Drill Bits, the PMC process for making tooth bits may
become the way tooth bits are made in the future. It will be more
economical to manufacture once the process is fully developed. All of
Schlumbergers competitors use welded hard metal on their tooth bits.


Hydraulic Configurations

Hydraulics are very important for a drill bit. The primary purposes of
hydraulics for the drill bit are to keep the bit cool and to get the cuttings off
the bottom of the hole and up the annulus. There are 3 basic Schlumberger
hydraulics configurations: Conventional, Mudpick, and Mudpick II.

First is conventional hydraulics. This means that the drilling fluid comes out
of the nozzle and goes straight to the bottom of the hole. There is no tooth
cleaning and the fluid cleans the rock between the cutting zones. There is
stagnant flow at the cutting zone where the inserts or teeth are in contact
with the bottom of the hole. There is no cleaning where the cutters are
actually in contact with the formation. All of the competitors use some form
of conventional hydraulics.

In the late 1970s, early 1980s, Reed started developing improved hydraulics.
The objective was to find a way, given the same set of hydraulic conditions,
that ROP could be improve by changing the direction of the hydraulic flow.
In the early 1980s, Reed introduced the patented Mudpick hydraulics.

Mudpick II Mudpick II Mudpick Mudpick
Conventional Conventional

With Mudpick hydraulics, as you can see in this picture, the position of the
nozzle is re-directed so that now the flow is cleaning the gauge row and
interlock row inserts. The rock is being cleaned at the leading edge of the
cutting zone. The stagnant flow has been shifted to the trailing side of the
cutter. Now there is better cleaning on the bottom of the hole. With
Mudpick there was an increase in rate of penetration given the same set of
hydraulic conditions. Without changing nozzle diameter, the flow rates, and
any of the variables for hydraulics, ROP was improved by changing to
Mudpick hydraulics. We use Mudpick hydraulics on all of the
Schlumberger product lines, except those that use the Mudpick II hydraulics.

In the early 1990s, almost ten years after the development of Mudpick,
Mudpick II hydraulics was introduced. Mudpick II cleans the gauge row
and inner row of teeth. It cleans the rock at the cutting zone right at the
corner as the inserts are coming around to make contact with the formation.
It cleans the cuttings from the bottom of the hole and removes the stagnant
flow completely from the cutting zone. The stagnant flow is shifted outside
the area where the inserts are in contact with the formation. Mudpick II has
shown that ROP was increases an average of 20% - 22% over the offset bit
runs. Mudpick and Mudpick II hydraulics are patented features of
Schlumberger. None of the other drill bit companies can use these hydraulic
configurations.
Mudpick II Mudpick II Mudpick Mudpick Conventional Conventional

Competition has developed various types of hydraulic configurations to
combat Mudpick and Mudpick II hydraulics. Because of the improvements
in ROP, the competitors will continue to try to meet or exceed
Schlumbergers performance.

Schlumberger builds bits with both Mudpick and Mudpick II hydraulics.
The reason for this is because there are both advantages and disadvantages
to Mudpick II. Mudpick II will increase ROP, but it is limited to only the
soft and soft-to-medium formations. The harder the formations become, the
less effective the Mudpick II hydraulics. Also, because of the angle of the
nozzle and the flow, there have been some cases of abnormal erosion in the
gauge and interlock row insert where the fluid is hitting the cutting structure
at high rates of speed. There has also been some backwash on the shirttail as
a result of the Mudpick II configuration. Whether Mudpick or Mudpick II is
the right hydraulic configuration for a specific bit will be determined by the
application, the hydraulic conditions, and satisfying the customer's needs.

Schlumbergers Roller Cone Nozzles

Schlumberger has a variety of different types of roller cone nozzles. The
chart bellows shows the 2 basic types of Schlumberger nozzles: shrouded
nozzle and standard nozzle.
STANDARD
TYPE
SHROUDED
TYPE
STANDARD
TYPE
SHROUDED
TYPE
BIT SIZE
RANGE
3-3/4 5-1/2
5-7/8 6-3/4
7-7/8 9
9-1/2 18-1/2
20 26
STANDARD
TYPE
AAK
AK
CK
DK
EK
SHROUDED
TYPE
AACK
ACK
CCK
DCK
ECK
NOZZLES AVAILABILITY
SIZE (32
ND
)
TFA in
8
0.049
9
0.062
10
0.077
11
0.093
12
0.110
13
0.130
14
0.150
15
0.173
16
0.196
18
0.249
20
0.307
22
0.371
24
0.442
28
0.601
STANDARD TYPE
AAK ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
AK ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
CK ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
DK ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
EK ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
SHROUDED TYPE
AACK ? ? ? ? ? ?
ACK ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
CCK ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
DCK
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
ECK
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
NOZZLE
TYPE
AAK
AACK
AK
ACK
CK
CCK
DK
DCK
EK
ECK
NOZZLE OUTSIDE DIAMETER IN
0.811 0.926 1.173 1.297 1.609
TFAWITHOUT NOZZLE IN
0.517 0.673 1.081 1.321 2.033
STANDARD
TYPE
SHROUDED
TYPE
NOZZLES AVAILABILTY
BIT SIZE
RANGE
3-3/4 5-1/2
5-7/8 6-3/4
7-7/8 9
9-1/2 18-1/2
20 26
STANDARD
TYPE
AAK
AK
CK
DK
EK
SHROUDED
TYPE
AACK
ACK
CCK
DCK
ECK
SIZE (32
ND
)
TFA in
8
0.049
9
0.062
10
0.077
11
0.093
12
0.110
13
0.130
14
0.150
15
0.173
16
0.196
18
0.249
20
0.307
22
0.371
24
0.442
28
0.601
STANDARD TYPE
AAK ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
AK ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
CK ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
DK ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
EK ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
SHROUDED TYPE
AACK ? ? ? ? ? ?
ACK ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
CCK ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
DCK
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
ECK
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
NOZZLE
TYPE
AAK
AACK
AK
ACK
CK
CCK
DK
DCK
EK
ECK
0.811 0.926 1.173 1.297 1.609
0.517 0.673 1.081 1.321 2.033
STANDARD
TYPE
SHROUDED
TYPE
BIT SIZE
RANGE
3-3/4 5-1/2
5-7/8 6-3/4
7-7/8 9
9-1/2 18-1/2
20 26
STANDARD
TYPE
AAK
AK
CK
DK
EK
SHROUDED
TYPE
AACK
ACK
CCK
DCK
ECK
SIZE (32
ND
)
TFA in
8
0.049
9
0.062
10
0.077
11
0.093
12
0.110
13
0.130
14
0.150
15
0.173
16
0.196
18
0.249
20
0.307
22
0.371
24
0.442
28
0.601
STANDARD TYPE
AAK ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
AK ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
CK ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
DK ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
EK ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
SHROUDED TYPE
AACK ? ? ? ? ? ?
ACK ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
CCK ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
DCK
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
ECK
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
NOZZLE
TYPE
AAK
AACK
AK
ACK
CK
CCK
DK
DCK
EK
ECK
0.811 0.926 1.173 1.297 1.609
0.517 0.673 1.081 1.321 2.033
STANDARD
TYPE
SHROUDED
TYPE
NOZZLES AVAILABILTY

The standard type nozzle has got a flat surface on the top and the snap ring,
which is what holds the nozzle in the bit. On the shrouded type nozzle, the
snap ring is covered by a recessed groove. The purpose for shrouded
nozzles is for use with highly abrasive fluids or if there are highly abrasive
formations. The shroud protects the snap ring. All nozzles are measured in
32nds of an inch in terms of the diameter. In the picture on the previous
page there is a 14 stenciled on top of the nozzle above the center hole. This
means that this nozzle is a 14/32nd nozzle.

Hughes Christensen also used the same types of roller cone nozzles as
Schlumberger. In fact the nozzles are interchangeable. Smith Geodiamond
uses a screw type nozzle. Security DBS uses a nozzle that is held in by a
nail. The Smith and Security roller cone nozzles are not interchangeable
with Schlumberger.

Roller Cone Components Roller Cone Components
Review Questions
Review Questions
Identify the exterior components of a roller cone bit
Identify all of the interior components of a roller cone bit
List the 2 Schlumberger Drill Bit main bearing types
List the 2 Schlumberger Drill Bit cone retention bearings
List the 3 Schlumberger Drill Bit seals
List the 3 Schlumberger Drill Bit hydraulic configurations
JOURNAL &
ROLLER
BALLS
THREATED
CONVENTIONAL
MUDPICK
MUDPICK II

Roller Cone IADC Code

The IADC code, which stands for International Association of Drilling
Contractors, was developed for roller cone bits in 1992. There is an IADC /
SPE Paper 23937, that details this IADC roller cone bit classification
system. In the IADC roller cone classification system the numbers are
divided up into formation, series / types, and cutting elements. Within soft
or hard formations, there will be a series and type. If the first two numbers
of the IADC code are 11 through 34 the cutting element will be mill tooth.
If the first two numbers of the IADC code are 41 to 84 the cutting element
will be a tungsten carbide insert bit.

The second digit of the IADC code tells the hardness of the bit within the
series. So a 11 would be the softest of the mill tooth bits. A 12 would be
the next hardest, and 13 would be the hardest. On inserts, for example, there
may be a 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, etc. So within the series, the harder the bit, the
higher the second number will be.

IADC Cutting Structure Code IADC Cutting Structure Code
11-
to
34-
Soft
to
Hard
Mill
Tooth
Formation Series / Type
Soft
to
Hard
41-
to
84-
Tungsten
Carbide
Insert
Cutting
Element

The IADC roller cone classification code basically looks like this:

If you look at this diagram, there are two examples. There is a 417 and a
115M. The first number represents the series. The 4 means it is an insert
bit. The 1 means it is a mill tooth bit. The second number represents the
type within that series. The third number in the IADC code represents the
bearing and gauge package. Most of the time there will be three numbers in
the IADC code. Occasionally, in the fourth position, there will be a letter.
This letter represents special features. It is not used very often but
sometimes the drill bit manufacturer wants to indicate that this bit has some
kind of special feature.

There are 7 different types of bearing and gauge configurations in the IADC
code. They are:
1. Standard roller
2. Roller air cooled
3. Roller with gauge protection
4. Sealed roller
5. Sealed roller and gauge protection
6. Friction/Journal bearing
7. Friction/Journal bearing and gauge protection

The codes that are used the most often are IADC code numbers 1, 5, 6, and
7.
4 1 7
Series Type
Bearing
Gage
Special
Features
1 1 5 M
IADC IADC Roller Cone Roller Cone
Classification Classification Code Code

There are several letters used in IADC to represent these special features.
They are not used very often. Most of the time the bit manufacturer will
choose to identify the special feature in their nomenclature as opposed to the
IADC code. Below is a list of these special features:
A = air application
B = special bearing /seal
C = center jet
D = deviation control
E = extended jets
G = gauge or body protection
H = horizontal or steering application
J = jet deflection
L = lug pads
M = motor application
S = standard steel tooth model
T = a two-cone bit
W = enhanced cutting structure
X = predominantly chisel tooth inserts
Y = conical tooth insert
Z = other shaped insert

The M letter is used most often to designate a bit is designed for motor
application.

The IADC code for roller cone bits has several uses. It is a good starting
place when trying to compare roller cone bits on offset bit records. In order
to determine what bit is going to be run in a specific application, bit
performance has to be evaluated. By looking at offset bit records, the IADC
code of the offset bits can be identified. Why would the IADC code be only
a starting place? If a customer says, I need a 12-1/4 IADC code 517,
sure, which one do they want? Within the industry there are probably 60+
12 517 type bits. The IADC code gives a general indication of what kind
of cutting structure is needed. The features, or combination of features, will
then be selected for the specific application.


Schlumberger Drill Bits Roller Cone Nomenclature

Below is an example of two of Schlumbergers roller cone bits:
a 12-1/4 EHP51HDLK and a 17-1/2 EMS13GC.

The first set of numbers, the 12-1/4 and the 17-1/2, represent the size in
inches. The size is also indicated in metric on Schlumbergers box labels
for those that work in the metric system.

The next set of prefixes in Schlumbergers nomenclature represent the
product line. In this case, EHP, Enhanced High Performance, and EMS,
Enhanced Motor Series, are the product lines for these particular bits. The
Schlumberger product lines will be discussed later.

The next two numbers are the first two numbers of the bits IADC code.
Schlumberger Drill Bits is the only company that uses the first two numbers
of the IADC code, to identify their cutting structure. All the rest of the
competitors use different sets of nomenclature and different sets of numbers
to identify their bit types. In the top example, the 12-1/4" EHP51, the 51
indicates that the first two numbers of the IADC code for this bit is a 517.
In the bottom example, the 17-1/2" EMS13, the IADC code for this bit is
135. So the first two numbers of the IADC code is represented in our
nomenclature as 13. In 2001, Schlumberger launched three product lines
which do not use the first 2 numbers of the IADC code in its nomenclature.
The numbers used in the FMJ, DJ, and DR product lines are not associated
with the IADC code.

12 EHP 51 H DLK
Size Size
17 EMS 13 G C
Product Product
Line Line
IADC IADC
Cutting Cutting
Structure Structure
Added Added
Features Features
Design Design
Variant Variant

The next letter, if there is one, would represent the design variant. There are
three different design variants frequently used by Schlumberger. They are
designated by A, H, and X. Below are the design variants:

A = Chisel-Shaped Inserts. The application for this would be an aggressive
insert shape typically for soft to medium formations. The downside to using
the A variant is that an insert shape that is sharp chisel may not be durable
enough. If the insert is not durable enough, the bit life could be limited.

H = Chisel-Shaped Inserts in IADC code 41 to 51 with 3 cutter skew.
Typically insert bits in 41 to 51 range have 5 cutter skew. The application
for the H designate is that it is a durable skew angle for any application
where you need more durability. A 5 skew is for a more aggressive bit but
it is less durable. A 3 skew is a little less aggressive but it is more durable.
Durability could be needed in situations like running high RPM
(Revolutions Per Minute), a directional situation, motor bit runs, or any time
there are streaky formations. The downside is that the more durable the bit,
the slower the ROP. So a little bit of ROP is sacrificed in order to get
durability. Schlumberger also builds bits that have faster ROP. So it
depends on the customer's expectations, the application, and the objective
for that bit run.

X = is a special cutting structure that might vary from type to type.
When an X is in the suffix of Schlumbergers nomenclature, the special
cutting structure will be different from a normal bit. The applications for
this type bit are formations such as medium-hard carbonates that suit an
aggressive gauge design but does not lead to gauge breakage. The downside
is that if you put a little longer gauge row inserts in for aggressive gauge
design, there could be a tendency for the inserts to break.

Schlumberger Drill Bits has several options for added features.
With the example of the 12-1/4", DLK stands for diamond lug pad and K
shirttail protection, and in the case of the 17-1/2" EMS13, G stands for gage
protection on the bit and C stands for center jet.


Schlumberger Drill Bits Roller Cone Features

Below are the Schlumberger Drill Bits roller cone features:

C = Center Jets. There are 2 types of center jets. There is a single-port
center jet that is installed in the center of the bit to provide hydraulic fluid to
the inner row and nose area. There is also a three-port center jet. The three-
port center jet is fixed and is installed in the factory. For the single-port
center jet, it is interchangeable and can be installed or changed
in the field.

There are several benefits to running center jets. They reduce bit balling and
help keep the nose and inner rows of the cutting structure clean. The major
disadvantage of center jets is that they can reduce the outer cutter cleaning.
If a bit has three nozzles, and then a center jet is added, there will be less
fluid exiting out of the 3 outside nozzles.

C - Center Jet
F - Flame Spray cutter shell coating
G - Heel Row Inserts on tooth bits
JA - Jet Air Drilling
K - Shirttail Inserts
KP - Shirttail Inserts - Premium Coverage
KPR - Shirttail Inserts Raised - Premium Coverage
L - Lug Stabilizing Pad
M - Mudpick II Hydraulics on HP Bits
T - GageGuard - shorter inserts in between the gauge row Inserts
Single Port
Three Port

Another disadvantage is the center jet can aggravate the nose area. With
high flow rates through your center jet, there can be nose cone erosion in the
center of the bit. The applications for center jets are basically in bits 12-1/4"
and larger. It is available in 7-7/8" and larger, and on occasion, a center jet
has been installed in a bit smaller than 7-7/8". Typically center jets are used
in medium to very soft, very sticky, gumbo type formations, or where
cleaning around the center of the bit is most important. Generally, no more
than 18% of the TFA (Total Flow Area) should be going through the center
jet. If the center jet is more than 18% TFA, the outside nozzles could be
starved for fluid and will not keep the gauge row of inserts cleaned.

D = Diamond PDC-coated inserts. PDC stands for Polycrystalline Diamond
Compact. The purpose of using PDC-coated inserts is to eliminate thermal
fatigue and to eliminate abrasive wear. Almost any of the cutting structure
or shirttail inserts can be replaced with the diamond PDC-coated inserts.
In the Schlumberger nomenclature, it is very simple to identify what features
have diamond PDC-coated inserts and which ones do not. When looking at
the suffixes of Schlumberger nomenclature, everything to the right side of
the D represents diamond PDC-coated inserts. Everything to the left side of
the D represents non-diamond PDC-coated inserts. The competition uses the
D repetitive when they indicate their diamond coated inserts.

The benefits of PDC-coated inserts, the D feature, are that it does eliminate
abrasive wear and thermal fatigue. There are some downsides, however. It
is costly. Some of the PDC-coated inserts could cost $25, $50, or $100 per
insert. The application must be right for using these inserts because it does
increase the cost of the bit. Another downside is it will not solve fracture
due to overload. If the inserts are breaking due to overload, using diamond
PDC-coated will not solve the problem. It will only help if the bit is
experiencing abrasive wear and thermal fatigue.

The applications for the D feature would be any application where abrasive
cutting structure wear or thermal fatigue limits bit life. It can also be used in
directional applications where there would be excessive wear on the gauge
row inserts. The diamond PDC-coated insert would be a good solution to
that gauge wear problem.

F = Flame Spray. This is a tungsten carbide coating that is applied to the
finished cutter in a high-velocity oxygen-fuel environment. After the inserts
are pressed into the cutter, the cutters are sent to an outside vendor for the
Flame Spray to be applied. For Flame Spray, the steel cutter shell surface is
bombarded with tungsten carbide pellets at high velocity and they are
embedded into the cutter shell.

The benefits of Flame Spray are that it reduces cutter shell erosion and
eliminates cone wear. The downside is that the coating may flake due to
differences in modulus of elasticity between the tungsten carbide pellets and
the steel. The best applications for flame spray is directional, or any
application where there is off-center rotation, gyration, or cutter wear limits
bit life due to erosion. Sometimes this happens with poor solids control or
high solids in the mud. Flame spraying has to be done in the before the bit
is assembled. It is not something that can be done in the field. It has to be
requested while the bits are being built. If there is a very abrasive formation,
the abrasive formation will erode the steel. The problem with cutter shell
erosion is that when the cutter shell is eroded, there is no longer support for
the inserts. Once the inserts fall out, the bit will not drill at an adequate
ROP. The bit will have to pull out of the hole and be replaced.

Flame
Spray
Cutter

G = heel row inserts on a tooth bit. Not all of tooth bits come with heel row
inserts. Typically it is included on the directional tooth bits and on the
motor tooth bits. The G feature is standard on all insert bits, so it is not
included as a part of the insert bit nomenclature.

The benefit of the G feature is that it helps maintain gauge. It is in contact
with the borehole wall and it does help protect the gauge teeth on a mill
tooth bit. It does have side cutting ability and it is diamond-compatible.
The downside is that in some designs, it can reduce the total carbide on
gauge. If the gauge row carbide were compromised in order to
accommodate the hole for the G feature, it probably would not be added.
The applications would be any application where gauge rounding results in
an under gauged hole or premature bearing failure. This feature will be used
in bits that are for directional applications, or any tooth bits that are run in a
motor application.

The next feature is TuffGage. There is no nomenclature for this feature at
the present time. It is a different configuration of the heel pack inserts.
Typically there is one row of large heel pack inserts going around the back
face of the cutter. The TuffGage feature basically is two rows of inserts.
Sometimes they line up one on top of each other. Sometimes they are
staggered between each other. Sometimes they have skip spacing between
the two rows of inserts. Generally these inserts are smaller.

G Feature


TuffGage in this heel pack configuration, give somewhere in the range of
20% to 40% more carbide on the back face of the cutter. That increase
improves durability. It helps protect the gauge row inserts and helps
increase the bit life.

The next features are shirttail and lug protection. There are 3 configurations
of shirttail and lug protection used by Schlumberger Drill Bits:
- K, KP, DK, and DKP
- KPR and DKPR
- L and DL

K, KP,
DK, & DKP
KPR & DKPR
L & DL

K, KP, DK, and DKP are holes that are drilled into the shirttail where flattop
tungsten carbide inserts are pressed into the drilled holes. There are standard
patterns that are use for the K and KP shirttail protection. However, there is
the flexibility to install any kind of design pattern as long as the pattern does
not violate the specs in terms of the relationship of the inserts to each other,
to the grease-loading hole, to the grease reservoir cap, and to the hard metal.
This is an add-on feature. It can be done after the bit is built, either in the
factory or at a machine shop that has been certified at a field location.

The second type of protection is L, or DL, which stands for lug stabilizer
pad. This is a piece of steel that is welded onto the shirttail and then
machined. Once the piece of steel is machined to the proper diameter,
holes are drilled and tungsten carbide inserts or diamond-coated inserts are
pressed into the lug pad. The benefits of the lug pad are they stabilize the
bit, they help to maintain gauge by reducing side loads, and they also reduce
bit body wear. The downside is that sometimes the lug pads extend the
gauge length of the bit. This can be a possible problem in a directional well
with the overall length and steerability of the bit. So if the lug pads extend
the gauge length and affect directional steerability, they will not be installed
on the bit.

The third type of shirttail protection is KPR and DKPR. This is shirttail
protection that is premium. The R stands for raised inserts that are rounded
and protruding from the shirttail. This feature was introduced in 2000 and
has become a very effective shirttail feature. This feature can also be
installed in both the factory and in the field. There is a new KPR insert that
is just being introduced. It is called Mega KPR. This is an insert that is
going to be used on the Titan product line. The difference between Mega
KPR and the standard KPR, is that the standard KPR insert is 5/8" diameter
and the Mega KPR inserts are 3/4" diameter. The applications for this is
directional or any application where: 1) off-center wear or bit rotation is
encountered, 2) bit stability could be a problem or be a limiting factor, or 3)
in any application where a little more insurance is wanted. They can also be
used in situations where a customer just wants to make sure that they do not
have any shirttail damage or they just want a little extra protection.


These shirttail features do not cost very much and is a very effective tool to
help ensure that you have a longer bit life. In a directional or off-center
wear application, these features are very important because they do help
protect the shirttail and protect the gauge row. In a directional situation, the
bit is laying on the low side of the hole the majority of the time. The
shirttail and gauge row inserts are taking an abnormal amount of wear.
Also, in a directional application, there are more opportunities for downhole
vibrations, off-center wear, and gyrations. This shirttail protection, gives the
bit added bit life when running in a directional application.

T = GageGuard. This is the insert that is located in between the gauge row
inserts as shown in the picture below.

This insert is typically a shorter, rounder protruding insert. It makes contact
with the borehole wall which helps to protect the gauge inserts. This helps
because it gives 3 points of contact with the borehole wall. There are the
gauge row inserts, the GageGuard inserts, and the heel pack inserts, all in
contact with the borehole at the same time. This transfers the load between
the 3 inserts and helps protect the gauge row, which is the most vulnerable
part of the bit. The benefits of the GageGuard feature are better gauge
durability and better material selection. Diamond PDC-coated inserts can
also be used with GageGuard. The downside is that there may be a
reduction in gauge count on some designs.

GageGuard

In order to make the space to drill the hole and press in the GageGuard
insert, some of the gauge row inserts would have to be moved or eliminated.
In some designs, it is not worth sacrificing the gauge row inserts for the
GageGuard feature. If the gauge row inserts are spread out too far, or the
configuration is changed, the gauge row could be weakened. It is not
beneficial to weaken the gauge row by adding GageGuard. If it does cause a
reduction in the gauge count for some designs, GageGuard would not be
added. GageGuard is a factory-installed feature. It is not an add-on feature.
The bit has to be designed with GageGuard on it from the beginning.
GageGuard does come standard on some Schlumberger products but is not
available on all of the product lines. Most applications will see benefits of
GageGuard unless there is a reduction in the gage count that limits the run.

JA = Jet Air. It is design differences that are used for durable bit geometry
for under-balanced drilling. It typically has a low offset, an open cutting
structure, and has special nozzle ports. There are only two areas in the
world that typically use jet air bits. They are used in the Northeast and in
West Texas, U.S.A. The bit is only built in two sizes, 7-7/8" and 8-3/4".
The applications are for under-balanced drilling using air, foam, or mist.

M = in the suffix represents Mudpick II hydraulics on HP bits. Normally if
a bit had Mudpick II hydraulics, it would be called EHP. In order for a bit to
be an EHP, it had to have three things: 1) threaded ring, 2) Mudpick II
hydraulics, and 3) enhanced shirttail protection. In the 7-7/8" product line
ball bearing are used instead of threaded rings. Since these bits do not have
threaded ring, they cannot be called EHP. The way the Mudpick II
hydraulics are designated on the 7-7/8" product line is by the M. The
benefits of Mudpick II hydraulics on HP bits are a faster ROP (Rate Of
Penetration) and better cutter and bottom hole cleaning. Most importantly, it
makes more efficient use of the available hydraulic energy. There are some
downsides to using Mudpick II hydraulics. There may be some cutter shell
erosion due to the high-energy zone directly at the corner. There have also
been some cases of backwash on the shirttail. Mudpick II cannot be used
effectively in all situations. It works well in most soft and medium
formations, especially where there is a tendency for bit balling. Any time
there is low hydraulic energy or more efficient use of the hydraulic energy is
needed, Mudpick II hydraulics is an effective tool.


Diamond Features

With Schlumbergers roller cone cutting structure and shirttail features, there
is the opportunity to use diamond PDC-coated inserts. If a bit has diamond
PDC-coated inserts, the following designations are used:

DA - Diamond Coating on All Inserts
DN - Diamond Coating on Nose Row Inserts
DI - Diamond Coating on Inner Row Inserts
DG - Diamond Coating on Gage Row Inserts
DT - Diamond Coating on GageGuard Inserts
DH - Diamond Coating on Heel Row Inserts
DK - Diamond Coating on Shirttail Inserts
DKP - Diamond Coating on Premium Shirttail Inserts
DKPR - Diamond Coating on Premium Shirttail Raised Inserts
DL - Diamond Coating on Lug Pad Inserts
Nomenclature & Features Nomenclature & Features
Review Questions Review Questions
Describe the features in the suffixes on each
of the following roller cone bits:
- 07 7/8 HP51X-MKP
- 12 1/4 EHT11GK
- 08 1/2 EHP51ACDLK
- 17 1/2 EMS11DHKPR
- 05 7/8 SL51HFDGH
- 08 1/2 DJ44HTKPRDH
- 07 7/8 HP62JA

Schlumbergers Roller Cone Product Lines

In Schlumberger Drill Bits there are 3 major roller cone product lines:
1) Roller Bearing Non-Sealed, 2) Journal Bearing Sealed, and 3) Roller
Bearing Sealed. Below is a list of all the current Schlumberger roller cone
product lines (red indicates new products Schlumberger launched in 2001):

Y Non-sealed roller bearing
HP High Performance
EHP Enhanced High Performance
MHP Motor High Performance
EHT Enhanced Hardmetal Tooth
MHT Motor Hardmetal Tooth
JA Jet Air
SL Slim Line (Marketed as Sabre)
DJ Driver Journal (directional product line)
FMJ Full Metal Jacket (PMC product line)
CMC Composite Matrix Cutter (PMC product line)
MS Motor Series
ETS Enhanced Turbine Series
EMS Enhanced Motor Series
T Titan
DR Driver Roller (directional product line)
Journal
Bearing
Sealed
HP
EHP
MHP
EHT
MHT
JA
SL
DJ
FMJ
CMC
Roller
Bearing
Non-Sealed
Y
Roller
Bearing
Sealed
MS
ETS
EMS
T
DR

Fixed Cutter Bits

The 3 types of fixed cutter bits are 1) PDC bits, 2) Natural Diamond and
TSP bits, and 3) Impregnated Diamond bits.

PDC (Polycrystalline Diamond Compact) bits have PDC cutters as the
primary cutting structure. The PDC bits are built with either a steel body or
a matrix body. The polycrystalline diamond compact consists of a diamond
layer attached to a tungsten carbide substrate to form the complete cutter.
Shown in this picture are the diamond table and polycrystalline diamond
compact mounted onto the carbide substrate.

There are 5 basic cutter sizes that are used in the oilfield to make PDC drill
bits. These PDC cutters range in size from 19 millimeter down to 8
millimeter.
Diamond
Table
Tungsten
Carbide
Support
Polycrystalline
Diamond
Compact
Increase the allowable RPM, ROP.
Decrease the abrasiveness of the rock.

The PDC cutters are inserted into the bit body at an angle away from normal.
This is called the backrake angle. Depending the on this angle of orientation
of the cutters, it determines how aggressive the bit's cutting structure will be.
The lower the backrake angle, the more aggressive the bit. Typically the
backrake angle of PDC bits will be between 18% and 40%.

When finally assembled the soft formation PDC bit looks something like the
picture below. Shown are the cutters, the blades, and the pin.

PDC CUTTER
BLADE
?
PDC CUTTER
BLADE
?
Cutters
Pin
Blade
Backrake
Angle

General PDC Terms

Natural diamond and TSP (Thermally Stable Polycrystalline) bits use
exposed surface-set diamonds as the primary cutting structure. These
generally range from 5 to 8 stones per carat up to 1 stone per carat. In
a natural diamond bit, the diamonds are set on the blades very closely
spaced, as shown below.

BLADE
NOZZLE
JUNK SLOT AREA
Natural Diamond Bit

TSP bits use thermally stable polycrystalline diamonds as the cutting
structure. Once again, these are quite small pieces, ranging from about 1 to
2 millimeters in size. These are set so that they actually shear the formation
rather than the grinding mechanism used by the natural diamond bits.
Shown below is the orientation of the TSP cutters along the blades or ribs.

Impregnated diamond bits use an even smaller diamond, basically a grit -
sized diamond, which is set into a matrix in the blades. This then wears
away, continually exposing new diamond to do the cutting. By using very
small grit size, obviously the potential for high rates of penetration is
limited. These bits tend to drill in the range of 1 to 5 feet per hour on
average. Pictured below is an impregnated diamond bit with grit that is
so fine that the cutting structure on the blades of the bit cannot be seen.

TSP Bit
Impregnated Diamond Bit

The failure methods of the 3 fixed cutter bits are shown below:

The impregnated diamond bits predominately drills by grinding when in a
hard formation, although it may convert to shearing in a softer formation.
The natural diamond or a TSP bits predominately drills by ploughing and
grinding. The PDC bits predominately drills by shearing the formation.

The advantage of fixed cutter bits is they have no moving parts. Why is this
an advantage? Primarily there is less risk of leaving any junk in the hole like
the cones off of a roller cone bit. Losing cones is a disadvantage when
drilling horizontal holes especially when fishing the cones is a big problem.
In addition, there are no temperature concerns up until about 700 degrees
centigrade with PDC bits. The grease and rubber products in roller cone bits
are temperature-sensitive, which can be a problem when drilling hot wells.

In terms of operating procedures for fixed cutter bits there are many
different thoughts on this. Many people in the oilfield seem to think that the
only thing needed is to put the pin up, connect it to the drill string, and then
turn it to the right. It is not that simple. Fixed cutter bits, especially PDC
bits, are very lithology-sensitive and drill more efficiently if drilling
parameters are adjusted every time the rock type changes. This is difficult
unless particular attention is paid to the fixed cutter bit while it is drilling.
F F
NATURAL DIAMOND BIT: NATURAL DIAMOND BIT:
PLOUGHING/GRINDING PLOUGHING/GRINDING
PDC BIT: PDC BIT:
SHEARING SHEARING
IMPREG DIAMOND BIT: IMPREG DIAMOND BIT:
Hard Formation GRINDING Hard Formation GRINDING
Soft formation SHEARING Soft formation SHEARING

Fixed Cutter Bits PDC Component Parts

Matrix Body Bit Terminology Matrix Body Bit Terminology
INTERCHANGEABLE NOZZLE
CUTTERS
FACE
GAUGE
UPREAMING
FIXED PORT
STEEL BLANK
WELD GROOVE
BEVEL
BIT BREAKER SLOT
MAKE UP FACE
API PIN CONNECTION
SHANK BORE
SHANK
CONE
TUNGSTEN
CARBIDE
MATRIX
NOSE
TAPER OR FLANK
SHOULDER
DIAMOND
GAGE PAD
GAUGE INSERTS
INTERCHANGEABLE NOZZLE
CUTTERS
FACE
GAUGE
FIXED PORT
BIT BREAKER SLOT
SHANK BORE
BEVEL
MAKE UP FACE
API PIN CONNECTION
SHANK
CONE
STEEL BODY
NOSE
TAPER OR FLANK
SHOULDER
GAUGE
Steel Body Bit Terminology Steel Body Bit Terminology

The main components of PDC drill bits are:
- synthetic diamond cutters
- support structures for the cutters
- bit body
- blades
- profiles
- diamond impregnated studs ("impregs")
- gauge protection inserts
- nozzles

The majority of steel and matrix body PDC bits use one of four diameter
cutters: 8 mm, 13 mm, 16mm, or 19 mm. Some bit styles use more than one
cutter size in a single bit. Schlumbergers PDC cutters have a bevel or
chamfer around the periphery of the cutting face to increase initial impact
resistance.

Posts (or studs) are used as the PDC support primarily in steel bodied bits.
Schlumberger has the facility to bond the PDC onto a post. The posts are
manufactured from cemented tungsten carbide to provide a strong, erosion
resistant support for the diamond. The post diameter varies according to the
compact diameter. In addition, posts for 13mm cutters are available in short
and long versions to allow the bit designer to make trade-offs between cutter
interference and retention requirements.

The Schlumberger inclined post (trade named "SuperStud") is a stud that is
angled backwards from the cutting edge to the base. It was designed by
Reed-Hycalog to provide greater support for the PDC, especially when used
in high bladed steel bits. Due to the geometry of the post, the diameter may
be less than an upright post, while still providing sufficient support and bond
face area. This means cutters on inclined posts provide additional design
freedom and can be packed more closely along a blade, if desired.
Reed-Hycalog holds a patent on the angled post design and is the only PDC
bit company that offers bits with this type of component.

Cylinder cutters are basically elongated PDC elements. The increased
length serves 2 functions: 1) it gives the necessary support to the diamond-
cutting layer and 2) it provides additional surface area for brazing the cutter
securely into the bit body.

Longer components may be one piece or have a separate piece of tungsten
carbide bonded onto the PDC. The PDC on a cylinder cutter used by
Schlumberger has a peripheral bevel or chamfer to increase the cutter's
impact resistance.

Bit Body

The 2 main PDC bit body types are matrix body and steel body. The
functions of the bit body are:
- to retain and support the cutters & nozzles
- to strengthen the bit downhole
- flow control
- attachment to the drill string

The factors dictating the bit body material are bit life, strength, accuracy,
repairability, and bit length.

Blades

The functions of the blades are:
- support cutters and hybrids
- direct fluid flow
- define waterway depth
- act to resist axial and lateral loads

Blades support PDC cutters and hybrids:
Hybrids
Support Cutters
CYLINDERS POSTS OR STUDS
Cutters

Blades direct fluid flow:

Blades define the waterway depth:

Direct Fluid Flow Direct Fluid Flow
BLADE
HEIGHT

Blades help resist axial and lateral loads:

Profiles

There are 3 major profiles used for PDC bits: 1) short, 2) medium, and
3) long.

Resist Loads
MEDIUM LONG
SHORT
Profiles
Profiles
The largest profile the better axial and lateral forces resistance.
S
H
O
U
L
D
E
R
CONE
N
O
S
E
T
A
P
E
R
/
F
L
A
N
K
G
A
G
E
B
R
E
A
K
E
R

S
H
R
A
N
K

Bit Length

PDC bit length is important when:
- a short radius well path is needed
- getting the motor closer to the bit is needed
- near bit stabilization is needed
- drilling directional or horizontal wells

Diamond Impregs

Although Schlumbergers steel and matrix Hybrid PDC drill bits can both
have diamond impregnated studs (generally referred to as impregs), the
impregs are of different construction. Matrix Hybrid bits have impregs cast
in situ during the manufacturing stage. Steel bits utilize separate
components that are manufactured from tungsten carbide. Both types
contain many tiny natural diamonds in the end toward the formation. The
impregs used in Reed-Hycalog's patented Hybrid PDC bits help ensure a
uniform wear pattern for all PDC cutters across the face of the bit, which
contributes to longer bit life. Additionally, the impregs are beneficial in
protecting the PDC cutters from impact damage by stabilizing the bit
downhole. In essence, the impregs serve as built-in protection against bit
whirl. Because the impregs contain diamonds, they can continue to protect
the PDC cutters from damage in hard or highly abrasive formations.

Bit Length

Diamond Impregs

Gauge Protection

Schlumberger utilizes 2 types of gauge inserts in steel bodied bits. The first
type consists of a cylindrical piece of hot pressed tungsten carbide with
fluted sides to improve retention. The second type is like the first but also
contains surface-set cube diamonds, orientated to their crystallographic
optimum, to provided enhanced abrasion resistance. Reed-Hycalog holds a
patent on using this technique for providing diamond gauge protection in a
steel bodied bit. Schlumberger gauge inserts are manufactured with a radius
on the outside face so when they are assembled in the bit gauge, they will be
flush with the steel surface.
IMPREGS
Gauge Protection
Steel Bodied Bits
Conventional Gauge Pad G Feature Gauge Pad

Gauge Protection

PDC Nozzles

Schlumberger uses a variety of interchangeable nozzle types and sizes. The
choice of nozzle type is based on many factors, including the size of the bit
and the recommended hydraulic program. All nozzles are manufactured
from tungsten carbide, which provides the necessary erosion resistance.
They are screwed into the bit using custom nozzle wrenches and all have
rubber "O" rings to hydraulically seal the threads. Because the nozzles are
threaded, they may be removed from the bit body and changed should the
hydraulics need to be adjusted.
Gauge Protection
Matrix Bodied Bits

PDC Bit Designs

The design of a PDC drill bit is largely a matter of compromise, as various
factors, which may be in conflict, are considered against a tight framework
of fundamental constraints. Features that prove extremely beneficial under
one set of circumstances may be less than optimal under another. Consider
that a PDC bit is a mechanical device designed to transmit energy for the
purpose of drilling rock. Despite its small size, it must be designed to
transfer more energy than is generated in a high performance race car
engine.

Cone

The cone of the bit provides a degree of stability when the bit is drilling, due
to the resultant cutting forces from the PDC set within the cone generally
urging the bit to rotate about its central axes. The resulting central cone of
rock further enhances this stabilizing effect, as it helps prevent the bit from
shifting the location of the central axis. The cone of the bit is usually lighter
set than elsewhere on the bit face as the rock cone is unconfined and
consequently less force is required to remove it. Also less rock per
revolution of the drill bit is removed towards the central region of the bit.

Nose

The nose of the bit is that region of the face that is the furthest from the pin
end. It is, therefore, the first part of the bit to encounter any change in
formation when drilling a vertical or near vertical hole. Because of this, it is
desirable to have a relatively large number of cutters set on the nose to
prevent overloading during the transition to a harder formation.

Taper

The taper (or flank) of the bit is the section between the nose and the gauge.
It may provide a degree of stability and its length is usually governed by the
cutter density requirement. A bit designed for tough applications, which
needs a large number of cutters, would tend to have a more extended taper
than a product for drilling a soft formation. However, an alternative way to
achieve a higher cutter density without increasing the taper is to increase the
number of blades.

Outer Diameter Radius

The Outer Diameter Radius (ODR) refers to that region of the bit profile
where the radius at the end of the flank leads into the gauge of the bit. This
region of a bit is extremely important, especially in motor or turbine
applications where rotating speeds are high. The cutters must withstand the
effects of high velocity due to their radial position on the face of the bit.
Although the angular velocity of cutters at the bit gauge is identical to that of
cutters within the cone, the tangential velocity is greater since it is a function
of radial location.

PDC Cutters

The number of cutters used on a PDC bit is a primary determinant of how
the bit performs. In an ideal situation, a PDC bit would be designed so it
would:
- drill a broad range of formations including hard and abrasive stringers
- provide a consistently high rate of penetration
- have a long bit life
- can be built at a low cost

Unfortunately, there are performance and cost tradeoffs in varying cutter
count. Using more cutters allows a bit to drill harder, more abrasive
formations and generally results in a longer bit life. However, a higher
cutter count also makes a bit more costly (particularly since PDC
components constitute a high percentage of the total bit cost) and, in general,
causes the bit to drill at a slower rate of penetration. As the number of
cutters is reduced, the direction of the tradeoff reverses.

Cutters of 8 mm diameter have been used on products designed for harder
formations. In fact, the first PDC manufactured was this size. 13 mm cutters
are the industry standard size. They are most suitable for cutting medium to
medium-hard formations as well as abrasive rock. Generally associated with
fast drilling, 19 mm cutters are most suitable for drilling soft to medium
formations when mounted in high bladed style bits. Because larger cutters
produce large cuttings in the right application, they are extremely useful
when drilling with oil based mud or water based mud in a hydratable
formation.

PDC cutters of up to 48 mm diameter have been used in soft formation bits.
However, Reed-Hycalog's experience is that the incremental advantage does
not outweigh the inherent problem of redundancy limitations. Space is
limited on the bit face and by using such large cutters there is only sufficient
room to mount the minimum number of cutters to cut a full bore hole. If one
cutter were to fail, the bit would be unable to proceed. Additionally, as very
large cutters wear, the very large wear flats produce considerable heat that
can cause catastrophic damage to the diamond layer.

Cutters are distributed across the bit face in such a way as to satisfy various
requirements. Naturally the cutter layout must result in a full gauge hole
being cut as the bit is rotated. As with most bits, satisfying one condition
may well be at the cost of another. Judgments based on experience must be
used to produce an optimized bit design.

Cutter Wear

It is desirable to get even wear across all the cutters of the bit. If one cutter
wears appreciably more than the others, it could result in a weak spot.
Additionally, even wear results in the efficient utilization of the PDC.

Cutter Placement

The cutters are arranged across the bit in such a way as to provide maximum
bit life and to take into account expected rates of penetration and product
cost.

Cutter Balance

The lateral imbalance force, resulting from the vectorial addition of all the
cutting forces as the bit is drilling, is calculated at the design stage. Certain
types of anti-whirl drill bits utilize this force in conjunction with a cutter
devoid area and a low friction zone at the gauge to reduce the incidence of
backward whirling, a detrimental motion of the bit which can occur under
certain conditions. On most products, however, it is desirable to minimize
this lateral force and the cutters are positioned accordingly.


Cutter Redundancy

Depending on the target formation, Schlumberger bits may have
considerable cutter redundancy built into the design. This is especially true
on the flank and Outer Diameter Radius. If the bit is designed for tough,
abrasive formations, the work performed per cutter, in these expected high
wear regions, is minimized. This reduced work per cutter results in longer
product life and reduced risk of premature failure.

Schlumberger PDC Cutter Technology

There are performance steps that are followed in the development of cutter
technology. First, the best performing cutters in the industry are identified.
Currently, Schlumberger primarily utilizes in-house cutters but will also use
five outside vendors as suppliers. Whenever a new cutter design is
developed, it is tested to assure consistent quality and reliability. Currently,
only between 10 and 15% of cutters evaluated actually meet the test criteria.
Schlumberger continually evaluates its own standard cutters to make sure
they are all up to the standards.

Here are some interesting facts about diamond. Diamond is in fact 10 times
harder than steel. It is also twice as hard as tungsten carbide. Remember,
tungsten carbide is the substrate that is used in the PDC cutters. Diamond is
10 times more wear resistant than tungsten carbide. In compression,
diamond is 20 times stronger than granite, which is probably one of the
hardest rocks. Diamonds also have the lowest coefficient of friction of any
known material. Friction of course creates heat. Convection cooling is not
as efficient in maintaining low temperatures as reducing friction. Diamonds
are one of the best thermal conductors known. This means if heat is
transmitted to the cutter it will soon spread throughout the diamond layer.
Diamond also turns to graphite at approximately 1,300 degrees Centigrade at
ambient pressure, and in the presence of oxygen will burn at 800 degrees
Celsius. Diamond is non-wettable which means it must be combined with
another material in order to bond. What Schlumberger uses is cobalt to bond
the diamond. Unfortunately at 700 degrees C, the cobalt will actually force
the diamond apart. Therefore the challenge is to mix the diamond grit with
the cobalt and the tungsten carbide to develop a superior PDC cutter.


In the manufacture of PDC cutters, Schlumberger uses a diamond press.
This is a huge piece of equipment 12 feet high, 27 tons in weight, and all
that is used just to compress a two-inch square cube. The pressures involved
are 1 million psi and temperatures up to 1,400 degrees Celsius. The
diamond press is used not only to manufacture the standard cutters but is
also used to test out new designs for research and development. In the
manufacturing process two cutters are manufactured at one press.

Salt is used as an excellent thermal conductor and will not deform under the
massive pressures. As the pressure and heat is applied the cobalt is driven
down from the substrate by a concentration gradient into the diamond grit.
Once it mergers with the diamond grit it then bonds it together, and also
bonds the diamond layer to the tungsten carbide substrate.

Unfortunately, the tungsten carbide and diamond have different thermal
expansion rates. As the cutter cools down the tungsten carbide is wishing to
expand while the diamond is wishing to contract. This creates incredible
stresses at the interface between the diamond layer and the tungsten carbide
substrate. The thickness of diamond layer that can be manufactured is
limited by several factors. Primarily, it is the cobalt diffusion. If diamond
layer is too thick, not enough cobalt will actually get into the PDC cutter that
will result in a very weak outer edge. Also there are stresses induced by
differences in the thermal expansion coefficient. Unsintered diamond or
high stress concentrations will result in the cutter flaking, delaminating, or
even cracking which will all basically lead to a premature bit run failure.
Cobalt
driven by concentration gradient
Diamond Grit
1,400 C & 1,000,000 psi

Historically, PDC cutters impact resistant against the abrasion resistance
was measured. Basically there was a tradeoff. If a cutter had very high
impact resistance it would have low abrasion resistance. Conversely, if it
had high abrasion resistance it would have low impact resistance.

When Hycalog first started developing PDC cutters, they referred to the
impact resistance axis as R, S, T, U and V and the abrasion resistance axis
as C, D, E, F, G, H, I.

Shown here is what historically has been the tradeoff. By using larger
diamonds to give impact resistance a smaller diamond grit was needed to
give abrasion resistance. It was soon realized that if larger and smaller
diamond grit could be combined, there would be a more abrasion and impact
resistance cutter. This would actually move away from that trade-off line.
Abrasion Resistance
Impact
Resistance
C D E F G H I
C D E F G H I
V V
U U
T T
S S
R
R


For several years now Schlumberger has been using both tri-modal and
quadra-modal grits, which are grits with either 3 or 4 different sizes of
diamond. After the diamond compact is manufactured it then needs to be set
on to an additional tungsten carbide substrate. This substrate or support is
what actually holds the cutter to the face of the bit. The attachment process
for attaching the compact to the substrate is called LS bonding. LS bonding
is quite a difficult process as the LS bond has to be heated up higher than the
critical level for the diamond layer. So as the induction coil applies heat to
the support the diamond layer is actually being continually cooled with a
layer of cooling water being passed above it. LS Bonding is shown below:

Abrasion Resistance
Impact
Resistance
Trade-off line Trade-off line
Induction Coil
(Heat Supply)
PDC
Shim
Carbide Contact
Cooling
Water
LS Bond

It is very important to have a good quality assurance in the manufacture of
PDC cutters. Each PDC cutter is inspected several times during the
manufacturing process. Each is given a dimensional check, a UV dye
penetrant check, which is done to look for cracks in the diamond layer and
the edge delamination, to check the LS bond integrity, and to see if there has
been any thermal degradation. Finally, there is an ultrasonic test which is
done for delamination, LS bond checks, and also for thermal degradation.

NPI PDC Cutters

Historically, the interface layer between the diamond and the tungsten
carbide was planar. However in recent years Schlumberger has changed to
non-planar interface (NPI) type cutters. The NPI cutters have several
advantages:
- they give reduced stresses of the interface of the diamond and
the tungsten carbide substrate
- they allow between 25% and 40% more diamond on the cutter
- they have increased impact resistance

Non-Planar Interface (NPI) Geometry
Star (1) Star (2)
Fan
Iris

Currently, most fixed cutter bits manufactured by Schlumberger use NPI
cutters as standard. Different types of geometries have been tried and tested.
Tests have been conducted trying to create a thicker rim of diamond on the
outside layer that would give increased diamond where you need it the most.

One of the problems with PDC cutters when used at very high back rake
angles is that there has been a greater incidence of impact damage.
This is due to the fact that there is less tungsten carbide support at a small
depth of cut, as you can see in the diagram below.

To overcome this problem Schlumberger developed the TuffEdge cutter
that is used with high backrake angles. Basically, this has a chamfered
geometry and gives far better impact resistance than the old conventional
design. A TuffEdge cutter is shown below:

15 Back
Rake
45 Back
Rake
Backrake Angles
TuffEdge Cutter
15
Backrake
45
Backrake

Another recent development has helped improve both abrasion resistance
and impact resistance. This was the introduction of the encapsulated cutter
where basically most of the cutter is surrounded by a tungsten carbide rim.
Below is a picture of this substrate.

The PDC is not totally supported by the carbide rim. Basically it goes
around about 300 degrees leaving the PDC only exposed at the actual cutting
interface of the bit. It also is fitted around a conventional NPI (non-planar
interface) substrate.

TReX Cutters

The latest development in Schlumbergers PDC cutter technology is the
TReX cutters. TReX cutters give maximized abrasion resistance and
improved impact resistance. Successful bit performance depends upon
maintaining a sharp diamond edge on each individual cutter throughout the
bit run. Although diamond is the hardest known material it will deteriorate
due to abrasive wear and impact shocks which are common during the
downhole drilling process. Abrasive wear is caused by continuous contact
with the rock surface and the friction at the cutter edge causing thermal
degradation of the diamond. As the diamond develops a larger wear flat
then the cutting efficiency is decreased. Impact shocks cause a lot more
damage. Commonly bit whirl and stick slip, two common types of
downhole vibration, will cause shocks in the range of 20-30g. Minor normal
vibration is commonly in the range of 1-2g.


The picture below shows the effect of repetitive impact shocks and loads are
to a PDC cutter.

Initially, it starts microfracturing and then will actually start to leave a
jagged edge as the diamond layer peels off. The idea behind developing the
TReX cutter was to try and get a cutter with very high abrasion or toughness
and maximum wear life. The objective was to move up to the top right hand
corner of the graph shown below.

The properties which influence the life of the PDC in the oilfield are its
toughness and its wear life, or its impact resistance and abrasion resistance.
If a coarse diamond grit is used the large grains tend to absorb the shock.
However, the downside is that loss of an edge grain represents significant
wear amount. Small grains on the other hand are less shock resistant. If a
smaller grain is lost it is less significant than if a larger diamond grit grain is
lost. Throughout the years small improvements have been made mainly by
the introduction of thicker cutters and of non-planar interface (NPI) cutters.
Sharp Microfracture Chipped
The consistent target has been the
top right-hand corner of the graph.
Wear Life
Toughness

Old-style planar interface cutters with thicker diamond wafers improve the
wear life of the bit but they did result in a weaker bit in terms of abrasion
resistance or toughness. Thick diamond and NPI substrates did in fact give
wear and toughness improvements, but these were not greatly significant.
The new TReX cutter is a significant departure from existing technology. It
uses a multi-modal diamond grit concept, and the cutting edge is ultra wear
resistant and very, very tough. Currently, this technology is patent pending.
It uses existing NPI substrates, the only difference being the composition of
the diamond grit.

For optimum performance benefits from the TReX cutters the selection of
the application is crucial. The objective of the run must be defined and if
possible the run should be supervised. This ensures that the correct drilling
parameters are used at all times and also allows identification of anything
strange happening during the run which may lead to premature failure of the
bit. For TReX cutters it is important to have good offset data and to present
a good case study following the run.

Schlumberger Fixed Cutter Product Lines

SCHLUMBERGER DRILL BITS SCHLUMBERGER DRILL BITS
FIXED CUTTER PRODUCT LINES FIXED CUTTER PRODUCT LINES
NATURAL DIAMOND
& IMPREG
DuraDiamond
300 SERIES
400 SERIES
500 SERIES
600 SERIES
PDC
Hybrid-PDC
BiCentrix
SteeringWheel
Transformation

RS prefix is used for Schlumbergers bits that were designed for use
specifically with rotary steerable drilling systems. These systems drill
directional wells without the use of a motor and therefore will require
specific bit designs.

SB is used for the Stable BiCentrix range of bits. These bits have drill-out
capabilities and can be used on directional wells. Stable BiCentrix ?

Rotary
Steerable
Bit

ST is used to designate SideTrack bits. These are bits specifically designed
for use in sidetracking a well.

DS is a standard nomenclature used for full production designs. The most
recent development of standard production bits within the DS product line
are the SteeringWheel and TransFormation bits.

SteeringWheel bits have greater stability which creates a smoother
borehole and bottom hole pattern. These bits also improve directional
response. The SteeringWheel bits helps to reduce bit vibration and bit
whirl. This stability allows more even wear of the PDC cutters and
improved condition of the PDC face.

SteeringWheel Bits
SideTrack Bit

TransFormation bits are designed to transform from a soft formation bit to
a harder formation bit as the formations change. This is accomplished by a
paired arrangement of blades for a broader range of formations. The
primary blades (P) drill the majority of the softer formations and secondary
blades (S) drill the formations when they become harder.

X prefix is added to the DS, RS or SB to designate that the bit has the new
TReX cutters.

Schlumberger Drill Bits Fixed Cutter Nomenclature

Here examples of Schlumberger Fixed Cutter Bit nomenclature:

12 1/4 DS 70 A4 HF+GLUV
Size Size
17 1/2 4XX A1 GSU
Product Product
Line Line
Design Design
Number Number
Added Added
Features Features
Design Design
Variant Variant
Transformation
Bit

DS = represents standard production PDC bit
4XX = DuraDiamond series
X = TReX cutters
70 = the design number - these have no significance in terms of
of cutter count, blade count, cutter size, etc.
A4 = indicates this is the 4th variant of this bit
A1 = when a bit is first designed, it is designated A1 subsequent
changes will then be A2, A3, etc.

After the numbers that designate the variant, are the letters that designate the
various features on the PDC bit.

Schlumberger Fixed Cutter Features

The features for Schlumbergers fixed cutter bits are designated in the suffix
of the nomenclature. Schlumbergers major features are:

D = DiamondBacks secondary cutters used to back-up the primary
cutters. Used for extra protection in harder and abrasive
formations.

DiamondBacks
Full DiamondBack Partial DiamondBack

F+ = Hardfacing - the hard facing used on steel-bodied bits it is applied
to minimize erosion specifically adjacent to the nozzles.

G = Extra Gauge Protection - used in applications where gauge wear
may be a problem, such as directional drilling or highly abrasive
formations.

H = Hybrid - means the bit has a hybrid or impreg backup cutters these
are diamond-impregnated studs located behind the PDC cutters. The
primary functions of Hybrids are to:
- enhance bit stability
- reduce torque fluctuations
- protect PDC cutters
- create smoother cutting action
- increase bit life

Hardfacing Hardfacing
STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3
Drilling Sequence Of Hybrid Bits Through Hard Stringers

H = Hybrid

J = Fixed Ports fixed nozzles installed during manufacturing to
provide extra hydraulic cleaning

L = Long Gauge - means the bit has a longer gauge than standard,
sometimes which is used when drilling tangent sections. The long
gauge acts as an integral near bit stabilizer and assists in holding
angle.

Hybrid Bits
Hybrid Bits

N = NPI Cutters the bit has Non Planar Interface cutters.

S = Short Gauge the bit has a gauge that is shorter than normal. Short
gauge bits are generally used for their steerability in a directional or
horizontal well.

U = Upreaming Cutters - the PDC cutters located at the backend of the
gauge pad. These are in contact with the formation whenever the
bit is being pulled out of the hole and rotated, and they are used to
wipe out any ledges or irregularities in the borehole.

V = SwitchBlade hydraulics - refers to the hydraulics configuration
of the Transformation bit.
Upreaming Cutters
PDC upreaming cutters
Natural Diamond upreamers
Conventional SwitchBlade

The SwitchBlade hydraulics concept is as follows:

1. drilling fluid exits the nozzle in front of the secondary blade,
cools and cleans the cutters, and then flows inward

2. high velocity flow creates a venturi effect, drawing fluid
through the reduce opening

3. high velocity flow from both nozzles is maximized to cool and
clean the primary blade where most of the cuttings are generated

SwitchBlade Hydraulics
1
2
3

Drill Bit Links on the Schlumberger Hub

Drilling Services Hub

http://www.hub.slb.com/index.cfm?id=id2617

Drill Bits - Products & Services


Drill Bits Best Practices


Drill Bits Bit Browser

http://www.stonehouse.oilfield.slb.com/browser/Search.cfm

Sugar Land Learning Center (SLC) Web Site Drill Bit Training

http://slc.sugar-
land.anadrill.slb.com/SLCNewImage/Sugar%20Land%20Learning%20Cent
er%202001.htm

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