12-BT-0092 Impreg Dull Grade Book
12-BT-0092 Impreg Dull Grade Book
Table of Contents
The Smith Bits definitions and guidelines shown within are NOT
IADC standards. They were created solely for internal purposes
to reduce ambiguities and to improve our consistency in grading
dull bits within the current IADC structure.
1
System Structure
The first four spaces describe the extent of wear, type and
location on the cutting structure. The fifth section represents
roller cone bearing/seal wear. Given that impregnated bits
do not contain seals or bearings mark with “X” in the space
provided. The sixth space is designated for out of gauge
measurement. The last two spaces provide additional
secondary dull characteristics and reason pulled.
At the point where the GHI wear is flush with the ribs, the bit
should be graded a “1”. Wear after that point is measured
by a ratio of remaining rib height to original rib height. If the
original rib height was 22 mm and the remaining rib height is
11 mm, the grading would be a “5”.
2
4: (L) = Location
· Uses a letter code to indicate the location on
the bit face where the major dull
characteristic occurred.
- C = Cone
- N = Nose
- T = Taper
- S = Shoulder
- G = Gauge
3
5: (B) = Bearing/Seals
· This space is for roller cone bits. It will always
be marked “X” for impregnated and
hybrid bits.
Before running the bit in hole an inner 2/3’s and an outer 1/3
rib height measurement was taken.
After the bit was POOH the inner 2/3’s and the outer 1/3 rib
heights were measured again.
After the bit was POOH the inner 2/3’s and the outer 1/3
rib heights were measured again.
Place the ring gauge over the impreg to the gauge area of
the bit. Do not to take the measurement on the turbine
sleeve for this area is undercut by 1/16”. Move the ring
gauge up and down the impreg gauge to where the gap
between the ring gauge and the impreg gauge is the
smallest. This is where the measurement will be taken.
Adjust the ring gauge to maximize the gap distance and
take its measurement.
G
Gauge Wear
Loss of gauge in 1/16ths inch
0 - In
1 - 1/16th
2 - 1/8th
3 - 3/16ths
4 - 1/4
Etc...
Measurement
must be taken
from bottom of
blade/rib to top of
PDC
Cutter Nomenclature
PDC Cutters
The important terms to remember are:
DIAMOND TABLE
CARBIDE
SUBSTRATE
Lay-down GHI
Stand-up GHI
10
Comet Tails
Diamond Wear
Potential Causes
· Excessive WOB
– Fracture caused by excessive WOB
· Heat checking
– See respective section
· Excessive WOB
– Fracture caused by excessive WOB
· Drilling environment
– Hydrogen Sulfide embrittlement.
– Corrosion.
– Formation stringers, resulting in high torque.
· Overheating
– Inadequate hydraulics.
– Drilling without fluid circulation.
· Bit Vibration
– Improper bit selection / BHA / operating
parameters.
14
Application Recommendations
· Excessive WOB
– Run proper WOB for specific bit type.
· Drilling environment
– Follow recommended drilling fluid guidelines.
· Overheating
– A higher flow rate is needed to address this
condition.
– Follow proper drilling practices.
· Bit vibration
– Change operating parameters
15
Potential Causes
· Improper bit selection
– Formation too hard for bit type selected
– Specific bit types may not provide smooth drilling
characteristics.
· Bit vibration
– Bit bouncing due to formation changes.
16
Application Recommendations
· Improper bit selection
– Formation too hard for bit type selected.
· Bit vibration
– Change operating parameters.
17
Potential Causes
· Formation / improper bit selection
– Bit selection too aggressive. High point loading on
cutters. Lack of bit stability.
· Bit vibration
– Bit bouncing due to formation changes.
18
Application Recommendations
· Formation / Improper bit selection
– Consider a more stable design.
– Use more impact resistant cutters.
– Reduce bit aggressiveness.
– Reduce cutter loading.
· Bit vibration
– Change operating parameters.
19
Balled Up (BU)
Potential Causes
· Formation
– Drilling a sticky formation
· Inadequate hydraulics
– Poor hole cleaning for penetration rate achieved
with the WOB and RPM combination in use.
· Drilling practices
– Forcing the bit into formation cuttings with the
pump not running.
– High WOB
Balled Up (BU)
Application Recommendations
· Formation
– See all the following
· Inadequate hydraulics
– Ensure that all the hydraulics have been optimized
for the parameters available.
– Optimize HSI or flow to address application.
· Drilling practices
– Following proper drilling practices
Cored (CR)
Potential Causes
· Improper bottom hole pattern break-in
– Excessive WOB and RPM and the previous bit's
bottom hole pattern can create high cutting
structure loading causing broken cutters unless
the bit can create its own bottom hole pattern,
especially after coring operations.
· Junk damage
– Breakage of cutting structure due to running on
junk whether external or from the bit itself. See
respective section.
· Bit vibration
– Could cause a loss or breakage of cutters
resulting in a core out.
22
Cored (CR)
Application Recommendations
· Bit Vibration
– Change operating parameters
23
Potential Causes
· Formation / improper bit selection
– Formation too hard for bit type selected. No
specific chippage pattern.
– Bit bouncing can cause chippage
· Heat Checking
– See respective section.
· Bit Vibration
– Improper bit selection / BHA / operating
parameters
24
Application Recommendations
· Bit vibration
– Change operating parameters.
– Select a bit with higher vibration control.
25
Potential Causes
· Formation / improper bit selection
– Formation too hard for bit type selected. No
specific chippage pattern.
– Specific bit types may not provide smooth drilling
characteristics.
· Bit vibration
– Bit bouncing due to formation changes.
· Heat checking
– See respective section.
26
Application Recommendations
· Formation / Improper bit selection
– Formation too hard for bit type selected.
– Use more impact resistant cutters.
– Select a bit with higher impact resistance and
vibration control.
· Bit vibration
– Change operating parameters.
27
Potential Causes
· Insufficient fluid flow
– Insufficient fluid flow will allow heat build up.
· Formation
– This may be a typical dull characteristic in some
formations, especially carbonates or abrasive
formations.
28
Application Recommendations
Potential Causes
· Run on junk
– Junk dropped in the hole from the surface (tong
dies, tools, etc)
– Junk from the drill string (reamer pins, stabilizer
blades, etc)
– Junk from a previous bit run (tungsten carbide
inserts, ball bearings, cutters, etc)
– Junk from the bit itself.
– Damage due to contact with casing.
– Junk from casing float equipment
– Damage caused by whipstock, casing windows,
etc.
30
Application Recommendations
· Run on junk
– Run junk basket. Follow manufacturer's
recommended procedure.
For small quantities of parts, ¾” diameter or less,
consider running a boot basket or magnet if made
of iron
31
Potential Causes
· Excessive WOB
– Fracture caused by excessive WOB
· Heat checking
– See respective section
· Excessive WOB
– Fracture caused by excessive WOB
· Drilling environment
– Hydrogen Sulfide embrittlement.
– Corrosion.
– Formation stringers, resulting in high torque.
· Overheating
– Inadequate hydraulics.
– Drilling without fluid circulation.
· Bit Vibration
– Improper bit selection / BHA / operating
parameters.
32
Application Recommendations
· Excessive WOB
– Run proper WOB for specific bit type.
· Drilling environment
– Follow recommended drilling fluid guidelines.
· Overheating
– A higher flow rate is needed to address this
condition.
– Follow proper drilling practices.
· Bit vibration
– Change operating parameters
33
Potential Causes
· Improper nozzle installation
– Washouts and loss of nozzles can occur due to
improper installation procedures.
· Bit balling
– Fluid entrainment & turbulence around the nozzle
retention system when severe bit balling occurs.
– See respective section.
34
Application Recommendations
Potential Causes
· Broken Blade
– See respective section.
· Drilling environment
– Hydrogen sulfide embrittlement cracks.
– Corrosion
· Bit vibration
– Improper bit / operating parameters / BHA
selection.
· Manufacturing defects
– Loss of cutting element retention due to poor
braze.
36
Application Recommendations
· Drilling environment
– Follow recommended drilling fluid guidelines to
address these conditions.
· Bit vibration
– Change operating parameters.
37
Potential Causes
· Improper drilling practices
– Jamming the bit into fill or soft formation with the
pump off.
· Formation plugging
– Chips of formation going up the drill string through
the bit on a connection and becoming lodged in a
nozzle when circulation is resumed. (u-tubing)
· Hydraulics
– Consider bit with better cleaning capabilities.
38
Application Recommendations
· Formation plugging
– Run float to prevent reverse circulation during
connections.
– Small nozzles are more susceptible to plugging.
An increase in the nozzle size, nozzle / waterway
arrangement is needed to address this condition
Potential Causes
· Improper bottom hole pattern break-in
– Excessive WOB and RPM and the previous bits'
bottom hole pattern can create high cutting
structure loading causing broken cutters and
blades unless the bit can create its own bottom
hole pattern.
· Junk damage
– Breakage of cutting structure due to running on
junk whether external or from the bit itself. See
respective section.
· Erosion
– Erosion causing loss of cutting structure.
· Bit vibration
– Improper bit / operating parameters / BHA
selection.
Application Recommendations
· Bit vibration
– Change operating parameters
Potential Causes
· Formation
– Drilling a soft formation
· Inadequate hydraulics
– Poor hole cleaning for penetration rate achieved
with the WOB and RPM combination in use.
· Drilling practices
– Forcing the bit into formation with the pump not
running.
– High WOB and RPM in soft formation
Application Recommendations
· Formation
– See all the following
· Inadequate hydraulics
– Ensure that all the hydraulics have been optimized
for the parameters available.
– Optimize HSI or flow to address application.
· Drilling practices
– Following proper drilling practices
Spalling (SP)
Potential Causes
· Formation / improper bit selection
– Formation too hard for bit type selected.
– Bit bouncing
· Bit Vibration
– Improper bit selection / BHA / operating
parameters
44
Spalling (SP)
Application Recommendations
· Bit vibration
– Change operating parameters.
– Select a bit with higher vibration control.
45
Potential Causes
· Excessive impact load
– A crack occurs during the bit run due to excessive
impact or fatigue. When a crack occurs and
circulation starts through the crack, the washout is
established very quickly. Causes of excessive
impact are:
- Dropping of the drill string
- Tagging bottom too hard
- Hitting a ledge while tripping or making a
connection
- Running on junk
- Cyclic fatigue loading
· Bit balling
– Fluid entrainment and turbulence around the
retention system when severe bit balling occurs.
– See respective section.
· Bit vibration
– Bit vibration can cause fatigue in tool joints of the
BHA.
Application Recommendations
· Bit vibration
– Change operating parameters
47
Worn Cutters (WT)
Potential Causes
· Formation / improper bit selection
– Formation too hard / abrasive for bit selected.
· Inadequate hydraulics
– Inadequate cuttings removal, accelerating cutting
structure wear
48
Worn Cutters (WT)
Application Recommendations
· Inadequate hydraulics
– Increased hydraulic energy is needed to address
this condition.
Smith Bits
1310 Rankin Road
Houston, TX 77073
281.443.3370
1.800.877.6484
www.slb.com/bits