New HTHP Cutter Technology Coupled with FEA-Based Bit Selection System Improves ROP by 60% in Abrasive Zubair Formation

Efficiently drilling the abrasive Zubair sandstone is one of the Middle East’s most daunting challenges. Adding to application complexity, the pyritic formation is also interbedded with hard shale streaks and has a compressive strength that ranges between 3-10kpsi. In Kuwait, the formation is first encountered at a depth of approximately 9000ft and been drilled with mixed performance results based on bit diameter. Generally, the large diameter PDC bits are still struggling to achieve the durability objective with some wells requiring more than two PDCs to complete the short 1400ft hole section. In the smaller hole sections, technological advances have overcome the cutter/bit durability issue but with no significant improvement in ROP. The objective of an intensive bit optimization effort has focused on increasing penetration rates while striving to improve overall bit life/cutter durability. To accomplish the operator driven objectives without time-consuming field trails, the drilling team used a software system to calibrate rock strength. This data was used in conjunction with an advanced FEA-based modeling system to analyze different PDC cutting structures to select a PDC bit with the blade count and shearing configuration that would produce dynamically stable drilling. The bit body would be equipped with a new O2 cutter to increase abrasion resistance and maintain temperature at the cutter tip by using: 1) enhanced HTHP sintering process; 2) refined post-pressing process to improve thermal stability 3) optimized hydraulics to maximizing cutter cooling. The authors will discuss the bit selection process and modeling system which eliminated costly field trials and the new manufacturing processes that produced the HTHP cutter technology that increased ROP by 60% in the 8-1/2” hole section. The new PDC bit achieved the operator’s objective of drilling shoe to TD eliminating several trips for new bits while delivering a significant reduction in drilling costs.