Why
just
Hardband
it...
Don't settle for ordinary
hardbanding.
Insist on Duraband
®
NC…
the world's
most trusted
hardbanding!
100% CRACK FREE & REBUILDABLE
Excellent Casing & Tool Joint Protection
No need to remove existing hardbanding
Re-application costs up to 75% lower than
competitive products
On-Site Training for New Applicators
•
•
•
•
•
when you can
DURABAND®
it!
With the MicroCORE cutting system, the core being cut in the centre
of the bit (Figures 2 and 5) helps to stabilise the drill bit rotating around
its true centre. Having this stability feature opens the design of the cutting
structure to have a less shallow cone, while not sacrificing the inherent
stability of the bit. By taking this approach, the PDC bit with the MicroCORE
systembecomes more steerable and also more durable. Further, enhanced
steerability leads to improved ROP, particularly in a steerable motor
application, because less time is spent sliding andmore time is spent drilling
with full rotation.
Fieldvalidation
The ultimate validation of any new technology for drill bits has to be field
performance. In the case of the MicroCORE cutting system, there have been
hundreds of runs across the globe that have established a strong track
record of improved drilling performance. The following outlines some of the
system’s success stories.
Figure 6 gives an example of the improved drilling performance
witnessed in the Eagle Ford play in South Texas. In this particular
application, the PDC bit is run in the 8 ¾ in. production interval drilling
the curve and lateral of these horizontal wells on a steerable motor. The
operator is generally drilling a curve at 10 ‑ 14˚/100 ft and then continuing to
drill a 7000 ft long lateral without tripping for a BHA or bit change.
In Figure 6, there are a number of PDC bit runs from other companies
represented by the blue and red lines in the chart. These bits do not have
the MicroCORE cutting system as it is a patented technology. The green
lines in this chart represent the performance of the Tercel PDC bits with
the MicroCORE cutting system. The average ROP of the other bits is around
72 ft/hr while the Tercel bits averaged approximately 92 ft/hr. This results in
a time saving of around 24 hrs to drill this interval and with a typical spread
cost in the US land drilling market, this saves somewhere around US$75 000
in drilling costs per well.
Figure 7 shows another example. This is a performance comparison of
all Tercel bits in the same application. This interval is in the 8 ½ in. section of
the Tunu gas and condensate field in Indonesia. This is a directional interval
consisting of interbedded sandstones, shales, siltstones, coal, and traces of
limestone. The general unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of the rock in
the interval is relatively low, but it ranges from 8000 ‑ 15 000 psi throughout
the interval. The general nature of the rock and directional demands for the
interval often resulted in impact damage on the PDC cutters on the bit.
In Figure 7, the comparison being made is between three Tercel bits.
Runs one and two are standard cutting systems while run three employs
the MicroCORE cutting system. From run one to run two, the company has
made some improvements in the design of the bit that definitely improved
performance. However, it is clear there was a step change improvement
(50%boost in ROP) in performance when the MicroCORE design was
introduced in run three. The improved drilling efficiency clearly shows
in the increased rate of penetration and the enhanced stability of the bit
is illustrated by the superior dull condition of the bit, which exhibited no
broken or chipped cutters.
Conclusion
The MicroCORE cutting system introduces a novel and innovate fixed cutter
bit designmethodology that has tremendous value. This value is realised
by improved rates of penetration while drilling that are delivered as a result
of enhanced cutting efficiency, bit stability, and bit steerability. The ROP
improvements lead to less time spent drilling each interval and ultimately
to fewer days on well. This results in lower lifting costs for operators, which
improves the economic fundamentals of the assets in their development
portfolio.
This cutting system has already demonstrated this value in hundreds of
runs across the globe and it will continue to show its value as the system is
optimised and implemented further.
