Optimization of PDC Drill Bit Performance Utilizing High-Speed, Real-Time DownholeData Acquired Under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement

摘要

PDC drill bit performance has been greatly improved over thepast three decades by innovations in bit design and how thesedesigns are applied. The next leap forward is most likely tocome from using high-speed, real-time downhole data tooptimize the performance of these sophisticated bits on anapplication-by-application basis. By effectively managingconditions of lateral, axial and torsional acceleration, damageto cutting structures can be minimized for improvedpenetration rates. Avoiding these damaging vibrations isessential to increasing bit durability and improving overalldrilling economics.This paper describes one set of independent drillingoptimization results obtained as part of a series of controlleddemonstrations of PDC bits. Sandia National Laboratories onbehalf of the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) managed thiswork. The effort was organized as a Cooperative Researchand Development Agreement (CRADA) established betweenSandia and four bit manufacturers with DOE funding and inkindcontributions by the industry partners. The goal of thisCRADA was to demonstrate drag bit performance informations with degrees of hardness typical of thoseencountered while drilling geothermal wells.The test results indicate that the surface weight-on-bit (WOB),revolutions per minute (RPM) and torque readingstraditionally used to guide adjustments in the drillingparameters do not always provide the true picture of what isreally taking place at the bit. Instead, a holistic approachcombining traditional methods of optimization together withhigh-speed, real-time data enables far better decisions forimproving bit performance and avoiding damaging situationsthat may have otherwise gone unnoticed.