Drill Bit Running Procedures

A Guideline for Field Engineers

By Steve Taylor, Drilling and Measurements
Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION 4

RIG SITE PROTOCOL 5

RIG AND SURFACE EQUIPMENT EVALUATION 6

Solids Control Equipment

Mud Pumps
Mud Condition

Lost Circulation Material

Surface Parameter Gauges

BOTTOM HOLE ASSEMBLY EVALUATION 8

WELL BORE CONDITION EVALUATION 8

PRECEDING BIT RUN EVALUATION 9

DRILL BIT TFA (TOTAL FLOW AREA) CALCULATION 9

PREPARING THE BIT TO BE RUN IN HOLE 10

MAKING UP THE BIT TO THE DRILLSTRING 10

RUNNING IN HOLE 11

DRILLING OUT THE WIPER PLUGS, CEMENT, SHOE AND FLOAT ASSEMBLIES 11

PDC (Including SteeringWheel and BiCentrix), Impregnated and Diamond Drill Bits
Roller Cone Drill Bits, (insert and Milled Tooth)

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BEDDING/BREAKING THE BIT IN 13

MAKING CONNECTIONS AND RESTARTING DRILLING 13

GENERAL DRILLING PARAMETERS FOR 'CLEAN' FORMATIONS 13

DRILLED CUTTINGS ANALYSIS 14

FUNDAMENTAL PARAMETER DISCUSION 14

Torque
Weight
Rotary Speed
Flow Rate

OPTIMISING DRILLLING PERFORMANCE 16

BP FORMALISED DRILL-OFF TEST PROCEDURES 17

Summary
Drill-off Test Method 1 - Locked Brake Test
Drill-off Test Method 2 - Drillability Test

DRILLSTRING DYNAMICS/VIBRATION 23

General
Types of Vibration
Drillstring Resonance
Axial Vibration
Bit Whirl
BHA Whirl
Torsional Vibration
Vibration Coupling

VIBRATION MONITORING 29

FACTORS RELATING TO BIT RUN TERMINATION 31

Economics

Worn Cutting Structure

Worn/Failed Bearings on Roller Cone Bits
Bit Balling
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 Lost Nozzle
Plugged (Blocked) Nozzle
Downhole Motor or Turbine Failure

DULL GRADING 34

DULL BIT PHOTOS 34

RUN REPORTING 34

REFERENCES 35

DRILLING TERMS 35

APPENDIX 1: OPTIMISATION RUN REPORT EXAMPLE 36

APPENDIX 2: QUICK REFERENCE TABLE FOR COMMON DRILLING PROBLEMS 37

Drill Bit Running Procedures Page 3 of 38

Introduction

While drilling a well, crucial decisions are made on the basis of what is believed to be happening down hole.
There are a large number of factors that can effect drilling performance from the drilling rig itself and
associated surface equipment to the down hole equipment; from run parameters and formation type to their
consequential effect on drillstring dynamics and bit life. It is the purpose of this document to improve the
understanding of the entire drilling system and provide guidelines so that the pertinent factors effecting drilling
performance can be identified and managed. With better identification and understanding of drilling problems
informed decisions can be made to improve drilling performance and significantly reduce the drilling costs for
our customers, the operator.

These guidelines cover aspects of running a drill bit from arriving at the rig site through to recommending
drilling parameters, run recording and reporting. The guidelines can be used as part of the Drilling Optimisation
Process, the Plan, Execute & Evaluate Cycle to ensure a quality service is provided to the client.

Whilst in the position of Drilling Optimisation Specialist for BP, Martyn Fear developed two formalised drill-off
test procedures for optimising drilling parameters for maximum performance. These procedures are included on
Page 16.

Other reference material utilised was a Drillstring Vibration Primer written by Fereidoun Abbassian also of BP.

Drill Bit Running Procedures Page 4 of 38

Rig Site Protocol

On arriving at the rig site ensure that rig site protocol is adhered to. Each operator, contractor or location, be it
land or offshore, have their own standards and rules for HSE that must be adhered to. Ensure as a Field
Engineer that both SLB standards and rig site standards are met, to which ever has the highest standard.

For example, the general rig site protocol for US Land is-

Minimum PPE is a hard hat, steel toe capped rig boots and safety glasses.
Sign in at entrance.
Reverse park your vehicle.
Introduce yourself to the oil company representative.
State why you are there.
Explain your objectives and how you plan to achieve them.

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Rig and Surface Equipment Evaluation

Evaluate the rig and surface equipment to become familiar with the maximum and minimum parameter
variables that are available. An understanding of the limitations of the equipment can help in developing a
realistic and practical solution to a drilling problem.

Solids Control Equipment

Poor solids control equipment can cause the following problems-

Ineffective or too few shakers can limit the speed at which cuttings can be removed from the mud system.
If this is the case penetration rate may need to be limited.
If the solids are not removed from the mud effectively the mud can become very erosive. Erosive mud can
reduce bit and downhole tool life resulting in shorter run lengths.
If the solids content becomes too high this can reduce the effectiveness of the mud, eg shale inhibition with
water based mud systems.

Evaluate the following equipment-

Shale shaker specification
o Number
o Type
o Screen/mesh size
Centrifuge equipment

Mud Pumps

Mud pumps drive the mud around the drilling system. Depending on liner size availability they can be set up to
provide high pressure and low flow rate, or low pressure and high flow rate. Analysis of the application and
running the Drill Bits hydraulics program will indicate which liners to recommend. Finding the specification of
the mud pumps allows flow rate to be calculated from pump stroke rate, SPM.
Information required-
o Pump manufacturer
o Number of pumps
o Liner size and gallons per revolution

Mud Condition

Drilling mud has two fundamental functions. The primary function is to keep the well bore in good condition by
managing the formations, eg: balancing pore pressure, inhibiting shale reaction, etc. The secondary function is
to aid the drilling process, eg: transporting cuttings to surface, cleaning and cooling the drilling bit, etc. For
maximum drilling performance the mud system must be maintained in good condition.
Minimum information required-
o Type (OBM, WBM, POBM, Silicate, etc)
o Weight
o Solids content
o PV/YP

Drill Bit Running Procedures Page 6 of 38

Lost Circulation Material

Lost circulation material is frequently required to plug fractures in the well bore. If these fractures are not
plugged a significant volume of mud can be lost to the formation. Mud is expensive and losses must be
minimised. Lost circulation material comes in various sizes and types, eg: nut plug, cottonseed hulls,
cellophane, etc. LCM as well as plugging holes in the well bore can plug nozzles in a drill bit. If determined that
lost circulation material will be required, ensure that the size and type is known so that drill bit nozzles can be
selected that will allow LCM to pass through with a minimal risk of plugging.

Surface Parameter Gauges

Surface parameter gauges are the primary tools for evaluating and setting drilling parameters. Consequently it
is critical that all gauges are operational and calibrated.
The following gauges and recording instruments need to be checked-
o Standpipe pressure
o RPM
o WoB
o Torque
o Geolograph (depth measurement)
o Rig Floor Parameter Display/Monitor
o SPM

Drill Bit Running Procedures Page 7 of 38

Bottom Hole Assembly Evaluation

The bottom hole assembly directly effects drilling performance. The addition of a down hole drive mechanism
(motor or turbine) can significantly increase penetration rate while the addition of stabilisers can effect the
dropping, building or turning tendencies of the drillstring. A rotary steerable system can provide improved
directional control compared to that of a motor in some applications, eg: extended reach wells, applications
where differential sticking of the BHA is problematic, etc.

Useful information is-

Turbine specification.
o Revolutions per unit volume pumped for RPM calculation, (due to the mechanical operation of a
turbine the calculated rpm is theoretical and is not necessarily actual rpm)
Motor specification.
o Performance charts
o Lobe configuration for motor type, eg: high torque/low speed
o Revolutions per unit volume mud pumped for rpm calculation
Stabiliser details can affect both directional tendencies and transmitting weight to the bit, eg: stabilisers
hanging up. Details required are-
o Size
o Position in the drillstring (including motor stabilisers)
MWD/LWD details. Find out the specifications for these tools and what data each is collecting. It is easier
to ask/get the data if it is known that it is being collected. Down hole data is better than surface data for
problem identification, monitoring and curing, eg: down hole vibration data.
Useful downhole data is-
o RPM
o Torque, (average, maximum and minimum)
o WoB
o Pressure
o Vibration

Well Bore Condition Evaluation

Find out the history of events of the well to date to assess if any incidents have/will affect the run. Gather as
much information/ideas from-
o Casing depths
o Log data
o Survey data
o Oil company representative
o Rig contractors tool pusher
o Drillers from each shift
o Mud company representative
o Directional tool representative if applicable (motor, rotary steerable, etc)
o Logging company representative/geologist

Drill Bit Running Procedures Page 8 of 38

Preceding Bit Run Evaluation

Find out the details of the preceding bit run. What factors improved/reduced drilling performance and can the
lessons learnt be utilised in the planned run?

Find out the condition of the preceding bit when it went in hole, ie: new bit, rerun, re-tipped, etc.
Be on the rig floor to witness the preceding bit and BHA being pulled through the rotary table. This is the
only way of ensuring maximum information is collected on the dull condition of the bit and the BHA, ie:
sometimes bit/BHA balling is removed and not recorded.
Collect the run details, dull grade the bit and take photos as outlined in the Dull Grading and Dull Bit Photos
section. If a detailed run report is required this information may be critical.
If it is planned to run a PDC bit and the preceding bit is pulled out of hole with severe damage; lost cutters
or cones; or severely under gauge, the hole should be conditioned with a roller cone bit and a junk basket.
(PDC bits are generally not recommended for long intervals of reaming or cleaning out junk).

Drill Bit TFA (Total Flow Area) Calculation

System hydraulics can greatly affect drilling performance, eg: HSI and cuttings removal for high RoP, cutter
cooling for drill bit life, etc. It is important that both the nozzle and pump liner size are selected to optimise the
hydraulics for that application. The limiting factor may be available rig power. The drilling rig motor that drives
the mud pumps, combined with the pump liners sets the maximum stand pipe pressure and flow rate available.

Flow is the critical medium that cleans, cools and lubricates the cutting structure and bit, (critical for
unsealed roller cone bits). In some applications, drilling with minimal flow rate will cause rapid degradation
of the drill bit cutting structure.
HSI is a primary factor for maximising RoP. HSI is the energy at the bit that transports the cuttings from the
bit face into the annulus.
Flow rate is another important factor. High flow rate helps lift the cuttings to surface.
Turbulent flow is generally achieved around the drill bit.
Laminar flow is generally preferred around the drill string to prevent hole damage.
The Reed-Hycalog Hydraulics program should be run to optimise the hydraulics for either maximum HSI or
maximum flow rate depending on the application requirement.
If there is the possibility of pumping lost circulation material, small jet sizes should not be run as the risk of
plugging them is high. As a general rule, nozzle sizes under 12/32nds should not be run.
Calculation of expected pressure change if one of the nozzles becomes plugged or is lost.

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Preparing the Bit to be Run in Hole

These are final checks to ensure that the correct bit with the correct nozzle sizes is run hole and recorded
accordingly.

Record bit type, size and serial number.

Ensure there is no debris inside the central feed bore and the individual feed bores that could potentially
plug a nozzle.
Ensure the bit is jetted with the correct size nozzles as indicated by the Drill Bits TFA calculation.
If either damaged in transit, a rerun or a repaired bit.
o Record bit condition/dull grade
o Photograph the bit as outlined in the Dull Bit Photos section. Take extra shots of damaged/worn area
as necessary.
If a motor is to be tested in the casing recommend using a dull bit rather than the bit required to drill the
section. This eliminates the risk of damaging the bit planned for the section in the casing.

Making Up the Bit to the Drillstring

Ensure that the bit is not manhandled on the rig floor and if it is damaged record the incident and damage
appropriately. If there is severe damage it may be necessary to recommend that a different bit be run in hole.

Witness the bit and BHA get made up to the string and run through the rotary table.
Ensure the bit is handled correctly on the rig floor and not damaged, eg: never place a PDC bit cutting
structure directly on the steel decking of a rig floor as this risks damaging cutters, ideally use a wooden or
rubber mat.
Clean and grease API pin/box connection of both bit and drill string.
Using the Reed-Hycalog bit breaker, locate bit in rotary table.
Lower drill string onto the bit and engage threads.
Either make up by hand or slow rotation.
Torque up connection to the specified torque for that API connection, (this can be found on the Product
Report that accompanies the bit in the bit box).

Drill Bit Running Procedures Page 10 of 38

Running in Hole

When tripping there is little that a Field Engineer can influence. The rig crew will try and trip in hole as fast as
possible to return to drilling. It is worth noting the following points and communicating them to the oil company
representative and the driller.

Take care running through diverters, BOPs, well heads, casing shoes, etc.
Approach tight spots slowly as striking ledges can damage the bit cutting structure.
When reaming tight spots pump at maximum flow rate, rotate the string with low rotary speed (50-60rpm
approx) and low weight on bit, (no more than 4,000lbs). In a tight spot the weight is only supported by the
cutting structure towards gauge resulting in higher weights on individual cutters, insets or teeth than is
normally the case. Hence, to prevent cutting structure damage low weight should be recommended.
On the final stand/kelly wash the hole at full flow to bottom and rotate the string at low rotary speed to
prevent plugging a nozzle or balling the bit with cuttings, cavings, etc that may have collected in the bottom
of the hole.
Watch for an increase in torque and weight when approaching bottom to identify when the bottom of the
hole has been tagged.
Lift off bottom 6-12 at maximum flow while rotating the bit for 5 mins approx to clean the bottom of the
hole.

Drilling Out the Wiper Plugs, Cement, Shoe and Float Assemblies

Different types of drill bits and bottom hole assemblies have different drill out procedures. When designing a
drill out float assembly for PDC applications, PDC friendly equipment will ensure a successful run (ie: more
plastic and rubber components make for an easier drill out). Liner running tools and float equipment that require
an activating ball to set or close the liner hanger or float valve can cause problems during drill out. These balls
(typically made of brass) can damage the bit resulting in slower penetration rates and failure to complete the
desired interval. Aluminium landing collars can also be problematic. Aluminium in the dart, landing collar, float
collar and float shoe can plug the junk slots of the bit impairing bit cleaning/cooling and hence bit performance.

Continued over.

Drill Bit Running Procedures Page 11 of 38

PDC (including SteeringWheel and BiCentrix), Impregnated and Diamond Drill Bits
Natural diamond impregnated and surface set diamond drill bits will take 25-50% longer than PDC drill bits
to drill out casing shoe assemblies.
Ensure there is no metal or junk in the hole.
Do not use Automatic Driller.
Wash and ream to bottom with maximum flow rate at least 30 above where the cement is expected.
Use 50-60rpm with a rotary assembly and 20-40rpm with a motor assembly.
Tag bottom slowly with 4,000lbs maximum weight on bit and look out for green/wet cement.
If the bit does not drill off, reciprocate the drill pipe. Do not stay on bottom if bit is not drilling.
Use as little weight as possible, do not exceed maximum recommended weight on bit.
If the wiper plugs begin to rotate, it may be necessary to tag bottom without rotation and increase weight
on bit slowly. Do not spud the bit into the float equipment. Once sufficient weight on bit (start with 6-8klbs
and increase as necessary) is applied, slowly increase rotary to 60-80rpm. Repeat as necessary to drill
through the remainder of the plugs.
Monitor penetration rates and adjust weight on bit as necessary.
In difficult drill out applications allow the weight to reduce/drill off naturally and evaluate penetration rate.
Repeat this process until a more consistent drilling pattern is established.
Raise the bit 2 feet off bottom and circulate once the plugs are drilled and midway through drilling the float
collar assembly, (repeat as often as dictated by hole conditions/bit performance).
Reducing or stopping the flow rate may cause the bit junk slots to pack-off. Use extreme caution when
reducing flow rates during drill out.
On semi-submersible and drill ships where the rig may heave, use the compensator to prevent spudding the
bit. Rig heave can complicate a successful drill out and can cause bit balling.

Roller Cone Drill Bits, (Insert and Milled Tooth)

Wash and ream to bottom with maximum flow rate at least 30 above where the cement is expected.
Use 50-60rpm with a rotary assembly and 20-40rpm with a motor assembly, (ensure correct motor has been
selected as very high speeds do not suit some roller cone bits).
Do not use Automatic Driller.
Tag bottom slowly with 4,000lbs maximum weight on bit and look out for green/wet cement.
If the bit does not drill off, reciprocate the drill pipe. Do not stay on bottom if bit is not drilling.
Use as little weight as possible increasing to 10,000lbs if required, do not exceed maximum recommended
weight on bit.
If the wiper plugs begin to rotate, it may be necessary to tag bottom without rotation and increase weight
on bit slowly. Do not spud the bit into the float equipment. Once sufficient weight on bit (start with 6-
8,000lbs and increase as necessary) is applied, slowly increase rotary to 90-100rpm. Repeat as necessary to
drill through the remainder of the plugs.
Monitor penetration rates and adjust weight on bit as necessary.
In difficult drill out applications allow the weight to reduce/drill off naturally and evaluate penetration rate.
Repeat this process until a more consistent drilling pattern is established.
Raise the bit 2 feet off bottom and circulate once the plugs are drilled and midway through drilling the float
collar assembly, (repeat as often as dictated by hole conditions/bit performance).
Reducing or stopping the flow rate may cause the bit cutters to pack-off. Use extreme caution when
reducing flow rates during drill out.
On semi-submersible and drill ships where the rig may heave, use the compensator to prevent spudding the
bit. Rig heave can complicate a successful drill out and can cause bit balling.

Drill Bit Running Procedures Page 12 of 38

Bedding/Breaking the Bit In

Approach bottom with maximum flow rate.

Slowly set the bit on the hole bottom with no more than 4,000lbs weight and 40-60rpm to establish the
bottom hole pattern.
Extra care should be taken following a coring run due to the possible stump left on the bottom of the hole.
If the bit does not drill ahead increase weight until it does.
Maintain as low weight as possible until the bit has drilled at least its own length. Until the bit has cut its
own bottom hole pattern only some of the cutters will be in contact with formation so if weight is added
too quickly, particularly in hard formations, these cutters may be overloaded and fail.
Increase weight on bit to target weight on bit, (do not exceed recommended maximum for the bit). As a
general rule, the optimum weight for a PDC is less than half that for a roller cone bit.
Increase rotary speed up to target RPM.

Making Connections and Restarting Drilling

Maintain full flow as bit is raised off bottom.

Return to bottom with 50% of the target drilling rotary speed and full flow rate to wash and clean the hole.
Return to bottom gently. Dropping the string too rapidly can cause the bit to tag bottom violently and
damage the cutting structure.
Increase weight on bit to target weight on bit taking care to avoid stick-slip or other detrimental vibrations.
Increase RPM to target RPM.

General Drilling Parameters for Clean Formations

Clean formation refers to a homogenous formation that is not interbedded and is 100% one lithology type.
These types of formations are rare as some shales for example include a certain sand and limestone content.
However, selecting parameters that suit the primary lithology will generally optimise drilling performance.

Soft clean shales

o Increasing rotary speed generally improves penetration rate, (usually RPM has a greater effect on
RoP than WoB).
o There is minimal risk of damaging the cutting structure in this lithology.
Hard clean chalk/limestones
o Penetration rate is maximised by increasing cutter point loading to fracture the formation. High
weight is recommended with low rotary speed to allow the cutters to bite into the formation.
o Bits may suffer impact damage. If the formation is clean (ie: no sand content) the cutters should
suffer minimal abrasive wear.
Hard sandstones
o Penetration rate is maximised by increasing cutter point loading so high weight is recommended.
o To ensure the cutters can get a bite, low rotary speeds are preferred.
o Bits may suffer both impact damage and abrasive wear. Low RPMs will reduce abrasive wear.
o Low rotary speeds will also reduce penetration rate so a reasonable compromise must be reached.
Drill Bit Running Procedures Page 13 of 38
Drilled Cuttings Analysis

Regularly collect and analyse the cuttings coming over the shakers to confirm the formation lithology being
drilled. It must be remembered that cuttings coming over the shakers take time to reach surface. This time can
be calculated and the cuttings related to their drilled depth and those drilling parameters. Reviewing the
cuttings shape and size can indicate drilling efficiency, ie: rock flower is very inefficient.

Fundamental Parameter Discussion

Torque
Rotary torque is an indicator of what is happening at the drill bit. For example-
o PDC high torque -the bit is likely to be digging or if there is low RoP the torque could be being
generated from the BHA and not the bit.
o PDC low torque -the bit could be skidding in a hard formation, the cutting structure could be dull or
the bit could be balled up.
o Roller cone medium torque -the bit is likely to be digging.
o Roller cone high torque -the bit could have locked cones, if this is the case the torque will reduce as
the inserts/teeth wear down.
o Roller cone low torque -the cutting structure could be dull or balled up.
In soft formations torque may indicate the bit is on bottom before the weight on bit gauge does. In such
formations the torque gauge may be the best surface measurement by which to drill.
The torque could be considered to be too high when it starts to slow down surface rotary speed.
The torque is too high when it stalls the motor, rotary table or the top-drive.
Homogenous formations should produce a smooth constant torque signal.
Interbedded formations will produce torque changes as the bit and/or the BHA moves in and out of
formation beds that have different rock strength and 'drillability'.
If downhole torque measurements are available they can be used in combination with surface
measurements to gain a more accurate representation of what is happening in the well bore.

Weight
As a drill bit cutting structure wears more weight will be required to achieve the same RoP in a
homogenous formation.
PDC wear flats, worn inserts and worn milled tooth teeth will make the bit drill less efficiently.
Increase weight in increments of 2,000lbs approx.
In general, weight should be applied before excessive rotary speed so that the cutting structure maintains a
significant depth of cut to stabilise the bit and prevent whirl.
If downhole weight measurements are available they can be used in combination with surface
measurements to gain a more accurate representation of what is happening in the well bore.

Drill Bit Running Procedures Page 14 of 38

Rotary Speed
Total bit rotary speed is equal to the surface rotary speed plus the down hole motor/turbine rotary speed.
Rotary speed is not limited when running PDC drill bits.
High rotary speed should be avoided in abrasive formations to prevent rapid abrasive wear.
High rotary speed should be avoided if the drill bit starts to whirl.
Rotary speed may be limited due to drill pipe or drive limitations.
Some rotary speeds can initiate drill string resonance (high levels of vibration) and should be avoided.
Either increase or decrease RPM to avoid operating in drill string harmonic frequencies.
High rotary speeds in hard formations may reduce RoP as the cutters are unable to dig in.
The rotary speed that maximises RoP without causing other drilling problems is likely to be the right one.

Flow Rate
Flow rate greatly effects hole cleaning. Generally high flow rates provide better hole cleaning than low flow
rates as they are better able to return cuttings to surface due to increased annular velocity.
Flow rate greatly effects bit cleaning. Generally high flow rates provide better bit cleaning than low flow
rates by increasing hydraulic energy at the bit.
If a motor is in the hole increasing flow rate will increase the rotary speed developed by the motor. of
Increasing motor speed must be considered carefully as it can greatly effect drilling performance-
In clean shale increasing motor speed increases bit speed that will generally increase penetration rate
without damaging the bit cutting structure or other downside.
In hard abrasive sandstone increasing motor speed increases bit speed that will generally increase
penetration rate momentarily. However the higher rotary speeds will tend to increase the wear rate of
the bit cutting structure that will reduce penetration rate and ultimately bit life.
Increasing motor and consequently bit speed can change the directional tendency of the bottom hole
assembly with a bigger effect on building/dropping tendency than azimuth. The compromise between
instantaneous penetration rate and sliding corrections must be considered.
High flow rates can cause formation damage especially in highly fractured formations so excessive flow
rates must be avoided.

Drill Bit Running Procedures Page 15 of 38

 Optimising Drilling Performance

Optimising drilling performance is frequently interpreted as maximising penetration rate. However, this is not
always the case as in some applications drilling performance will be optimised by maximising run length and
reducing the number of trips. In these applications, an example of which is interbedded formations, the goal is
to protect the cutting structure so it may be necessary to compromise penetration rate for run length.

A diligent driller that performs frequent drill off tests for drilling parameter optimisation will always drill further
and faster than the driller who sets and forgets. Parameter optimisation can significantly reduce cost per foot.
Points to note are-

Be on the rig floor at all crew changes. This is critical to ensure optimum drilling parameters are
maintained, to update the new driller of the current drilling/rig issues and of any drilling parameter testing
in progress.
If running a motor, try setting the automatic driller to run off motor differential pressure rather than weight
on bit. This generally corrects the weight faster, consequently the weight will be applied more consistently
and better performance achieved.
Conduct a series of drill-off tests at various weights (eg: 2-5,000lbs increments), rotary speeds (eg:5-10rpm
increments) and flow rate (to change down hole RPM if a motor is in the hole although care is required as
flow rate changes will also effect bit HSI and hole cleaning) to find the optimum drilling parameters to
achieve satisfactory penetration rate or to minimise bit/BHA damage.
Formation changes can result in a penetration rate change, eg: if the RoP reduces and reasonable torque is
still generated the formation is likely to be harder so the rotary speed should be reduced and weight
increased. If this generates too much torque, weight should be reduced and rpm increased.
Monitor mud weight. As mud weight increases, RoP generally decreases. When closer to balanced drilling
(where the mud pressure equals the formation pore pressure) RoP generally increases.
Maintaining good notes is very important for optimising drilling performance over an entire run. It also aids
understanding/problem solving if the drilling becomes problematic. If this is completed in a spreadsheet
down hole rpm, etc can easily be calculated and plotted to watch for trends, see Figure 1.
Parameter readings are more accurate if read directly from the gauges (Martin Decker for WoB, the stand
pipe gauge for pressure, etc) than those displayed on the rig floor monitor or geolograph. The rig floor
monitor and the geologragh can be inaccurate unless they are frequently recalibrated as hole is drilled.

Pump 1 Pump 2 Stand

Torque Torque Strokes Gallons Strokes Gallons Total Pipe
Date Time Rotary Depth RoP WoB RPM RPM RPM On- Off- per Liner per Flow per Liner per Flow Flow Pressure
/Slide (ft) (fph) (klbs) Surface Motor Total Bottom Bottom Minute Size Stroke (gpm) Minute Size Stroke (gpm) (gpm) (psi) Comments

Figure 1: Spreadsheet for recording and calculating drilling parameters.

Drill Bit Running Procedures Page 16 of 38

BP Formalised Drill-Off Test Procedures

Summary

Drill-off tests are essential to identify which factors are limiting ROP on a particular bit run, and the levels of
WOB and RPM that will give best ROP for the constraints acting during that bit run.

This section describes how to perform a drill-off test, and how to treat the resultant mud logging data to yield
clear drilling parameter relationships to ROP, so that the best WOB and RPM can easily be chosen.

There are two types of drilling test available to relate WOB and RPM to ROP :

1. A "drill-off" test, where the WOB is built to a selected level, the brake locked, and the bit allowed to drill-
off as the string extends under its own weight. RPM and flow rate are held constant as the bit drills off,
and the drill off is then repeated at different rotary speeds. ROP is calculated from the rate of WOB decay
as the bit drills off, and plotted versus WOB for each RPM
2. A "drillability" test, where pairs of WOB and RPM are chosen, and a certain depth increment drilled at each
pair. Average values of WOB, RPM and ROP are then taken for each interval, and crossplots of ROP versus
WOB created, again for each RPM.

The first type of test is generally preferred, because a range of WOB and ROP data is gathered while the bit
drills off over only a very small interval. Thus the results are less likely to be affected by formation changes.
The second type of test is however useful when prevailing ROP is very high, because insufficient (time-based)
data can be gathered if the bit drills-off rapidly at high WOB during the drill-off type of test. The second type of
test guarantees acquisition of a minimum amount of (foot-based) data irrespective of ROP.

Both types of test may be limited as to the maximum applicable weight on bit, either by motor stalling when a
motor is in use, by weight below the jars, or by torque cycling if the soft torque system is not perfectly in tune.
In addition, varying surface RPM when a motor is in use may be of little value, since small changes in surface
speed make little difference to bit speed with a motor in use. Motor speed will probably need to be constant
since a flow rate stipulation will be in effect for hole cleaning.

Both types of test have been run in BPXC wells since 1993, and have proven useful and relatively easy to
perform. The most laborious step involves treating the mud logging data to reduce the contribution of errors in
the ROP measurement. To aid this, BP's methods have been built into drill-off test software which is currently
being installed onto Exlog and Geoservices mud logging systems. Since this software is as yet incomplete and
not validated, a more generalised method for drilling tests is described next, where data is treated using
conventional spreadsheet packages.

Drill Bit Running Procedures Page 17 of 38

Drill-off Test Method 1 Locked Brake Test

Planning and supervising the test

1. Choose the WOB to drill off from/to. Choose upper limit noting torque cycling, motor stalling, weight below
jars, and bit limit (from catalogue). Drill-off over as wide a range as possible within these constraints.
2. Choose the three rotary speeds to be applied (if a rotary BHA). Choose as wide a range as possible, e.g. 80,
140 & 200 RPM (a lower maximum may be applicable with a tricone bit).
3. Notify the mud logging unit that a test is to be performed.
4. Ensure that the WOB is simultaneously zeroed by the driller and the mud logging unit immediately before
the test. Note the reference hookload (string weight) values (from the mud logging display and the Martin
Decker gauge), while rotating off bottom at the same RPM and SPM as will be used during the drill-off test.
5. With the middle RPM value, build the WOB up to the desired maximum, lock the brake, and allow the bit to
drill-off at constant RPM/SPM. Lower the desired maximum WOB and restart the test if torque cycling is
severe.
6. Repeat step 5 with the highest and lowest RPM, and lastly with the middle RPM (this last repeat drill-off
will give some idea if the formation remained constant, and if the data quality is good).
7. Return to normal drilling. Instruct the mud loggers to process the drill-off test data.

Processing of the data by the mud loggers

During the test, the logging system should run a time database and chart recorder, gathering the following data
at an interval not longer than every 30 seconds: time, block height, hookload, instantaneous WOB, RPM,
average torque, sigma torque, flow rate in, pump pressure. These data will be used for the computations
described here.

Calculate a value for the axial stiffness (compliance) of the drillpipe (ignore the HWDP and drill collars).
The formula is :

C = L/E (Fdp1/Adp1 + Fdp2/Adp2), in which

C = compliance (m/kn)
L = total length of drillpipe (m). Exclude HWDP and drill collars
E = young's modulus for steel (gpa)
Fdp1,2 = fraction of drillpipe length for pipe of size 1 and 2 (e.g. 5" and 6.5/8" pipe)
Adp1,2 = cross-sectional area of pipe of size 1 and 2, (e.g. 5" and 6.5/8" pipe) (sq.mm).

Example values are :

E = 206 gpa for drillpipe

Adp = 5354 sq.mm for 6.5/8" drillpipe (average of body and tooljoint)
Adp = 4153 sq.mm for 5" drillpipe (average of body and tooljoint)
Fdp1 = 1 if the drillpipe is all of 1 size
Fdp1 = 0.4 if 40% of the drillpipe length is of 1 size, with 0.6 (60%) of the other size.

Note that to convert C to ft/klb, multiply C (m/kn) by 14.5939.

From the acquired chart or time database data, identify the start and end of each drill-off interval

Drill Bit Running Procedures Page 18 of 38

 From each drill-off interval, read the following data into a spreadsheet : time, hookload, instantaneous
WOB, pump pressure (the latter if a motor BHA only).
Within the spreadsheet, perform the following calculations for each line of data :

Delta time = time spacing between data points (secs)

Depth change = C * (Inst. WOB - previous inst. WOB) (feet)
ROP = Depth change * 3600/delta time (ft/hr)
Avg. WOB = (Inst. WOB + previous inst. WOB / 2) (klbs)

Crossplot average WOB (x axis) versus ROP (y axis), for each RPM. Label or code each curve for the RPM
value.
If the plot is noisy (e.g. attachment 11), repeat the calculations by selecting only intermittent data points,
i.e. by expanding delta time (all four of the above calculations must be repeated).
Repeat the last step with longer time increments until clear ROP/WOB relationships appear. Avoid using
excessively long time increments, since the character of the ROP/WOB relationship will be suppressed. A
delta time of 1-4 mins will normally suffice; use the lowest that gives a clear plot.
Deliver the crossplot to the Drilling Representative or Assistant.

An example of the spreadsheet calculations is shown on the attachment (note that on the attachment example,
WOB was calculated from the difference between reference hookload and instantaneous hookload, because the
raw WOB data was unreliable. Note also how two separate sets of ROP and AVG. WOB were computed using
different delta times).

Interpreting the test results

Review the ROP/WOB crossplot. Use the examples on attachments to aid identification of excessive drag or bit
dulling. Choose the optimum WOB and RPM noting any excess torque cycling at high WOB/low RPM, and any
WOB/RPM constraints for required BHA directional behaviour. If possible, choose the lowest WOB and RPM
that gives maximum ROP (if additional loads are applied without any extra ROP, this will only shorten bit life).

Note that when informing the driller of the chosen optimum WOB, the value from the crossplot will be the mud
loggers' value of WOB. Any discrepancy with the Martin Decker WOB will need to be rectified before the driller
is given an optimum WOB.

Drill Bit Running Procedures Page 19 of 38

Drill-off Test Method 2 Drillability Test

Planning and supervising the test

1. Choose the three or four WOB values to use during the drillability test. Choose the highest WOB noting
torque cycling, motor stalling, weight below jars, and bit limit (from catalogue).
2. Choose the three rotary speeds to be applied at each WOB (if a rotary BHA). Choose as wide a range as
possible, e.g. 80, 140 & 200 RPM (a lower maximum may be applicable with a tricone bit).
3. Notify the mud logging unit that a test is to be performed.
4. Start the test early enough in the drilling of a stand so that making a connection will not be necessary
before the test is completed.
5. Ensure that the WOB is simultaneously zeroed by the driller and the mud logging unit immediately before
the test. Note the two reference hookload (string weight) values (from the mud logging display and the
Martin Decker gauge), while rotating off bottom at the same RPM and SPM as will be used during the
drilling test.
6. With the first WOB value, drill 5 ft with each of the three RPM's. Abort the test at highest WOB if torque
cycling is severe, and restart with lower WOB. Ensure the driller works to maintain as constant WOB as
possible.
7. Repeat step 6 with the other WOB values.
8. Return to normal drilling. Instruct the mud loggers to process the drill-off test data.

Processing of the data by the mud loggers

During the test, the logging system should run a time database and chart recorder, gathering the following data
at an interval not longer than every 30 seconds: time, block height, hookload, instantaneous WOB, RPM,
average torque, sigma torque, flow rate in, pump pressure. These data will be used for the computations
described here. If any problems exist with these data, conventional depth database data can be used.

From the time database or chart recorder data (former is preferred), identify the start and end of each period
of constant WOB and RPM
Calculate an accurate average of WOB and RPM for each period when these parameters were held
constant
For each period of constant WOB and RPM, calculate an average ROP from the change in block height, and
the duration of the period.
Repeat the calculations for each period of constant WOB and RPM.
Crossplot average ROP (y axis) versus average WOB (x axis), for each RPM.
Deliver the crossplot to the drilling Representative or Assistant.

An example of part of a time database data set from this type of drilling test is shown. The final ROP/WOB
crossplot is shown. Two RPM's were used at each WOB in this case.

Drill Bit Running Procedures Page 20 of 38

Interpreting the test results

Review the ROP/WOB crossplot. Use the examples to aid identification of excessive drag or bit dulling. Choose
the optimum WOB and RPM noting any excess torque cycling at high WOB/low RPM, and any WOB/RPM
constraints for required BHA directional behaviour. If possible, choose the lowest WOB and RPM that gives
maximum ROP (if additional loads are applied without any extra ROP, this will only shorten bit life).

Note that when informing the driller of the chosen optimum WOB, the value from the crossplot will be the mud
loggers' value of WOB. Any discrepancy with the Martin Decker WOB will need to be rectified before the driller
is given an optimum WOB.

Drill Bit Running Procedures Page 21 of 38

 PROCESSING DRILL-OFF TEST DATA
DRILL-OFF TEST DRILLABILITY TEST

Drillpipe length = 2000 m Drill off test at (depth): m Drillability test at (depth): 699 m
DP modulus = 206 GPA Date: 10/11/97 dd/mm/yy Date: 1/9/97 dd/mm/yy
Area of DP = 4153 mm*mm Bit type: G536GU 12.1/4" Bit type: 17.1/2" O2M
Compliance = 0.0023 m/kn
Compliance = 0.0104 m/klb
10 mins at each pair:

Raw drill-off test data: RPM WOB Distance ROP

Time WOB from Calculated Delta Interval Average Calculated Test klbs drilled (m) m/hr
ste p M.De c ke r c o m p lia nc e WOB d rille d WOB ROP RPM 80 20 0.23 1.4
mins klbs m/klb klbs m klbs m/hr revs/min 80 40 1.42 8.5
1 50 0.010398898 80 50 Slip-stick
2 45.5 0.010398898 4.5 0.046795 47.75 2.81 110 80 60 Bouncing
3 42 0.010398898 3.5 0.036396 43.75 2.18 110 140 20 0.72 4.3
4 38.7 0.010398898 3.3 0.034316 40.35 2.06 110 140 40 1.51 9.1
5 35 0.010398898 3.7 0.038476 36.85 2.31 110 140 50 1.93 11.6
6 31.8 0.010398898 3.2 0.033276 33.4 2.00 110 140 60 2.4 14.4
7 29 0.010398898 2.8 0.029117 30.4 1.75 110
8 27.2 0.010398898 1.8 0.018718 28.1 1.12 110
9 24 0.010398898 3.2 0.033276 25.6 2.00 110 Drill-off test: 17.1/2" 02M at 699m, BJ-2
10 21.8 0.010398898 2.2 0.022878 22.9 1.37 110
11 19.9 0.010398898 1.9 0.019758 20.85 1.19 110 16
12 18 0.010398898 1.9 0.019758 18.95 1.19 110 14
13 16.1 0.010398898 1.9 0.019758 17.05 1.19 110 12
80 rpm

ROP (m/hr)
14 14.7 0.010398898 1.4 0.014558 15.4 0.87 110 10
140 rpm
15 12.9 0.010398898 1.8 0.018718 13.8 1.12 110 8
16 11.8 0.010398898 1.1 0.011439 12.35 0.69 110 6
17 10.6 0.010398898 1.2 0.012479 11.2 0.75 110 4
18 9.9 0.010398898 0.7 0.007279 10.25 0.44 110 2
19 8.9 0.010398898 1 0.010399 9.4 0.62 110 0
20 8.1 0.010398898 0.8 0.008319 8.5 0.50 110 0 10 20 30 40 50 60
WOB (klbs)
EXAMPLE DRILL-OFF TEST

3.00 y = 0.0529x + 0.1328

2
2.50 R = 0.897
ROP (m/hr)

2.00
1.50
1.00
0.50
0.00
0 10 20 30 40 50
WOB (klbs)
110 RPM

INTERPRETING DRILL-OFF TEST RESULTS

1 2 .1 /4 " DS 4 7 H, C5 FO RM. @ 1 3 0 0 5 ft, 1 4 0 RP M
17.1/2" MAX-11HD IN C5, @ 9256ft, 160 RPM
Two drill-off tests from within one bit run. Second shows
6 .0 0 y = 0 .1 4 4 9 x + 0 .6 0 1 4 flatter response of ROP to WOB, perhaps due to bit wear
R 2 = 0 .9 2 4 4
9.00

5 .0 0 Ser ies1 8.00

L in e ar (Ser ies1 ) 7.00
4 .0 0
Sharp bit
6.00
ROP
ROP (ft/hr)
ROP (ft/hr)

5.00 (ft/hr)
3 .0 0
T e s t s h o ws ROP d e c re a s in g 4.00
to wa rd ze ro a s W OB fa lls to wa rd
3.00
2 .0 0 ze ro , ie n o rma l. Test shows decreasing benefit
No te th e b e s t-fit lin e fitte d , 2.00 of WOB, as WOB rises
1 .0 0 u s in g th e " In s e rt" " T re n d lin e " 1.00
Dull bit
o p tio n in e xc e l.
0.00
0 .0 0
0 20 40 60 80 100 WOB (klbs)
0 .0 0 1 0 .0 0 2 0 .0 0 3 0 .0 0 4 0 .0 0
W O B ( k l bs ) W O B (klbs)

Typical test result; ROP will only be close to zero Decreasing benefit of higher WOB; perhaps due to Decreasing response of ROP to WOB; often seen as
as WOB approaches zero, and response is linear imperfect bit cleaning (e.g. in water base mud/shale) a PDC bit suffers abrasive wear of the cutters

The two types of drilling test

Drill-off test showing drag, ie bit stops
drilling off before zero WOB is reached. Pump Drill-off test: 17.1/2" 02M at 699m, BJ-2
pressure confirms drag by disappearance of 1. Drill-off test, in which:
differential when the bit stops drilling off, probably pick-off bottom, & set RPM and flow rate
showing WOB no longer reaching the bit 16
return to bottom, build to maximum WOB
14
let the bit drill-off with brake locked. Note
12
WOB 80 rpm WOB every minute
ROP (m/hr)

10
140 rpm repeat at other RPMs
8
ROP
Pump
mud loggers calculate ROP from hookload
(ft/hr) 6
pressure changes
4
mud loggers plot ROP vs WOB and RPM.
2
0
2. Drillability test, in which:
0 20 40 60
set RPM and flow rate
WOB (klbs) drill for 10 minutes with constant WOB;
write down distance drilled in 10 min period
repeat at other WOB values
Drill-off test with a steerable motor in a deviated Drillability test, in which the combination of low RPM
repeat sequence with other RPMs
well; considerable drag detected and high WOB was impossible due to cyclic torque.
mud loggers plot ROP vs WOB and RPM.

Drill Bit Running Procedures Page 22 of 38

Drillstring Dynamics/Vibration

General
Drillstring vibration is inevitable.
Low levels of vibration can be harmless.
Severe downhole vibrations can be problematic and can cause the following-
o Drillstring failure, washout/twist off
o Premature bit failure
o Poor directional control
o Damage to well bore, hole enlargement
o Rotary drive stalls, top drive/rotary table
o Motor stalls
o Motor failure, bearings/stator
o MWD failure
o Stabiliser/tool joint wear
o Reduced penetration rate
Primary drillstring excitation forces are-
o Bit/formation interaction
o BHA/borehole interaction
o Downhole motor/turbine
o Rotary drive type
The response of the drillstring to excitation forces is complex.
The complexity of vibration is due to the physical coupling between the bit and the drillstring and the
coupling of vibration mechanisms.
Identify if the rig is equipped with a rotary feedback system (soft torque) and whether it is activated.

Types of Vibration
There are three types of vibration-
o Axial, motion along the drillstring axis.
o Whirl, eccentric rotation of a component about a point other than its geometric centre that can
generally be recognised/seen as lateral vibration (side to side motion). This can relate to both the bit
and the bottom hole assembly.
o Torsional, motion causing twist/torque/stick-slip.
These types of vibration can co-exist and produce symptoms that belong to more than one vibration
mechanism. This can make the detection process iterative for identification and cure.

Drillstring Resonance
Drillstrings have their own natural frequencies for vibration relating to rotary speed.
Excitation frequencies close to the natural frequency of the drillstring will cause the drillstring to resonate,
(vibrate laterally and/or torsionally).
A resonating drillstring can be highly damaging to bit/BHA components.
Rotary speeds that induce and sustain drillstring resonance should be avoided.

Drill Bit Running Procedures Page 23 of 38

Axial Vibration
General
Severe axial vibration leads to Bit Bounce.
Vibration range is 1-10Hz, (1Hz is equal to 1 vibration cycle per second).
Most frequently occurs when drilling with roller cone bits in hard formations.
Occasionally occurs with PDC drill bits in hard formations.
Caused by weight on bit fluctuations. Extreme WoB variance can cause the bit to lose contact with the
bottom of the hole and then impact back to bottom.
The three cones of a roller cone bit will generate a tri-lobe pattern causing the bit to be axially displaced
three times per bit revolution.
Can be caused by formation change.

Detection
Large surface vibration.
Axial movement of pipe at surface.
Large weight on bit fluctuations.
High levels of axial vibration from MWD tools.

Consequences
Bit damage including cutting structure/bearings/seals.
Reduction in penetration rate.
Short run lengths.
BHA washout.
MWD failures.

Cures and Control

Destroy tri-lobe bottom hole pattern by either-
o Changing drilling parameters.
o Lifting off and returning to bottom with lower weight and lower rotary speed.
Run a shock sub in the BHA.
Running shock subs with PDC bits is not recommended as they can lead to bit chatter (high frequency
vibrations) that can chip and prematurely fail PDC cutters.

Drill Bit Running Procedures Page 24 of 38

Bit Whirl
General
The eccentric rotation of the bit about a point other than its geometric centre.
Whirl is a self perpetuating motion.
Types of whirl-
o Forward whirl, the centre of rotation rotates in the same direction as the drillstring. Causes flat spots
on stabilisers and tool joints.
o Backward whirl, the centre of rotation rotates in the opposite direction to the drillstring. Is more
violent than backwards whirl and can cause severe cutting structure damage.
o Chaotic whirl, the whirl rotation moves between forward and backward whirl.
Can generally be recognised/seen as lateral vibration (side to side motion).
Whirl induces high frequency lateral/torsional vibrations in the range 10-50Hz, (10Hz is equal to 10
vibration cycles per second).
Causes a dramatic increase in impact loading on the bit cutting structure causing rapid failure.
Motors with bent housings can cause whirl.
Can be initiated by formation change.
Frequently seen while reaming.
BHA whirl can induce bit whirl and vice-versa.

Detection
Can be difficult to detect at surface.
Generally seen at high RPMs and low WoBs.
Increased surface and downhole torque.
High frequency downhole lateral/torsional vibration.
Increase in MWD shock counts.
Reduction in penetration rate.
Over gauge hole.
Cutter impact damage, generally over the shoulder and gauge areas of the bit.

Consequences
Bit damage, cutting structure damage generally over the shoulder and gauge areas of the bit.
Reduction in penetration rate.
Short run lengths.
BHA washout.
MWD failures.
Motor failures.

Cures and Control

Reduce rotary speed and increase weight on bit.
Ream at lower rotary speeds.
Destroy bottom hole whirl pattern by either-
o Changing drilling parameters.
o Lift off bottom and attempt to restart drilling without initiating whirl, try high WoBs and low RPMs
Run anti-whirl or SteeringWheel bit.
Run higher torque and lower speed motors so that higher weights can be applied.
Run roller reamers instead of stabilisers.

Drill Bit Running Procedures Page 25 of 38

BHA Whirl
General
The eccentric rotation of the BHA about a point other than its geometric centre.
Whirl is a self perpetuating motion.
Types of whirl-
o Forward whirl, the centre of rotation rotates in the same direction as the drillstring. Causes flat spots
on stabilisers and tool joints.
o Backward whirl, the centre of rotation rotates in the opposite direction to the drillstring.
o Chaotic whirl, where the bit moves between forward and backward whirl.
Can generally be recognised/seen as lateral vibration (side to side motion).
Initiated by friction between stabilisers/tool joints and the well bore leading to gearing of the BHA around
the hole.
Whirl induces high frequency lateral/torsional vibrations in the range 5-20Hz, (5Hz is equal to 5 vibration
cycles per second).
A stabiliser passing a ledge or through a formation change can initiate BHA whirl.
Mud properties greatly affect BHA whirl as the mud is the lubricant that reduces friction between the
stabiliser/tool joint and bore hole wall.
Bit whirl can induce BHA whirl and vice-versa.

Detection
Can be difficult to detect at surface.
Increased surface torque.
High frequency downhole lateral/torsional vibration.
Increase in MWD shock counts.
Localised wear on stabilisers and tool joints.
Damage to stabiliser blades.

Cures and Control

Change drilling parameters, reduce rpm and raise WoB.
Increase mud lubricity, eg: pump a pill.
Run roller reamers or non rotating stabilisers.
Run non rotating drill pipe protectors.
Lift off bottom and attempt to restart drilling without initiating whirl, high weights and low RPMs should
facilitate this.

Drill Bit Running Procedures Page 26 of 38

Torsional Vibration
General
Severe torsional vibration leads to stick-slip.
Stick-slip vibration range is below 1Hz, (1Hz is equal to 1 vibration cycle per second).
Stick-slip is the rotary acceleration and deceleration of the drillstring. The bit can stop rotating momentarily
at regular intervals causing the drillstring to windup and the torque to increase. The drillstring will then
brake free and accelerate the bit to high rotary speeds with minimal torque.
Stick-slip motion is often accompanied during its slip phase by lateral vibration of the BHA.
Most common with PDC drill bits and can cause severe and rapid damage to their cutting structures.
Can be formation dependent.
Can be caused by the interaction of-
o the bit and formation.
o the BHA and the bore hole, eg: stabilisers digging in to a soft formation.
o the drillstring and the bore hole, (eg: high well bore tortuosity).
Can be caused by the drive system characteristics.
Generally occurs at low rotary speed and high weight on bit.

Detection
Can be detected at surface by both torque (Max Min Torque > 20% Mean Torque) and rpm variance.
Increased surface mean torque.
Rotary drive stalls, (rotary table or top drive).
Increase in MWD shock counts.
Downhole rpm can range from zero to up to 2-3 times surface rpm.
Bit impact damage, cutting structure damage generally seen over the nose of the bit.
MWD tool failure.
Reduced penetration rate.
Over torqued connections, washouts and twist-offs.
Connection back-off due to backward rotation.
Downhole memory data acquisition and analysis.

Cures and Control

Change drilling parameters, increase rpm and reduce WoB.
Increase flow rate for increased motor RPM and increased lubricity/reduced friction due to improved hole
cleaning.
Run rotary drive system (rotary table or top drive) in higher gear.
Run a soft torque system. This consists of a top drive or rotary table feedback mechanism that regulates
surface torque fluctuation by altering rotary speed thus enabling more uniform bit rotation. The system
must be regularly tuned to take account of changing parameters including depth and formation.
Increase mud lubricity, eg: pump a pill.
Run a motor to decouple the drill bit from the drillstring and to increase bit RPM.
Run roller reamers or non rotating stabilisers.
Lift off bottom and attempt to restart drilling without initiating stick-slip, high RPMs and low weights
should facilitate this.

Drill Bit Running Procedures Page 27 of 38

Vibration Coupling
Vibration mechanisms can be coupled since some can trigger others, for example-
o Bit whirl can be triggered by high bit speeds generated during stick-slip motion.
o Stick-slip can generate lateral vibration of the BHA as the bit accelerates during the slip phase.
o Large lateral vibration of the BHA into the well bore can cause bit bounce.
o Bit whirl can induce BHA whirl and vice-versa.
o Bit torsional vibration can induce BHA torsional vibration and vice-versa.

Drill Bit Running Procedures Page 28 of 38

Vibration Monitoring

General
It is essential to establish what vibration mechanism is occurring downhole in order to prescribe the correct
remedial actions.
Corrective actions for one may exacerbate another, eg: the corrective actions for bit whirl are directly
opposite than those for stick-slip.

Tool Inspection
The nature of damage to downhole drilling components can often be a direct indication of the vibration
source and mechanism. For example-
o The location of bit impact damage could suggest bit whirl or stick-slip, (shoulder and gauge for whirl,
nose and face for stick-slip).
o Flat spots on tool joints are evidence of forward whirl.
o Damage to stabiliser blades is an indication of BHA whirl and lateral vibration.

Mud Logging Data

Mud logging data can provide the following surface measurements-
o Mean torque.
o Max/min torque.
o RPM
o WoB
o Flow rate
This data gives a good indication of whether stick-slip is present, ie: separation between max and min
torque is indicative of stick-slip type vibration.
To improve accuracy, set the chart recorder speed between 0.1-0.3 ft/min.

MWD Data
MWD data can serve as an invaluable real time monitoring system.
An increase in the number of lateral shocks above a threshold value (usually set at 25gs) provides a direct
indication of severe BHA lateral vibration.
Schlumberger D&M, Baker Hughes Inteq and Sperry-Sun provide MWD tools with shock measurements.
Other down hole measurements that give a true indication of whirl or stick-slip at the bit are-
o RMS torsional vibrations.
o RMS axial vibrations.
o RMS lateral vibrations.
Gamma ray can indicate if any of the vibration mechanisms are related to lithology, ie: correlate formation
changes to vibration changes.
If a rock strength analysis is completed (both gamma and sonic required as minimum) it may indicate if rock
strength is inducing the vibration mechanisms.

LWD/Wireline Log
Calliper data indicates hole oversize and provides evidence for either bit or BHA whirl.

Drill Bit Running Procedures Page 29 of 38

High Frequency Surface Measurements
High frequency surface measurements of axial and torsional vibration can help indicate bit whirl, especially
in shallow and non-deviated wells.
Baker Hughes Inteq can provide these measurements.

Downhole Recording
In deviated wells, it is not usually possible to detect high frequency events such as bit whirl from surface
measurements due to dampening and attenuation of lateral vibrations.
Downhole recording of the vibration data can be analysed for subsequent wells.
Schlumberger (DRT) and Sperry-Sun can provide downhole vibration measurement recording tools.

Drill Bit Running Procedures Page 30 of 38

Factors Related to Bit Run Termination

For a quick reference of common problems see Appendix 1.

Economics
Frequently assess the run economics for the benefit of the operator, for example-
o At a formation change, it may be more economical to replace an insert bit with a faster PDC bit even
though the insert bit still has many operating hours left.
o It may be more economical to pull a bit early to achieve a shorter trip and then complete the section
with a longer final run.

Worn Cutting Structure

Cutting structures wear out, (PDC/insert/milled/impreg/diamond).
A worn cutting structure requires more weight to achieve the same penetration rate as a new/green cutting
structure, ie: RoP generally decreases.
If the gauge area of the cutting structure wears first the bit can become a wedge shaped plug that fits
tightly in the hole. This can cause high on-bottom torque even with low weight on bit, very low penetration
rate and often accompanied by an increase in SPP. Under gauge bits can also cause the stabilisers to hang
up and cause general BHA damage.
As an impregnated or surface set diamond bit wears the standpipe pressure will increase due to a
reduction of the flow area. This is due to a reduction in blade height due to wear.
As a PDC bit wears, for a given weight on bit, torque generally reduces as the cutting structure is no longer
as aggressive.
Severe PDC wear can result in the blades being worn down to the bit body/nozzles. Consequently, a
significant increase in SPP will be seen as the flow is restricted due to contact of the bit face and the
formation.

Worn/Failed Bearings on Roller Cone Bits

If it is thought that the bearings have failed the bit should be immediately pulled. Failed bearings can
deteriorate rapidly and result in losing a cone downhole. This is a very serious and expensive failure for the
oil company due to lost time fishing.
There are various symptoms that suggest a bearing failure, for example-
o Torque changes: spikes, character or overall level not related to parameter or formation changes.
o RoP changes: not related to parameter or formation changes. The RoP can increase temporarily as the
skew angle of a cone increases with a failed bearing.
o Directional responsiveness change: loss in control of toolface.
o MWD signal quality deteriorates as the vibration from the bit masks the signal.

Bit Balling
Usually occurs when drilling soft sticky formations with WBM.
Some formations, predominantly shales react with water swelling considerably and becoming sticky.
Montmorillonite content is the most significant factor with respect to formation hydration and bit balling.
Montmorillonite changes to illite with time and temperature.
Kaolinite does not hydrate and react with water.

Drill Bit Running Procedures Page 31 of 38

 The order of claystones with greatest to least balling tendency is-
o Montmorillonite
o Mixed layer, montmorillonite and illite
o Illite
o Kaolinite
Swollen and sticky cuttings can adhere to the bit clogging up waterways, junk slots, individual cones and
possibly the entire bit.
Severe balling results in total clogging up of the cutting structure so that the string weight is transmitted to
the formation via the balling material rather than the cutting structure. Consequently, penetration rate is
dramatically reduced.
Balled formation can also plug the annulus so that no cuttings can be returned to surface. This results in an
increase in SPP and possible risk of losing mud into the formation.
Balled bits are generally characterised by-
o Reduced rotary torque
o Reduced penetration rate
o Increased SPP
If it is thought a bit is balling up lift off bottom immediately. Drilling with a balled bit can only exacerbate
the problem by forcing more material to plug the bit or annulus further. This tightens/compresses the
material and makes it heavier and more difficult to transport back to surface.
Methods for un-balling a bit are-
o Increase flow rate to the maximum for at least 5mins.
o Spin the bit as fast as possible to fling the material off.
o Lift and drop the string rapidly to shake the formation off, (take care not to surge the hole and
damage the formation or drop the bit on bottom and damage the cutting structure).
o Pump a pill, (eg: Nut Plug) to try and wash the material off.
o A combination of the above.
When returning to bottom after un-balling a bit use maximum flow rate and high rotary speed. Tag bottom
gently as there may be huge chunks of balled material that need to be cut up. If weight is added too quickly
the bit may just push into the balled material and become immediately balled again.
Where balling is expected the risk of occurrence can be reduced by limiting penetration rate. This means
that a reduced and more manageable amount of cuttings can be transported away from the bit face and
annulus to surface.

Lost Nozzle
A lost nozzle will cause a sudden decrease in pump pressure. Calculation will indicate the expected
pressure drop.
Pressure may continue to decrease gradually in an erosive environment due to the nozzle feed bore washing
out and increasing in size/cross sectional area.
If penetration rate is not significantly reduced drilling can continue but may result in cutting structure
damage due to drilling on tungsten carbide nozzle components.
In softer formations, a lost nozzle may be pushed into the hole wall and cause minimal cutting structure
damage.
If a nozzle is lost HSI is reduced so there in an increased risk of bit balling and reduced RoP.

Drill Bit Running Procedures Page 32 of 38

Plugged (Blocked) Nozzle
Nozzles can be plugged by a variety of materials. Some examples are-
o Formation
o Lost circulation material
o Motor stator rubber
A plugged nozzle will result in increased SPP.
If penetration rate is not significantly reduced drilling can continue.
If multiple nozzles are plugged and there is a severe deterioration in RoP it should be attempted to un-plug
the nozzles or pull the bit out of hole.
Methods for un-plugging a bit are-
o Increase flow rate to the maximum for at least 5mins.
o Lift and drop the string to shake and surge the plugging material free, (take care not to surge the
hole and damage the formation or drop the bit on bottom and damage the cutting structure).
A bit with plugged nozzles has an increased probability of balling in softer formations and accelerating
cutter wear in abrasive formations.

Downhole Motor or Turbine Failure

A down hole motor or turbine failure will dramatically reduce penetration rate.
SPP pressure fluctuations are likely to occur as the failure develops.
A reduced pressure differential (the difference between on and off-bottom pressure) over the motor or
turbine is likely to be seen.
Depending on the failure, even if the rotary drive is rotating the string, there is a high probability that the bit
will not be turning. This is because the motor or turbine may not be able to transmit any torque to the bit.
Catastrophic motor failures can be caused by repeated motor stalling.
Motor and turbine failures can be caused by bit whirl, stick-slip, BHA lateral vibration, etc.
At surface, motor bearing wear can be estimated/measured by examining the play in drive shaft.

Drill Bit Running Procedures Page 33 of 38

Dull Grading

Witness the bit and BHA being pulled out of hole as evidence for run analysis can be collected. Take photos
if necessary. For example-
o All the tool joints worn on the same side suggests forward whirl.
o BHA balling, (Roughnecks will frequently clean the BHA off and this information will be lost and not
recorded).
o Bit balling, (Roughnecks will frequently clean the bit off and this information will be lost and not
recorded).
Dull grade the bit using the IADC system, (dull grading manuals for each drill bit type can be found on the
SLB website).
Roller cone bits and fixed cutter bits have different sized gauge rings. Ensure that the correct gauge ring is
used. ie: if an in-gauge PDC bit is measured with a roller cone gauge it will appear to be under gauge.

Dull Bit Photos

Use a digital camera so that the photos can easily and quickly be e-mailed to the Product Centres, DEC or
Optimisation Engineer if necessary and for easy manipulation in a Run Report.
Ensure good quality close up photos are taken. Number each blade with a marker pen to aid photo analysis
at a later date.
Take the following photos to ensure the full dull bit condition is recorded-
o Face view
o Side view
o Blade by blade
o Close ups of any extraordinary cutting structure damage, body junk damage, etc

Run Reporting

If good notes are maintained throughout the run a good report can easily be written. It is good practice to
write the report as the run is progressing so relevant points are highlighted and not forgotten.
On the report it is important to record the run objectives and observations, dull bit observations and finally
recommendations for how performance can be improved or good performance maintained consistently.
Record the drillability of each of the different lithologies drilled.
Record mud and BHA details.
See Appendix 2 for an example of an Optimisation Run Report.

Drill Bit Running Procedures Page 34 of 38

References

Drillstring Vibration Primer, January 1994, Fereidoun Abbassian, BP Exploration

Drilling Terms

Annulus The space between the drill pipe and hole wall or casing inside surface.
BHA Bottom Hole Assembly.
Bit Breaker The steel plate that locates the bit in the rotary table while it is screwed onto/made up to the
drillstring.
BOP Blow Out Preventer, a series of valves that close to seal in the well and prevent it blowing out.
Cavings Formation that has fallen out of the well bore wall down hole.
Drill Collar Heavy drill pipe used in the BHA to add weight.
Fishing Attempting to recover an item out of the well bore to surface.
GPM Gallons Per Minute.
HSE Health, Safety and Environment.
HSI Hydraulic horsepower per Square Inch.
Kelly The heavy steel drive shaft with a square or hexagonal cross section that locks in the rotary
table and is connected to the drillstring to transmit torque.
LCM Lost Circulation Material.
LWD Logging While Drilling.
MWD Measurement While Drilling.
OBM Oil Based Mud.
RMS Root Mean Square (a method of averaging a signal).
RoP Rate of Penetration, fph/mph.
Rotary Table Device on the rig floor used to drive/rotate the kelly and support the drillstring.
RPM Revolutions Per Minute.
RSA Rock Strength Analysis.
PDC Polycrystalline Diamond Compact.
POBM Pseudo Oil Based Mud.
PPE Personal Protective Equipment.
PSI Pounds per Square Inch, fluid pressure.
Sliding While directionally drilling with a motor, the rotary drive is switched off so the drillstring does
not rotate and is slid downhole.
SPM Strokes Per Minute.
SPP Stand Pipe Pressure.
Spudding Burying the bit face into material, eg: the hole bottom or casing shoe assemblies.
TFA Total Flow Area, the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the exits of all nozzles in the bit.
Toolface The direction the motor is orientated to in hole while sliding.
Top Drive A torsional motor used to drive the drill string. Usually installed on the bigger rigs and can
provide more power than a kelly drive.
WBM Water Based Mud.
WoB Weight on Bit, klbs/tonnes.

Drill Bit Running Procedures Page 35 of 38

Appendix 1

Drill Bit Running Procedures Page 36 of 38

Appendix 2

Common Problems Affecting PDC, Natural and Thermally Stable Diamond Bit Performance

COMMON PROBLEM PROBLEM CAUSE PREFERRED ACTION

Difficulty going to bottom. - Previous bit under gauge. - Ream with roller cone bit.
- New bottom hole assembly. - When reaming to bottom, pick up and ream
section again. If difficulty remains, check
stabilizers.
- Collapsed casing. - Roll casing with smaller bit.
- Out of drift. - Use bi-centre bit or reduce bit size.
- Bit oversized. - Gauge bit with API gauge; if not in tolerance,
replace bit.
- Stabilizer oversized. - Replace with correct size stabilizer.
Low pressure differential - Flow area too large. - Increase flow rate and correct on next bit.
across nozzles or bit - Flow area too low. - Increase flow rate/strokes.
face. - Change liners.
- Different drilling parameters - Attempt to optimise, on next bit change flow
than designed for. area.
- Washout in drill string. - Check bit pressure drop, drop soft line, trip to
check pipe and collars.
High pressure differential - Flow area too small. - Reduce flow rate, on next bit change flow area.
across nozzles or bit - Excessive flow rate. - Reduce flow area..
face. - Diamond too small for - If ROP acceptable, change on next bit.
formation. - If ROP unacceptable, pull bit and use bit with
correct diamond size.
- Bit partially plugged - Check off bottom standpipe pressure. Let bit drill
(formation impaction) off, circulate full volume for 10 minutes while
rotating. Check off bottom pressure again.
- Formation change. - Pick up, circulate, resume drilling at higher RPM,
reset, drill-off test.
- Ring out. - On - and off- bottom pressure test, pull bit.
- Downhole motor stalled. - Refer to manufacturers handbook.
Fluctuating standpipe - Drilling through fractured - If ROP acceptable, continue.
pressure. formation.
- Formation breaking up - If ROP acceptable, continue.
beneath bit. - Check equipment.
- Try combination of lighter weight and higher
RPM.
- Stabilizers hanging up. - Check over pull.
- Check stabilizers on next trip.
- Equipment failure. - Repair equipment.
Bit wont drill - Bottom not reached. - Check tally.
- Stabilizers hanging up or too - Check torque, over pull.
large.
- Formation too plastic. - Check pressure increase flow rate, decrease /
increase bit weight, RPM.
- Establishing bottom hole - Can take up to an hour.
pattern.
- Core stump left. - Attempt to carefully drill ahead with low bit
weight.
- Bit balled - Back off and increase flow rate, then slug with
detergent or oil.
Slow RoP - Not enough weight on bit; - Increase weight on bit
Drill Bit Running Procedures Page 37 of 38
 hydraulic lift.
- RPM too low/high. - Increase/decrease rotary.
- Plastic formation. - Reset drill off
- Reset weight
- Change in formation. - Reset drill off.
- Overbalanced. - Accept ROP.
- Pull bit.
- Diamonds flattened off. - Compare beginning and present drops new bit
may be required.
- Cutters flattened. - Increase weight.
- Pull bit.
- Pressure drop too low. - Increase flow rate new bit may be required.
- Wrong bit selection. - Pull bit.
Excessive torque - Excessive weight on bit. - Reduce weight and RPM.
- Slow RPM. - Increase rotary.
- Decrease weight
- Stabilizers too large. - Check bottom hole assembly; stabilizers should
be 1/32 to 1/16 under hole size.
- Collars packing off. - Increase flow rate and work.
- Bit under gauge. - Pull bit.
Bit Bouncing - Slip-stick action. - Change rotary weight combination.
- Broken formation. - Reduce rotary speed and weight.
- Pump off force. - Increase weight.
- Decrease volume.

Drill Bit Running Procedures Page 38 of 38