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Bit Balling

The document discusses bit balling which is when cuttings stick to a drill bit surface when drilling through formations like clay or shale. It causes issues like reduced penetration rate and increased torque. Factors affecting bit balling include formation type, calcite content, pressure, weight on bit, bit design, hydraulics, and open face volume on polycrystalline diamond compact bits.

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571 views

Bit Balling

The document discusses bit balling which is when cuttings stick to a drill bit surface when drilling through formations like clay or shale. It causes issues like reduced penetration rate and increased torque. Factors affecting bit balling include formation type, calcite content, pressure, weight on bit, bit design, hydraulics, and open face volume on polycrystalline diamond compact bits.

Uploaded by

GPC
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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>> Bit Balling

Defined as: the sticking


of cuttings to the bit
surface when drilling
through Gumbo clay
(i.e., sticky clay), water-
reactive clay, and shale
formations.

©Mahmoud Abdelrazik
[email protected]
>> Bit Balling
Bit balling can cause
several problems such
as reduction in rate of
penetration (ROP),
increase in torque,
increase in
stand pipe pressure
(SSP) if the nozzles are
also stuck. ©Mahmoud Abdelrazik
[email protected]
>> Factor affecting bit balling
 Formation – clay
stone and shale has
a tendency to ball
up the bit even
though one uses
highly inhibitive
water-based mud or
oil-based mud;
©Mahmoud Abdelrazik
[email protected]
>> Factor affecting bit balling
 Calcite content in
clay – e.g., highly
reactive clays with
large cation
exchange
capacities;

©Mahmoud Abdelrazik
[email protected]
>> Factor affecting bit balling
 Hydrostatic pressure
in wellbore – high
hydrostatic pressure
(e.g., 5000 – 7000
psi) can induce bit
balling issue in
water based mud;

©Mahmoud Abdelrazik
[email protected]
>> Factor affecting bit balling
 Weight on bit – high
weight on bit will
have more chance
to create bit balling;

©Mahmoud Abdelrazik
[email protected]
>> Factor affecting bit balling
 Bit design – poor bit
cutting structure
and poor junk
slot area in PCD bits
contribute to bit
balling;

©Mahmoud Abdelrazik
[email protected]
>> Factor affecting bit balling
 Poor projection of
bit
cutting structure
due to
inappropriate bit
choice or bit wear;

©Mahmoud Abdelrazik
[email protected]
>> Factor affecting bit balling
 Poor bit
hydraulics – low
flow rate will not be
able to clean the
cutting around the
bit;

©Mahmoud Abdelrazik
[email protected]
>> Factor affecting bit balling
 Poor open face
volume (i.e., junk
slot area) on PDC
bits.

©Mahmoud Abdelrazik
[email protected]
>> How to diagnose bit balling
 ROP will decrease
less than expected
in soft rock);

©Mahmoud Abdelrazik
[email protected]
>> How to diagnose bit balling
 Drilling torque –
drilling torque will
be lower than
normal since most
of the cutters are
covered up by
cuttings. nearly off-
bottom TQ equal
on-bottom TQ; ©Mahmoud Abdelrazik
[email protected]
>> How to diagnose bit balling
 Weight
on bit – added
weight on bit
resulting in static or
negative ROP
reaction;

©Mahmoud Abdelrazik
[email protected]
>> How to diagnose bit balling
 Standpipe pressure
– standpipe
pressure increases
with no changes in
flow rates or drilling
parameters;

©Mahmoud Abdelrazik
[email protected]
>> Factor affecting bit balling
 Poor open face
volume (i.e., junk
slot area) on PDC
bits.

©Mahmoud Abdelrazik
[email protected]
>> Factor affecting bit balling
 Poor open face
volume (i.e., junk
slot area) on PDC
bits.

©Mahmoud Abdelrazik
[email protected]
>> Factor affecting bit balling
 Poor open face
volume (i.e., junk
slot area) on PDC
bits.

©Mahmoud Abdelrazik
[email protected]
>> Factor affecting bit balling
 Poor open face
volume (i.e., junk
slot area) on PDC
bits.

©Mahmoud Abdelrazik
[email protected]

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