Baker Hughes Announces the Industry’s First Adaptive Drill Bit
March 14 2017 - 7:30AM
Business Wire
TerrAdapt bit adjusts to downhole conditions
autonomously to enable smoother, faster drilling and extend tool
life
Baker Hughes announced today the commercial release of its
TerrAdapt™ adaptive drill bit, which can deliver dramatic
improvements in drilling economics by using automation to mitigate
downhole dysfunctions that cause inefficient drilling and costly
tool failures. With the industry’s first self-adjusting
depth-of-cut (DOC) control elements, the TerrAdapt bit
automatically changes its aggressiveness based on the formation
through which it is drilling to mitigate vibrations, stick-slip and
impact loading. For operators, this means faster, more consistent
rates of penetration (ROP), longer bit/tool life and significantly
reduced non-productive time and invisible lost time.
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The TerrAdapt™ adaptive drill bit uses
self-adjusting depth-of-cut (DOC) control elements to automatically
adapt its aggressiveness to changing rock types and mitigate
downhole dysfunctions. This expands the smooth drilling window and
allows operators to achieve faster, more consistent ROP while
reducing costs and NPT related to tool failures. (Photo: Business
Wire)
The vast majority of well intervals are drilled through a
variety of formations containing layers of different rock types,
however, current polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) drill bit
designs feature a fixed DOC control setting that is optimized for
only a single rock type. A fixed-DOC bit will drill smoothly in
some areas but will perform erratically and inefficiently in others
because of vibrations that occur when the bit transitions between
different rock types, causing stick-slip. During stick-slip events,
the bit’s bite becomes too aggressive, causing it to “stick” and
stop rotating, while the drillpipe behind it continues to wind up
like a spring until the bit releases, or “slips,” and begins
spinning uncontrollably. These stick-slip events dramatically
increase drilling costs by reducing ROP, and can seriously damage
the bit and other expensive mechanical and electrical bottom hole
assembly (BHA) components. When this happens, operators have to
make extra trips to replace the bit/BHA, or continue to drill with
diminished performance.
The TerrAdapt bit incorporates self-adjusting DOC elements that
autonomously extend to create an optimal DOC based on the
formation, preventing vibrations and stick-slip when the bit
transitions between rock types or sections. When the risk of
stick-slip has passed, the elements retract, enabling drilling to
resume at a maximum ROP. The elements also absorb any sudden shock
to the bit face, significantly reducing damage to the TerrAdapt
bit’s cutters and other BHA hardware and electronics.
“I believe the TerrAdapt adaptive drill bit is going to deliver
a step-change in our customers’ drilling efficiency,” said
Scott Schmidt, Vice President, Drill Bits at Baker Hughes.
“Stick-slip, which has been costing them millions of
dollars each year, can now be easily avoided. So,
instead of worrying about how to handle stick-slip or figuring out
how to deal with its consequences, our customers can focus on
their real business—drilling fast, trouble-free wells.”
In the Delaware Basin, a TerrAdapt bit recently demonstrated its
value by increasing a customer’s ROP by 27 percent compared to the
average ROP on offset wells drilled through the same interbedded
formations. The bit reduced torque variations by 90 percent,
indicating dramatically reduced stick-slip—enabling the operator to
drill 713 ft (217 m), or 27 percent, farther and use significantly
less energy than on the nearby wells drilled with traditional PDC
bits.
This TerrAdapt bit is the first in a new line of adaptive bits
that Baker Hughes is developing to help operators address various
drilling dysfunctions, improve performance and reduce costs.
TerrAdapt bits are the latest example of Baker Hughes’ strategy
to improve well efficiency, optimize production and increase
ultimate recovery.
Baker Hughes is a leading supplier of oilfield services,
products, technology and systems to the worldwide oil and natural
gas industry. The company's 33,000 employees today work in more
than 80 countries helping customers find, evaluate, drill, produce,
transport and process hydrocarbon resources. For more information
on Baker Hughes, visit: www.bakerhughes.com.
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Baker HughesMedia Relations:Melanie Kania, +1
713-439-8303melanie.kania@bakerhughes.comorInvestor
Relations:Alondra Oteyza, +1
713-439-8822alondra.oteyza@bakerhughes.com
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