International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET)

Volume 6, Issue 10, Oct 2015, pp. 103-114, Article ID: IJMET_06_10_012
Available online at
http://www.iaeme.com/IJMET/issues.asp?JType=IJMET&VType=6&IType=10
ISSN Print: 0976-6340 and ISSN Online: 0976-6359
IAEME Publication

STUDY OF SPECIFIC ENERGY METHOD

OF BIT SELECTION ON THE BASIS OF
DRILL BIT-DEPTH DATA IN UPPER ASSAM
OIL FIELDS
Mrinmoy Jyoti Borah
Department of Petroleum Engineering
AMET University, Chennai
ABSTRACT
Drilling bit is the most important and crucial tool for smooth and
economic drilling of an oil well. Achieving the desired rate of penetration with
the least possible bit wear and minimal hole problems is the goal of every
drilling engineer. Drilling engineers deal with many challenges before and
during drilling a new well even in a known area. There are many parameters
related to hardware and daily operations that are planned and also modified
as the drilling progress. Bit selection is one of the important parameters for
planning and designing a new oil or gas well. The aim of this research work is
to study and compare the performances of different drill bits in similar
formations by specific energy method of bit selection.
Key words: Drilling, Drill bit, Rate of penetration, Bit selection.
Cite this Article: Mrinmoy Jyoti Borah. Study of Specific Energy Method of
Bit Selection on The Basis of Drill Bit-Depth Data In Upper Assam oil Fields,
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology, 6(10),
2015, pp. 94-102.
http://www.iaeme.com/currentissue.asp?JType=IJMET&VType=6&IType=10

INTRODUCTION
Once it has been established that a potential oil-bearing structure exists, the only way
of confirming the existence of oil is to bring the oil to the surface and to do this we
have to drill a well. The process is called drilling and one of the most important
equipment used in this process is called drill bit. The drill bit represents the heart of
the drill string. The bit is the tool on the bottom of the drill string assembly that
actually drills the formation.
Achieving the desired rate of penetration with the least possible bit wear and
minimal hole problems is the goal of every drilling engineer. Drilling engineers deal
with many challenges before and during drilling a new well even in a known area.
There are many parameters related to hardware and daily operations that are planned

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Study of Specific Energy Method of Bit Selection on The Basis of Drill Bit-Depth Data In
Upper Assam oil Fields

and also modified as the drilling progress. Bit selection is one of the important
parameters for planning and designing a new oil or gas well. The selection of a proper
bit is a difficult task since the factors affecting the bit performance are complex
relationships between formation properties, bit hardware design and operational
parameters.
A worldwide review of drilling performance has shown that 10 to 40% of the dry
hole cost of a well is mostly bit related which makes bit selection a vital issue. The
right rock bit for the right job cuts the cost of drilling. There are thousands of drilling
bits available in the market. Right selection of drilling bit is a very important thing to
get the best drilling performance and to reduce the cost of drilling. Correct bit
selection is becoming increasingly important; given the high cost of drilling a well
and the possible lower return from it, every effort must be made to drill faster and
further with every bit used.

Bit Selection Methods

Technological advances in bit design and cutter technology are greatly assisting
drilling engineers in bit selection for any given application. Nowadays great emphasis
is also given to petro-physical properties of formations for selection of appropriate bit,
since these properties have direct bearing on bit life. Compressive strength analysis
has been widely accepted as a key formation property for determining the drillability
of formations. Leading bit manufacturers like Hughes, Smith, and Halliburton
manufacture and supply bits based on formation characteristics (Compressive
strength). This requires formation logs in digitized form as inputs which are fed in
their software for the manufacture of a particular bit suitable for the formation.
There are several conventional methods prevalent for bit selection. They are as
follows:

Cost per meter method.

Dull bit grading method.

Formation consideration method.
Offset bit record method and
Specific energy method.
As the study is completely based on specific energy method, we will concentrate on
the same.

SPECIFIC ENERGY METHOD

The specific energy method is a simple and practical method for the selection of bits.
Specific energy (SE) may be defined as the energy required removing a unit volume
of rock. The specific energy equation can be described by considering the mechanical
energy, E, expended at the bit in one minute. Thus,
E = W x 2R x N.

(I)

Where, W = weight on bit (lb).

N = rotary speed (rpm)
R = radius of bit (in).

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Mrinmoy Jyoti Borah

The volume of rock removed in one minute is:

V = (R2) x PR.......................

(ii)

Where, PR = penetration rate in ft/hr.

Dividing equation (i) by equation (ii) gives specific energy in terms of volume as

=
= 10

(iii)

in-lb/

Replacing R by D/2, where D is the hole diameter, then equation (iii) becomes,
SE = 20

in-lb/

And in metric units,

SE = 2.35

MJ/

Where, W is in Kg; D is in mm; and PR is in m/hr.

Based on this method different drill bits having different IADC codes are
compared and their individual specific energy consumption is calculated in this study.
The bit that requires lowest specific energy for drilling is the best bit for drilling the
formation.

CALCULATIONS AND RESULTS

The study is divided into four cases viz. case A, case B, case C and case D. The cases
are classified on the basis of formation and bit size. The study was conducted on four
oil wells viz. BAGHJAN- 15, MKM-51, NHK-64, and MRN-116.

CASE A:
Formation: Sand/clay
Bit size: 12.15 inches
Type of Drilling: Directional Drilling
The study was carried out between BAGHJAN-15 and MKM-51.
Table 1 MKM-51
Footage Per Day

Cumulative Footage

12.25inch

In meters

In meters

Bit type 1

397.536

397.536

8000

70

560000

12

12

127.5271402

527.424

924.96

8000

70

560000

29

41

232.2929065

533.32

1458.28

8000

70

560000

27

68

213.8817515

163.344

1621.624

8000

70

560000

15

83

387.9590711

Bit Type 2

W In Kg

N In Rpm

Type Of Bit

WXN

Daily Bit Hrs

Cumulative Bit Hrs

Specific Energy
In MJ/

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Study of Specific Energy Method of Bit Selection on The Basis of Drill Bit-Depth Data In
Upper Assam oil Fields

SE
Cumulative footage
Graph 1 MKM-51
Table 1 shows the drilling bit-depth data from well MKM-51, where,
Bit Type 1is G-11FH (IADC: 1-1-7),
Bit Type 2 is G-12FH (IADC: 1-2-7).
From graph 1 it is clear that Bit Type 1 G-11FH (IADC: 1-1-7) with specific
energy 127.52 MJ/
with the other parameters has the lowest specific energy. It can
be accounted to the less daily bit Hrs. It should be noted that, though Bit type 2 was
signed for less footage per day and less bit hrs the specific energy consumption was
highest. Thus bit type 2 is not suitable according to specific energy method in this
type of formation. So let us check some other bit types in similar formations and
compare the suitability.
Table 2 Baghjan-15
Type Of Bit

Daily Footage

Cumulative Footage

12.25inch

in meters

in meters

W In Kg

N In Rpm

WXN

Daily Bit Hrs

Cumulative Bit Hrs

Specific Energy

Bit type 1

479

479

16000

70

1120000

18.5

18.5

326.3352959

BIT TYPE 2

1297.896

1776.896

6000

95

570000

103

121.5

341.2573372

In MJ/

SE
Cumulative footage
Graph 2: Baghjan-15
Table 2 shows the drilling bit-depth data from well BAGHJAN-15, where,
Bit Type 1 is G11FH (IADC: 1-1-7)
Bit type 2 is PDC (Polycrystalline diamond compact) bit.
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From Graph 2 it is clear that G11FH (IADC: 1-1-7) has lower specific energy than
PDC bit. But if we refer to table no 2, PDC bit was subjected to a high daily footage
but still the difference in specific energy between the two bits is just 15 MJ/ .

Result
If we compare both the wells, we find that G-11FH (IADC: 1-1-7) has the lowest
value of specific energy i.e. 127.52 MJ/
with the corresponding parameters (Table
1). But we also have to note that PDC bit with high daily footage, RPM, weight on bit
and highest daily bit Hrs consumes very less specific energy compared to the other bit
types. Thus, it can be assumed that a PDC bit with lesser footage, RPM, Bit Hrs will
consume much lower specific energy than G-11FH (IADC: 1-1-7). Thus from the
study we can say that PDC bit will prove to be suitable.
Now let us study the same formation (sand/clay) using the drilling-bit depth data
from the same two wells (BAGHJAN-15 and MKM-51) but with a different bit size.
The study was carried outbetweenBAGHJAN-15 and MKM-51.

CASE B:
Formation: Sand/clay
Bit size: 8.5 inches
Type of well: Directional Drilling.
Table no 3 MKM-51
Type Of Bit

Daily Footage

Cumulative Footage

W In Kg

N In Rpm

WXN

Daily Bit Hrs

Cumulative Bit Hrs

Specific Energy

8.5inch

in meters

in meters

Bit type 1

5.904

5.904

4000

60

240000

5.5

5.5

2433.564169

53.136

59.04

3000

55

165000

9.5

15

321.0952723

251.904

310.944

4000

40

160000

27

42

186.6654334

In MJ/

BIT TYPE 2

503.808

814.752

3000

30

90000

47.5

89.5

92.36050091

BIT TYPE 3

738

1552.752

10000

50

500000

36

125.5

265.4797275

221.4

1774.152

10000

70

700000

37.5

163

1290.526453

246

2020.152

9000

80

720000

37.5

200.5

1194.658774

53.1

2073.252

10000

70

700000

203.5

430.4671288

SE

Cumulative footage
Graph no 3 MKM-51

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Study of Specific Energy Method of Bit Selection on The Basis of Drill Bit-Depth Data In
Upper Assam oil Fields

Table no 3 shows the drill bit-depth data of a 8.5 inches bit in MKM-5 where,
BIT TYPE 1: SS-TMGP (1-1-7)
BIT TYPE 2: M1516 PX PDC
BIT TYPE 3: S 13GP (1-3-7)
From the graph, we get to know that M1516 PX PDC has the lowest specific
energy consumption i.e. 92.3 MJ/
in the whole drilling process. Now let us study
another well using 8.6 inches in same type of formation. After the study we can
compare between the two wells and analyze the optimum 8.5 inches bit for this type
of sand/clay formation.
Table no 4: Baghjan-15
Type Of Bit

Daily Footage

Cumulative Footage

8.5inch

in meters

in meters

Bit type 1

99.384

99.384

14000

75

1050000

19.25

19.25

2213.700079

BIT TYPE 2

57.072

156.456

14000

95

1330000

14.25

33.5

3614.586592

BIT TYPE 3

442.8

599.256

5000

90

450000

65.5

99

724.538423

BIT TYPE 4

47.232

646.488

14000

70

980000

14.5

113.5

3274.710875

43.2

689.688

12000

70

840000

12.5

126

2645.579229

10.824

700.512

12000

70

840000

4.25

130.25

1700.030287

BIT TYPE 1

W In Kg

N In Rpm

WXN

Daily Bit Hrs

Cumulative Bit Hrs

Specific Energy
In MJ/

SE
Cumulative footage FD
Graph no 4 Baghjan-15
Table no 4 shows the drill bit-depth data of 8.5 inches drill bit in Baghjan-15 where,
Bit type 1: G11FH (1-1-6)
Bit type 2: S13G (1-3-7)
Bit type 3: FC613 PDC
Bit type 4: HP43A (4-3-7)
It is seen that Bit Type 3, FC613 PDC has the lowest specific energy consumption
in the whole drilling process i.e. 724 MJ/ .

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Result
After carefully comparing both the wells, it is seen that bit type 2 from MKM-51 i.e.
M1516 PX PDC consumes the lowest specific energy of 92.3MJ/ . It is to be noted
that in both the wells, PDC bit proves to be more optimum on the basis of specific
energy method. Thus we can say that for sand/clay formations in 8.5 inches bit size
category PDC bit proves to consume less specific energy and emerges as the most
suitable bit for drilling on the basis of specific energy bit selection method. Now let
us study a different type of formation using different sizes of drill bits.

CASE C:
Formation: sand/clay/coal/shale
Bit size: 12.25 inches
Type of well: directional drilling.
The study was carried out on MRN-116 outfit: S8 and NHK-604 outfit: S-1.
Table no 5 MRN-116 outfit: s-8
Type Of Bit

Daily Footage

12.25inch

In meters

Cumulative Footage

W In Kg

N In Rpm

WXN

Daily Bit Hrs

Cumulative Bit Hrs

Bit type 1

618.936

618.936

10000

80

800000

43.5

43.5

424.1732838

BIT TYPE 2

501.84

1120.776

10000

70

700000

59.91

103.41

630.4372941

351.288

1472.064

10000

70

700000

54.75

158.16

823.0546261

BIT TYPE 3

180

1652.064

15000

70

1050000

42.5

200.66

1870.318352

BIT TYPE 4

224.352

1876.416

15000

70

1050000

82.75

283.41

2921.710406

In meters

Specific Energy
In MJ/

SE
Cumulative footage
Graph 5 MRN-116 outfit: s-8
Table no 5 shows the bit-depth data for MRN-116 outfit S8 where,
Bit type 1: G11FH (1-1-7) in sand/clay/coal
Bit type 2: G11FH (1-2-7) in sand/clay/coal
Bit type 3: XS4GS (2-1-7) in sand/coal/shale
Bit type 4: QH12S (4-3-7) in sand/coal/shale

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Study of Specific Energy Method of Bit Selection on The Basis of Drill Bit-Depth Data In
Upper Assam oil Fields

From the graph it is seen that bit type 1 i.e. G11FH (1-1-7) has the lowest specific
energy i.e. 424.4MJ/
in case of sand/clay/coal formations.
But in case of shale formations bit type 3 i.e. XS4GS (2-1-7) has the lowest
specific energy. It should be noted that in shale formations the weight on bit increased
which requires more specific energy in drilling. As more weight on bit is applied in
formations, it directly adds up to the increase in specific energy.
Thus for shale formations, specific energy values are much higher.
Hence bit XS4GS (2-1-7) is more suitable than QH12S (4-3-7) while drilling shale
formations with the corresponding parameters according to specific energy method of
bit selection. Now let us study another well of same formation type using 12.25 inches
of bit for drilling.
Table no 6 shows you the drill bit-depth data of well no: NHK-604 OUTFIT: S-1
where,
Bit type 1: G11FH (1-1-7) in sand/sandstone
Bit type 2: PDC in sand/clay stone
Bit type 3: RC-137 in sand/clay/coal
Bit type 4: G12FH (1-2-7) in sand/sandstone/clay
Table 6 NHK-604 OUTFIT S-1
Type Of Bit

Daily Footage

Cumulative Footage

12.25

in meters

in meters

Bit type 1

100.368

100.368

5000

60

300000

7.33

7.33

165.2874085

Bit type 2

139.728

240.096

3000

90

270000

18.33

25.66

267.2099327

Bit Type 3

459.528

699.624

6000

90

540000

35.34

61

313.2983714

343.416

1043.04

7000

90

630000

35.16

96.16

486.6073917

296.184

1339.224

12000

90

1080000

33.59

129.75

924.0212875

Bit type 4

W In Kg

N In Rpm

WXN

Daily Bit Hrs

Cumulative Bit Hrs

Specific Energy
In MJ/

SE
Cumulative footage
Graph 6 NHK-604 OUTFIT S-1

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From the graph, we see that bit type 1 has the lowest specific energy as the bit hrs is
less. Bit type 2 i.e. PDC bit has the second lowest specific energy but more than type
1 due to more weight on bit. Bit type 4 has the highest specific energy because it has
the highest weight on bit. Thus we can say that the more the weight on bit, the higher
is the specific energy.

Result
By comparing the graphs we note that, for sand/clay/coal formations, RC-137 has the
lowest specific energy of 313.2 MJ/
with the respective parameters and proves to
be the optimum one. Again for sand/coal/shale, XS4GS (2-1-7) proves to be more
suitable with respective parameters.

CASE D:
Bit size = 8.5 inches
Formation: sand/clay/coal/shale
Type of well: Directional drilling
The study was carried out between MRN-116 OUTFIT: S-8 and NHK-604 OUTFIT:
S-1.
Table 7 MRN-116 OUTFIT: S-8
Type Of Bit

Daily Footage

Cumulative Footage

W In Kg

N In Rpm

WXN

Daily Bit Hrs

Cumulative Bit Hrs

Specific Energy

8.5inch

In meters

In meters

Bit type 1

110.208

110.208

9000

65

585000

33.75

33.75

1949.987117

BIT TYPE 2

125.952

236.16

13000

60

780000

48.09

81.84

3241.600806

In MJ/

Bit type 3

120

356.16

13000

60

780000

51.33

133.17

3631.615331

BIT TYPE 4

122.016

478.176

15000

60

900000

61.83

195

4964.096236

BIT TYPE 5

218.448

696.624

6000

80

480000

68.42

263.42

1636.407474

BIT TYPE 6

50.184

746.808

12000

60

720000

19.5

282.92

3045.208639

SE
Cumulative footage
Graph 7 MRN-116 OUTFIT: S-8

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Study of Specific Energy Method of Bit Selection on The Basis of Drill Bit-Depth Data In
Upper Assam oil Fields

Table no 6 shows you the drill bit-depth data of well no: MRN-116 OUTFIT: S-8
where,
Bit type 1: G11FH 1-1-6
Bit type 2: RC 137 1-3-7
Bit type 3: S13G 1-3-7
Bit type 4: HP43A 4-3-7
Bit type 5: FC613 PDC
Bit type 6: Q30S 5-3-7
From the graph it is seen that bit type 5 i.e. PDC bit has the lowest specific energy.
The highest specific energy is shown by bit type 4 which can be accounted to the
more weight on bit.
Table 8 NHK-604 OUTFIT S1
Type Of Bit

Daily Footage

Cumulative Footage

W In Kg

N In Rpm

WXN

8.5inch

IN meters

IN meters

Bit type 1

69.864

69.864

8000

65

520000

BIT TYPE 2

203.688

273.552

12000

75

900000

BIT TYPE 3

307.008

580.56

3000

90

270000

Daily Bit Hrs

Cumulative Bit Hrs

Specific Energy
In MJ/

11.75

11.75

951.9255488

47

58.75

2260.425216

48.83

107.58

467.4293904

BIT TYPE 4

93.48

674.04

12000

65

780000

36

143.58

3269.592434

BIT TYPE 5

175.152

849.192

13000

65

845000

10.5

154.08

551.3738021

31.488

880.68

15000

75

1125000

30.25

184.33

11763.81117

32.472

913.152

15000

65

975000

6.5

190.83

2124.340623

SE
Cumulative footage
Graph 8 NHK-604 OUTFIT S1
Table no 8 shows the drill bit-depth data of well no NKH-604 outfit S1 where,
Bit type 1: G11F 1-1-6
Bit type 2: S13GP 1-3-7
Bit type 3: FC 613 PDC
Bit type 4: HP21G 2-1-7
Bit type 5: 5177051 (4-3-7)

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From the graph w e come to know that bit type 3 i.e. FC 613 PDC bit has the
lowest specific energy consumption.

Result
By comparing both the graphs we come to a conclusion that, FC 613 PDC has the
lowest specific energy consumption in this type of formation with a specific energy
value of 467.4 MJ/ . It is also to be noted that the weight on bit on FC 613 PDC bit
was less but daily footage was the highest among both the wells. Thus we can say that
PDC bit proves to be the most suitable bit in this type of formation with the respective
parameters on the basis of specific energy method of bit selection.

CONCLUSION
From the study we have come to know that, weight on bit, daily bit hours and footage
per day plays an important role in deciding the specific energy of a drill bit. From
graph 2 we have seen that even a PDC bit with more bit hours and footage per day
demands a more specific energy input. So in any formation, we can achieve an
optimum specific energy input only by balancing the other drilling parameters. Thus
selection of a drill bit on the basis of specific energy mainly depends upon the type of
formation. It is obvious that a harder formation will require more specific energy
input than a soft formation. Moreover, we also came to know that PDC bit is
generally used in deeper and harder formations. The main advantage, we got to know
from the study is that, PDC bit can withstand high weight on bit as well as used for
more bit hrs and more daily footage without affecting the specific energy
consumption significantly. But the main disadvantage of PDC bit is that it is costlier.
So it will add up more value in cost per foot method in bit selection .So while
choosing a bit we have to consider the economic factors too. Thus we can say that,
specific energy method alone cannot be used to select a drill bit for drilling a well. We
have to take into account the economic factors, formation factors, log data too. Thus
we can conclude that, specific energy method together with other factors like
formation, economic factors etc can be suitably balanced to get an optimum drill bit
for a particular formation.
This study of drill bit-depth data will help future drilling operations in the subject
basins and give a detailed outlook towards the specific energy method of bit selection
to the drilling engineers.

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Study of Specific Energy Method of Bit Selection on The Basis of Drill Bit-Depth Data In
Upper Assam oil Fields
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