China's impregnated diamond drill bit has a new record

Abstract A significant breakthrough has been achieved at the Yuanlu 30 well in northeastern Sichuan. The impregnated diamond drill bit developed by the Shengli Oilfield Drilling Institute was successfully deployed in the well, setting a new regional record of 158.56 meters for a single diamond bit. This innovative tool was specifically designed to address the challenges posed by the poor drillability of rock formations in the area, as well as the inefficiency and slow drilling speed of traditional roller cone bits. Unlike conventional diamond-inlaid bits, the impregnated diamond drill bit features a working layer composed of synthetic diamonds embedded within a matrix material. Instead of having sharp cutting edges, the diamond particles are uniformly distributed and integrated into the matrix, enabling a grinding-like mechanism during drilling. This method allows for more efficient rock fragmentation through high-speed rotation, significantly improving performance in hard and abrasive formations. The impregnated diamond drill bit was introduced into the Yuanlu 30 well on March 30. By April 7, it had drilled from 3,818.5 meters to 3,977.06 meters, achieving a footage of 158.56 meters in just 130 hours, with a mechanical drilling rate of 1.22 meters per hour. Prior to this, two roller cone bits were used, covering a total depth of 120.5 meters over 183 hours, with an average mechanical drilling speed of only 0.66 meters per hour. Compared to the previous tools, the impregnated diamond bit improved footage by 163.17% and increased the mechanical drilling speed by 84.85%. This success not only set a new benchmark for single-bit drilling in the region but also addressed long-standing issues such as limited bit availability and low drilling efficiency. It marks a major step forward in overcoming the difficult drilling conditions in northeastern Sichuan, offering a powerful new solution for future operations. The application of this technology represents a significant advancement in oil and gas exploration, demonstrating the potential of advanced drilling solutions in challenging geological environments.