Yes / Predicting the PDC bit performance during drilling operation is important for the cost effectiveness of the operation. The majority of PDC bits are assessed based on their performance that are relative to offset wells. Determination of mechanical specific energy (MSE) in real time and compare it with the known MSE for a sharp bit to assess the bit life has been utilized by several operators in the past. However, MSE still cannot be used to predict the bit performance in exploration wells and also it cannot assess the bit efficiency in the inner and outer cones. A more precise approach needs to be devised and applied to improve the prediction of bit life and the decision when to pull the bit out of the hole. Effective mechanical specific energy (EMSE) developed in this work is a new wear and performance predictive model that is to measure the cutting efficiency based on number of cutters, which contact the rock as a function of weight on bit (WOB), rotary speed (RPM), torque, and depth of cut (DOC). This model modifies the previous MSE model by incorporating such parameters and including detailed design of the bit, number of blades, cutter density, cutter size, and cutting angle. Using this approach together with the analysis of rock hardness, a level of understanding of how the drilling variables influence the bit performance in the inner and outer cone is improved, and a convenient comparison of the bit condition in the frame of the standard bit record is achieved. This work presents a new simple model to predict the PDC cutters wear using actual data from three sections drilled in three oil wells in Libya. It is found that the obtained results are in well agreement with the actual dull grading shown in the bit record.

Yes / Predicting the PDC bit performance during drilling operation is important for the cost effectiveness of the operation. The majority of PDC bits are assessed based on their performance that are relative to offset wells. Determination of mechanical specific energy (MSE) in real time and compare it with the known MSE for a sharp bit to assess the bit life has been utilized by several operators in the past. However, MSE still cannot be used to predict the bit performance in exploration wells and also it cannot assess the bit efficiency in the inner and outer cones. A more precise approach needs to be devised and applied to improve the prediction of bit life and the decision when to pull the bit out of the hole. Effective mechanical specific energy (EMSE) developed in this work is a new wear and performance predictive model that is to measure the cutting efficiency based on number of cutters, which contact the rock as a function of weight on bit (WOB), rotary speed (RPM), torque, and depth of cut (DOC). This model modifies the previous MSE model by incorporating such parameters and including detailed design of the bit, number of blades, cutter density, cutter size, and cutting angle. Using this approach together with the analysis of rock hardness, a level of understanding of how the drilling variables influence the bit performance in the inner and outer cone is improved, and a convenient comparison of the bit condition in the frame of the standard bit record is achieved. This work presents a new simple model to predict the PDC cutters wear using actual data from three sections drilled in three oil wells in Libya. It is found that the obtained results are in well agreement with the actual dull grading shown in the bit record.

La performance des inserts d’outils tricône et des taillants d’outils PDC commerciaux est soumise au compromis dureté/ténacité principalement régi par la proportion de cobalt et la taille des grains de carbures cémentés WC-Co et du PDC. Les traitements de graduation basés sur l’imbibition de cobalt et les revêtements de nitrure de bore des carbures cémentés permettent d’augmenter la résistance à l’abrasion au niveau de la surface active des inserts et des taillants tout en générant une ténacité accrue au cœur des carbures cémentés. Des essais d’usure à l’aide d’un tribomètre rotatif avec une contreface en alumine pour les inserts WC-Co et à l’aide d’un tour d’usure avec une contreface en béton à forte teneur en silice pour les taillants ont permis d’étudier leur comportement tribologique. Pour les inserts, le coefficient de frottement et les cinétiques d’usure (modèle d’Archard), mais aussi l’évaluation de la température de contact et de l’émission acoustique générée au contact, ont permis de mieux comprendre l’effet des traitements réalisés sur les carbures cémentés. Pour les taillants PDC un modèle de qualité, basé sur un compromis usure/efficacité de coupe, a été développé afin de caractériser la résistance à l’usure des taillants. Des analyses physicochimiques (EDX, DRX, Raman) ont permis d’associer l’évaluation de la résistance à l’abrasion des échantillons à des mécanismes d’usure en considérant les éléments constitutifs des systèmes tribologiques et la formation de troisièmes corps. Les résultats ont ainsi montré l’importance de la proportion de cobalt générée dans les débits d’usure sur la stabilité des débris abrasifs (alumine et silice) et ainsi sur la résistance à l’usure des inserts et taillants. Les mécanismes de rupture des microstructures WC-Co et PDC sont aussi mis en avant afin d’expliquer leur influence sur la résistance à l’abrasion des échantillons. Enfin, des mesures de ténacité des inserts ont permis de juger de l’apport des traitements d’imbibition sur la résistance à la propagation de fissures des carbures cémentés WC-Co. Aussi, des essais complémentaires de chocs ont permis de montrer que les traitements améliorant la résistance à l’abrasion des taillants ne se traduisent pas par la chute de leur résistance aux chocs. / The performance of commercial tricone bit inserts and PDC bit cutters is defined by the compromise between hardness and fracture toughness controlled by the cobalt proportion and the grain size of WC-Co cemented carbide and PDC. On one hand, graduation treatments based on reactive imbibition of cobalt and boron nitride coating of cemented carbides lead to an improvement of abrasive wear resistance of inserts and cutters active surfaces. On the other hand, greater fracture toughness is obtained in the cemented carbides core as a result of imbibition. Wear experiments were performed with a rotary tribometer using an alumina contreface for the WC-Co inserts and with a lathe and its silica based concrete contreface for the PDC cutters. For the inserts, the friction coefficient and wear kinetics (Archard model), but also contact temperature measurement and acoustic emission consideration, permitted to clarify the treatments effects on cemented carbides tribological behaviour. For PDC cutters, a quality model, based on wear/cutting efficiency compromise, was developed in order to characterize the wear resistance. Physicochemical analyses (EDX, XRD, Raman) made a link between mechanical results and wear mechanisms considering the tribological systems and the third body formation. These analyses highlighted the influence of the proportion of cobalt generated in the wear flows on the stability of abrasive debris (alumina and silica) and thus on the wear resistance of inserts and cutters. The Fracture mechanisms of WC-Co and PDC microstructures have also been studied and their effects on the wear resistance have been demonstrated here. At last, fracture toughness measurements showed that the imbibition treatments could maintain a good resistance to cracks propagation of inserts. In addition, complementary impacts experiments prove that the improvement of wear resistance of PDC cutters did not produce reduction of impact strength