Title: Improvement of roller cone drill bit design by using finite element method and experimental study

Authors: Hassan Mohammadi Majd; Behrooz Hassani

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, P.O. Box 91775-1111, Mashhad, Iran ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, P.O. Box 91775-1111, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract: An approach for increasing the rate of penetration (ROP) of roller cone bits is presented. The proposed approach is based on 3D finite element method (FEM) simulation as well as field test results that were carried out on the Aghajari formation located in the southwest of Iran. In order to reduce the operation time by improving roller cone bit design, the FEM simulation of the complex nature of the contact between the roller cone bit and the formation was performed and the obtained results were compared with the field test data. Results were employed to improve the geometry of the bit profile. Based on the improved design, a roller cone bit was manufactured and employed in the field experiment to assess the performance and to verify the numerical simulation. The results show a positive effect of the improvements on the ROP which leads to a considerable reduction in drilling costs. [Received: September 15, 2021; Accepted: February 26, 2022]

Keywords: roller cone bit; finite element method; FEM; profile design; Drucker-Prager; rate of penetration; ROP.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2022.126826

International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, 2022 Vol.31 No.4, pp.382 - 405

Received: 14 Sep 2021
Accepted: 26 Feb 2022
Published online: 08 Nov 2022 *

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