Drill bits with Stinger elements across the bit face increase run length and rate of penetration while improving steering in directional applications

Smith Bits, a Schlumberger company, announced today the introduction of StingBlade conical diamond element bit.

StingBlade bits increase run length and rate of penetration (ROP) while delivering improved steering response in directional applications.

“In the continuous drive for increasing efficiency and lowering costs while drilling, our customers expect that each section is drilled from shoe to total depth with one drill bit at a high rate of penetration,” said Malcolm Theobald, president, Bits & Advanced Technologies, Schlumberger. “StingBlade bits have greater durability in hard and inter-bedded formations when compared to conventional PDC bits, enabling an increase in the frequency of drilling an entire section with one drill bit.”

StingBlade bits use Stinger conical diamond elements optimally placed across the bit face. The conical shape of Stinger elements, with improved impact and wear resistance, induce high point loading on the formation, enabling increased run lengths and higher sustained ROP. In directional applications, the new drill bits cut with lower torque than conventional cylindrical cutters and achieve higher build rates with less toolface variation.

StingBlade bits have been successfully tested in more than 300 wells worldwide, both onshore and offshore, in conventional and unconventional applications in North, Central and South America, the North Sea and Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Russia, Southeast Asia and Australia. To date, more than 686,000 ft have been drilled worldwide.

In a field trial conducted in the offshore Browse Basin in Australia, a customer used a StingBlade bit to drill a 12 ¼-in vertical section through a formation known to cause premature impact damage to conventional PDC bits. The drill bit exceeded the planned footage interval, increasing interval length by 97 per cent and ROP by 57 per cent, saving the customer more than five days of drilling time.

In an onshore field trial conducted in South Texas, two curves were drilled to compare the steerability of a StingBlade bit to a conventional PDC bit. Under identical conditions, the StingBlade bit achieved 23 per cent higher build rates with less torque and toolface angle variation, reducing corrections required by directional drillers enabling them to stay on target.

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