Drill bits
The drill bit sets the pace for the whole well. Every metre drilled, every trip saved and every day taken off the rig schedule starts at the cutting structure. Kronborr supplies PDC drill bits and tricone roller cone bits for oil, gas and geothermal drilling, selected for the formation in front of you rather than for the catalogue.
Each bit comes with a data sheet covering cutting structure, gauge design, connection, hydraulics and recommended operating parameters, so your drilling engineer can check the fit before the bit reaches the rig floor.
The range
Fixed-cutter bits for long, fast runs in soft to medium-hard formations.
Tungsten carbide insert bits for medium to very hard, abrasive rock.
Steel tooth bits for soft formations and top-hole sections.
Polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) bits cut rock by shearing it, with fixed diamond cutters brazed onto steel or matrix blades. With no moving parts, a PDC bit has no bearings to wear out, which makes it the natural choice for long runs in soft to medium-hard and consistent formations.
Blade count, cutter size, back rake and gauge length all change how a PDC bit behaves. Fewer blades and larger cutters drill aggressively; more blades and smaller cutters give durability and smoother steering in directional work.
Tricone bits crush and gouge rock with three rotating cones. Milled tooth bits use steel teeth for soft formations, while tungsten carbide insert (TCI) bits carry hard inserts for medium to very hard and abrasive rock.
Roller cone bits tolerate interbedded and fractured formations well and remain a dependable choice where PDC cutters would chip or wear quickly, for example in hard stringers, boulder beds and some geothermal sections.
Start with the formation: its compressive strength, abrasiveness and how it changes with depth. Offset well records and bit runs from nearby wells are the best evidence you have.
Then consider hole size, the rig's available torque and pump capacity, whether the section is vertical or directional, and the run length you need. A bit that drills fast but needs an extra trip can cost more than a slower bit that finishes the section.
Send us your well program and offset data with a quote request. A Kronborr engineer will recommend a bit and explain the reasoning in writing.
FAQ
PDC bits shear rock with fixed diamond cutters and have no moving parts. Tricone bits crush rock with three rotating cones. PDC usually drills faster and longer in suitable formations; tricone handles harder, more abrasive and broken rock.
Sizes depend on the bit type and design. Each product family page lists what its data sheet covers; send your hole size with your quote request and we will confirm availability.
Yes. Attach your well program and offset bit records to a quote request and an engineer will reply with a written recommendation.
The IADC classification describes a bit's design and intended formation hardness in a standard code, so bits from different suppliers can be compared like for like.
Send your well program, sizes or part numbers. We reply with a quote and a reference number.