Hybrid Bit Technology - Smith BIts/SLB
Claudio Paschoa
April 30, 2014
In a Technical Paper from 2013, Slim Hbaieb and Michael Azar of Smith Bits, a Schlumberger Company explained the advantages of an innovative hybrid bit design that had been tested successfully in Brazil’s pre- salt formations. The main advantages were that the hybrid bit mitigated geological and formation uncertainties, and eliminated the need for several trips to replace damaged bits. Normal PDC (polycrystalline diamond compact) bits can drill pre-salt carbonate rocks effectively until the cutters are damaged by problematic chert inclusions. The hybrid bit is capable of similar ROP (rate of penetration) and run lengths as standard PDC and allows the operator to achieve a long run at high ROP when no silicate inclusions are present.