Halliburton introduces new drill bit for high energy applications

Halliburton has announced the release of GeoTech HE, a robust drill bit which incorporates new features and materials to deliver enhanced performance and increased reliability in today’s high energy drilling systems characterised by very high weight-on-bit and drilling torque.

Recent years have seen advances in drilling equipment and practices which have enabled operators to increase energy and drilling speed significantly to reduce costs. As a result, drill bits experience higher forces which challenge traditional design theory and materials and significantly increase risk of damage to the bit body material and API connection.

GeoTech HE (high energy) bits are built to function in these challenging conditions. Both the matrix and steel platforms incorporate unique design geometries and features focused on high energy systems. The new matrix body incorporates a blend of materials and the new steel body is machined from an advanced alloy material. Both are formulated for increased strength and durability under high torsional and axial loads.

Each bit begins with Halliburton’s Design at the Customer Interface Process (DATCI), which deploys a global network of technical experts who engage directly with customers for optimisation of bit design for a specific application. This process accelerates development and eliminates the lengthy and expensive trial and error approach.

For an operator in the Williston basin, GeoTech HE drill bits reliably increased drilling speed and decreased the number of days to drill a lateral by 14%. Introduction of the new technology helped increase reliability by reducing the occurrence of high energy bit damage resulting in zero failure rates to date.