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Industry's First PDC Bit Gauge Design for Improved Tracking In North American Horizontal Wells


 PDC bit gauge pad design parameters are well understood for providing the desired build up rate (BUR), but these designs provide minimal value in the horizontal section. Outside forces, such as bit walk and formation push, can cause deviations in inclination and azimuth. Trajectory corrections on both motor and RSS assemblies can significantly slow the drilling process and result in more tortuous wellbores. Thus, a PDC gauge pad design that provides minimal side cutting at low side loads, while achieving typical BUR at higher side loads should result in a PDC bit that tracks better with fewer unintended deviations and resulting trajectory corrections for improved overall drilling efficiency.
 Prototype bits were developed with a tracking gauge pad design. Laboratory tests demonstrated the desired side cutting response at various side loads. Field tests are being conducted across the U.S. on pad wells offering direct comparisons to offsets using conventional PDC bits.
 This paper presents the tracking gauge pad design concept, laboratory test results, and field performance improvements. Results show reduced trajectory deviations and dogleg severity, improving overall section ROP and hole quality.
 Until now, the role of PDC bits has focused primarily on achieving the intended BUR and instantaneous ROP, leaving tracking performance solely to the drilling system. The tracking PDC gauge design concept breaks this paradigm by providing a PDC bit that tracks better than conventional bits for significant gains in directional drilling efficiency.