Methods to Estimate the Rock Strength and Tooth Wear While Drilling With Roller-Bits—Part 1: Milled-Tooth Bits

Abstract

This paper proposes new methods to estimate both the rock strength and tooth wear while drilling with roller-bits. Laboratory drilling tests were conducted to obtain the penetration rate, bit weight and torque using milled-tooth bits with different tooth wear (T0, T4, T7). Drilling media used for the tests were soft to medium-hard rocks whose uniaxial compressive strength ranged from 14 to 118 MPa. Based on the test results, a parameter, which presents the rock strength independent of the tooth wear, was first investigated. The investigation revealed that a parameter related to the axial energy and the rotary energy required to drill rock is effective to estimate the rock strength independent of the tooth wear. Second, methods to estimate the tooth wear were studied based on the same parameter that represents the rock strength. From the results of this study, methods to measure the tooth wear are proposed.