Glossary

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DownholeRollerConeBasics Page1of13

CBT:RollerConeBasics
Glossary

Term Definition
APIPinConnection

AthreadedconnectionwithAPISpec7specifieddimensionsandjoinsthebitto
theBHA.Rollerconesalmostalwayshavethreadedconnections.
BallBearing

Asphereshapedsteelballthatservesastheretentionmechanismtoholdthe
coneontothelugandactasasecondarythrustbearing.
BallBearingAccessHole

Theholedrilledintotheshirttailnearthebaseofthejournalleadingtotheball
raceofthejournalandconebore.Functionsastheballloadingaccesspointfor
theballbearingretentionsystem
BallRace

Thegrooveonthejournalandconeborethattogetherformachanneltoserveas
theballbearingtrack.Functionally,whenloadedwithballbearingswillserveas
partoftheballbearingretentionsystem
BearingGrease

Asemisolidlubricantservesasthefluidinthepressurecompensationsystemand
usedtolubricatethebearing.NOVsproprietaryblendhasahigherheat
capacity,greaterresistancetooxidation,andhigherloadcapacitythan
conventionalbearinggreases.Collectivelytheseminimizewear,friction,and
extendthelifeofthebearingsystem.
BearingSystem

Thebearingsystemconsistsofbearingelements,sealcomponents,thegrease
reservoir,andthegrease.
Assistinallowingthecuttingstructuretorotateandtotransferweightfromthe
bottomholeassembly(BHA)tothecuttingstructure.

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BearingSystemJournal/
Friction

Doesnotuserollers,andarebettersuitedfortheslidingspeedsandsize
constraintsinsizes12andsmaller.Thissystemwilleitheruseabushingora
silverplatedbore.Certainsizesmayuseanosebushing.SeeBearingSystem
BearingSystemRoller

Usecrownedrollerbearingstobetterhandlethehigherspeedsseenonthe
largerdiameterbearingsandtomoreevenlydistributetheloadoftheBHAacross
therollers.SeeBearingSystem
BearingSystem
w/Bushing

Usesaplainsplittypesilverplatedfloatingbushingbearing.SeeBushingand
BearingSystem
BearingSystem
Bushingless

Doesnotuseabushing.Inthiscasetheconeboreissilverplatedforsolid
lubrication.Usingthisistypicaltoachievespacerequirements.SeeBearing
System
BitBalling

Bitballingoccurswhencuttingscollectandadheretotheconesurface.This
buildupofcuttingswillreducetheROP,aswellasreducebottomholecleaning.
Thiscanoccurevenwhenitisnotobservedonthesurface,astrappedcuttings
maybecomefreewhiletrippingoutofthehole.
BottomholePattern/
FootprintImage

Whendesigningabit,thechoseninsertlayoutandprofilecombinetogeneratea
bottomholepattern,thefootprintofthebitonthecuttingfaceofthe
borehole.Awelldesignedcuttingstructurewillconstantlybecuttingnewrock
andnotfallintothesamecutareathatwouldleadtotracking.

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Bushing

Afloatingplainsplittypebearinginsertedintotheconeboretoprovidebearing
surfacesfortherotationofthecone.Thebushingallowsforbetterdistribution
ofloads.Thebushingissilverplatedtoprovidesolidlubricationforsliding
surfaces.Somedesignsalsohaveanosepinbushing.
ConeBore

Bearingcavityinthecone.
ConeBackface

Theflatsurfaceonthebacksideoftheconefurthestfromthenose.
ConeGrooves

Thechannelsbetweentherowsofinsertsoneachcone.Thechannelsserveas
pathwaysforuncutrockandfortheflowofdrillingfluidaroundthecone.The
channelsalsoserveasspaceforadjacentcuttingelementstorotate.
Cone

Thethree(typical)rotatingpartsofthebitthatcontainthecuttingelements.
ConeSavers

Roundtoptungstencarbideinsertsplacedbetweencuttingelementsandrowsof
cuttingelementstocombattheconewearinthoseareas.
CuttingStructure

Thepartofthebitresponsibleforfailingandcuttingrock;thecuttingstructureis
madeofthecombinedcuttingelementsonallthecones.

Glossary
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CuttingZones

Theareasofinterfacebetweenthebottomholeandthecuttingstructureofeach
cone.Theseareasproducethemajorityofformationcuttings.
Diaphragm/Vent

Anelastomercomponentofthepressurecompensationsystem.Ithasamud
sideandagreaseside.Itchangesshapewhendrillingfluidcomesinthevent
holeonthemudsidetobalancethehydrostaticboreholepressurewiththe
internalgreasepressure.Whenanimbalanceofpressureisexperiencedandthe
highsideisonthegreasesidethediaphragmhasasmallholethatwillallow
greasetoweeptothebowlthroughtheventhole.
DowelPin/Hole

Thecylindricalsteelpinsplacedinholesdrilledintothe120surfacesoftwo
adjacentlugs.Togethertheyareusedtoalignthebitlugsduringassembly.
ElastomerSeals

Rubberelementsthatsealthelubricantintothebitandsealsthedrillingfluid
andcuttingsoutofthebit.
Adrillbithasrotatingmainbearingseals,nozzlesocketseals,andgrease
reservoirseals.
ElastomerSealsLip

Inreferencetomainbearingseals Alipsealhastwosealingsurfacesthatrunon
thelandofthejournal.Thetwosurfacesformachamberwhichcontains
lubricatinggrease.Lipsealsmaybesubstitutedinplaceofradialsealsif
increasedresistancetosealabrasionisneeded.Theyareonlyavailableinlimited
sizes.
ElastomerSealsORing

TheOringismadeintheshapeofatoruswithacircularcrosssection. Oring
sealsareusedinbits6inchesandsmaller.
ElastomerSealsRadial

Radialsealhasarectangularshapedcrosssectionwithroundedcorners.Smooth
IDradialsealsareusedinbitswithadiameterfrom77/8inchesthrough12
inches.Largerdiameterbitsuseradialsealswithatexturizedsurfaceontheseal
ID.Theuniquetexturizedpatternontheselargersealstrapslubricanttohelp
coolthesealandprolongbearinglife.

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FrictionPin

Thecylindricalnoseportionofthejournalactingasafrictionbearingsurface.It
istheextensionofthejournalpastthemainthrustface.Itservestostabilizethe
bearing.
GageGuard

Thisrowofinsertsisplacedbetweentheheelinsertsandgaugecuttingelements
ononeormorecones.Theindividualinsertsarealignedbetweenthegauge
cuttingelements.Theyprovideaddedwearresistanceandaresecondarytothe
gaugecutters.TheGageGuardinsertsaretypicallyfoundonIADC537and
softerinsertbitsandsomemilltoothbits.
GaugeCuttingElements

Thecuttingelements ontheoutermostmainrow.Theycutthediameterofthe
holeaswellaspenetrateandfailtheformation.Thesegaugecuttingelements
arecommontoinsert,milltooth,andpowderforgedrollerconebits.Thegauge
cuttingelementsonallthreeconestypicallyhavethesameshape,protrusionand
diameterandposition(inrelationshiptotheborehole).
GreaseReservoir

Thelargerecess milled in theouterportionofthe unassembledlug.Thisrecess is

designedtocontainthelargevolumeofgrease,greasereservoirdiaphragmand
sleeve.Thereservoirissealedwithanoringandcappedwithasteeldiscanda
drysealpipeplug.Thecapisheldinplacewithasnapring.
Hardmetal

Anabrasionresistantmixoftungstencarbideparticlesandsteelbinder
Heel(orheelarea)

Theareaoftheconelocatedbetweenthebackfaceoftheconeandtheinsert
padofthegaugerowinserts.Typicallythisareacontainssemiprotrudingheel
pacinsertstoprovidewearresistantmaterial,thusprotectingthegaugecutting
elementsofthecone.

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HeelPacInserts

Insertsplacedintheheelareaofacone,providingwearresistantmaterialto
protectthegaugecuttingelementsofthecone.
HeelProtection

Theprotectionofthegaugecuttingelementsby placingwearresistant materials

(hardmetalsorinserts)ontheheelareatopreventexcessivegaugewear.
Excessivegaugewearcanleadtoinefficientdrilling,undergaugeboreholeand
inextremecasesmayleadtocompromisingthesealduetointrusionofparticles
fromanenlargedpathwaystemmingfromconeshellwear.
Horn

Theinternalvolumeformedbytherollerconebitbody.
Hydraulics

Thehydraulicscontrolsthesupplyofdrillingmudtoliftcuttingsoffthebottom
hole,totransportcuttingsuptheannulus,andtoprovidecoolingtothecutting
elements.
HydraulicsAngled

Theanglednozzlehydraulicsisdirectedclosertothecuttingzone.
HydraulicsConventional

Thenozzlesaredirectedattheformationbetweenthecuttingzonesofeach
cone.

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HydraulicsOptimized Sometimesastandardhydraulicconfigurationisnotsufficienttomanagethe
removalofcuttingsgenerated.ComputationalFluidDynamics(CFD)analysisisa
designtoolthatallowsbitdesignerstomaximizeavailablefluidenergyto
efficientlyliftcuttingsandminimizeerosioneffects.
IADCClassificationSystem

Thisclassification isafourpart system: threenumbersandoneletter.Thefirst

digitdescribesgeneralformationcharacteristics,rangingfrom1beingthesoftest
to8beingthehardest.The13arereservedformilltoothand48refertoinsert
bits.Theseconddigitrangesfrom14andisusedtoapplyarangeofformation
hardnesstoagivenseriesofbits.Thethirddigitrangesfrom17anddescribes
featuresofthebearingandcuttingstructure.
InsertBit

Holesaredrilledintoaprofiledsteelcone;cuttingelementscalledinsertsmade
oftungstencarbidearepressfittedintothedrilledholes(typicallycalledinsert
holes)tocreatethecuttingstructure.
Inserts
Insertsarecrushing,cutting,scrapingelementsofthecuttingstructurethatare
pressfitintotheconesofthebit.

Theinsertsusedonrollerconebitsareprimarilymadeoftungstencarbide.
Thereareafewcaseswherepolycrystallinediamondinsertsareusedinplaceof
tungstencarbideforgreaterwearresistance.Insertshavemanydifferentshapes,
diameters,lengths,andmaterialsavailableandmaychangebasedonthe
application.

InsertShapes

Selectionofinsertshapesisbasedonstandardfieldpracticesfortheapplication
andcanbesupportedbydesigncenteranalyses.Thefollowingareinsertshapes
usedinrollerconebits:
IndustryStandard
FlatTopGauge(FTG)
Conical(CON)
RoundTop(RT)
FlatTopChisel(FTC)

OtherCommonTypes
FlatTopChiselFormGauge(FTCFG)
TaperCrestedFromGaugeChisel(TCFGC)
RoundTopChiselFromGauge(RTCFG)
ConicFormGaugeChisel(CFGC)
RoundTopFormGaugeConic(RTFGC)
HyperbolicshapedConical(HSC)
RoundTopChisel(RTC)
TaperCrestedFlatTopChisel(TCFTC)
ConvexRoundTopChisel(CVXRTC)
ConicChisel(CONCH)

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InterlockRow

Oneofthemainrowcuttingelementsclosesttothegaugerowofcutting
elements.Thebaseofthismainrowmustbeinthepathofthebaseofthegauge
rowbasetobeconsideredinterlocking.
Journal

Thecylindricalprotrudingportionofthelugthatprovidesthemajorloadbearing
surfaces.Thejournalalsohasagrooveknownastheballrace.
JournalAngle

Theangleofthejournalinrelationtotheplaneofthebottomoftheborehole.
NOVReedHycalogdrillbitswilleitherhavea33or36degreejournalangle.
JournalAngle33
0

The33
0
journalangleprovidesmorespaceforthecuttingstructure,whichisa
benefitforsoftformationbits,asthisallowsformoreofthecuttingstructureto
engagetheformation,increasingtherateofpenetration.
JournalAngle36
0

The36
0
journalangleisusedinharderformations.Thelargerjournalangle
allowsagreaterthrustloadtobeappliedtothebit,whichisdesirableinhard
formations.Itallowsforprofilechangestosupportgaugeprotection.
JournalOffset/SkewAngle

Theaxisofrotationoftheconesarenotpointedtowardthebitcenterline.They
areoffsetfromthebitcenterline.Theoffsetoftheconeiswhatprovidesthe
amountofscrapingmotionofthecuttingelements.Theskewangleiscreatedby
theconeoffset.Thisskewangleisusefulforcomparingthescrapingactionof
bitsofdifferentdiameters.Skewanglesgenerallyrangefromzerotofive
degrees.
Layout/ProfileShape

Whendesigningabitforaparticularapplication,thedesignengineercreatesa
layout/profileshapeofthecuttingstructuretoensurethedesignprovides
sufficientbottomholecoverageandefficientlyfailstherock,minimizingany
insertstrackingwithoneanother.
Roundprofilesarebettersuitedforsoftrockformations,whileflatterprofilesare
moreeffectivewithharderformations.

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LugBackface

Itisthesurfaceofthelugthatisparalleltothebackfaceofthecone.
Lugs

Thelugsformthemainbodyandservetospacethecones120degreesapart.
Theycontainaflowpathfordeliveryofthedrillingfluid.Thelugalsoincludesa
pressurecompensationsystem.ThelugsalsotransmittheloadfromtheBHAto
thebearings/cuttingstructure.
MainRows

Therowsofcuttingelementsontheconesexcludingthegaugerowofcutting
elementsandnosecuttingelementsofacone.
MakeupFace

Thesealingfaceforthebit.
MillToothBits

Milltoothbitshaveteeththatareformedbymachiningasteelforgingtocreatea
cuttingstructureonthecones.
NoseBearing SeeFrictionPin
Nose

InsertBit:Thesingularinsertonaconenotonarow,placedonaconenearest
thecenterofthebit.Whentheconedoesnothaveaninsertatthatlocation,the
termcanbeusedforthegeneralareaoftheconenearestthecenterofthebit
andusuallyusedfordescribingconewearordamagetothatarea.Typicallyonly
twoofthethreeconeshaveanoseinsertonagivenbit.
MillTooth/PFC:SeeSpade

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Nozzle

Nozzles,alongwiththedrillingmud,providethejettingactionforcleaningthe
borehole.
Nozzlescomeinvarioussizesandshapesandaretypicallymadefromtungsten
carbide.Nozzlesaresizedin32
nd
sofaninchandcanbeinstalledinvarious
configurationstoobtaintheproperTotalFlowArea,alsoknownasTFAtoachieve
requiredbithydraulics.
Nozzle3Port

Acenterjetnozzleusedinthethroatofthebit;ithasthreeexitports.The3
Portwasoriginallydesignedformilltoothbitsforsoftstickyformations,buthas
demonstratedimprovementtobithydrauliconinsertbitsonavarietyof
applicationsandformations.
NozzleCenterJet

Anozzleusedinthethroatofthebit.Itspurposeistokeepthethroatandthe
throatsidesoftheconesclearofcuttingsbuildup.
NozzleExtended

Extendednozzleshaveaprotrudingportionextendingpasttheconventional
nozzleexitpoint.Thischangeingeometryplacestheexitpointofthenozzle
closertotheformationatthebottomofthehole.Itistypicallyusedwhen
increasedshearstressesaredesiredontheformationatthebottomofthehole.
NozzleFlared

Aflarednozzlediffersfromaconventionalnozzlebyhavingataperedexitorifice.
Thisnozzleenlargestheplumewhiledecreasingthevelocityoftheexitflow.
NozzleShrouded

Shroudednozzleshaveagroovethatformsaledgeneartheexitsurface
providingerosionprotectionforalargeportionofthesnapring.
NozzlePod

Theportionofthelugthathousesthenozzle,nozzleoring,thenozzlesnapring
andafluidpassagewaydrilledtothehornofthebit.Itcanbeseenprotrudingon
theouterportionofthelug.Sometimesasectionoftheprotrudingportionof
thepodwillbeprotectedusinghardmetal.
PinShoulder

Thechamferedouteredgeofthemakeupfaceofthepinconnection.Thedegree
ofchamferisspecifiedbyAPISpec7forallAPIconnections.

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PowderForgedBits

Powderforgedbitshaveconesthataremanufacturedfrompowderedmetal.The
conesareforgedwithanintegralabrasionresistanttungstencarbidecap.
PressureCompensation
System

Equalizespressureacrossthesealandprovideslubricanttooptimizetemperature
andloadpressurewithinthebearingsystem.
RollerConeBit Adrillingtoolwhichconsistsofthreerollingcones(typically)withseveralrowsof
cuttingelementslocatedoneachcone.Therearetwomaintypesofrollercone
bits,toothandinsert.
Seal Abitcomponentdesignedtopreventdrillingcontaminantsfromenteringthe
bearingsystem.
SealGroove

Agroovemilledintotheconeboretocontaintheseal.
SealLand

Thesurfaceofjournalthatmakescontactwiththebearingseal.
ShaleBurnInsert

Aninsertstrategicallyplacedinthebackfaceofthelugonthenozzlesideofthe
lug.Thisinserthelpstoreduceabrasivewearofthelugbackface.

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Shirttail

Thelargecurvedsurfaceofthelugcontainingtheballloadingaccessholeand
shirttailprotectionfeatures.
ShirttailProtection

Weldedhardmetalandpressfitinsertsontheshirttailsurface.Asetofinserts
pressedintothelugontheshirttailsurfacechopthatformstheshirttail
protection.Theseservetoprotecttheshirttailagainstwearandtominimize
wearthatmightexposethebearing.TheShirttailProtectioncanalsoprovide
somestabilizationandreamingoftheboreholewall.
SkewAngleLow

Alowskewangleisidealforhardformationsasitresultsinalesseramountof
scrapingactionandagreateramountofcrushingaction.
SkewAngleHigh

Ahighskewangleprovidesamoreaggressivecuttingmotionbyincreasingthe
sliding/scrapingaction,whichisidealforsofterformations.
Snag

Thelowermostcurvedtipoftheshirttail.Thisareaistypicallycoveredwith
hardmetaltopreventwearthatcouldpotentiallyleadtoeasieraccessfor
abrasivematerialstoreachtheseal.
Spade

Thecuttingelementofmilltoothandpowderforgedconeslocatednearestthe
bitcenter.Thiselementmayhaveseveralsmallledgestoincreasethelifeofthe
cuttingelement.
StelliteInlays

Weldedinlaysofwearresistantalloy(typically)onthemainbearing,thrustface
andnosebearingoffrictionbearingsystems.Theseinlaysmaterialprovide
dissimilarmaterialsystemsthatmitigateadhesivewear.

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Throat/Bowl

Thevoidspacebetweentheluglegsandcones
ThrustFace

Onthejournal,theflatsurface(perpendiculartotheaxisofrotationofthe
bearing)betweentheballraceandfrictionpin.
Intheconebore,theflatsurface(perpendiculartotheaxisofrotationofthe
bearing)betweentheballraceandfrictionpinbore.
Thrustwasher

Thethrustwasherisafloatingthrustbearingelementlocatedbetweenthe
thrustfacesoftheconeandjournal.Itservestoformadissimilarmaterialsystem
thatmitigatesadhesivewearwhencarryingthethrustcomponentofthebearing
load.Notallrollerconebitscontainthrustwashers.
VentHole

Apassagewayoneachlugdrilledfromthegreasereservoirtothethroatsideof
thelug.Itfunctionstoallowdrillingfluidintothemudsideoftherubber
diaphragmtobalancethehydrostaticboreholepressurewiththeinternalgrease
pressure.
WeldGroove

Therecessedouteredgealongthe120surfacesofaforging.Eachrecessedarea
isonhalfofthecompleteweldgroove.Whenthelugsarealignedforassembly,
thetworecessededgesofeachadjacentlugformthecompletespaceneededfor
weldmaterial.