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Title: The thermal response of rock to friction in the drag cutting process

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6592735

Significant friction between the cutter and the rock occurs during the drag cutting process. This friction is responsible for elevating the temperature of the drag cutter and, under certain conditions, reducing cutter life. Because of this effect, friction often plays a major role in determining the economics of drilling with drill bits employing polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) cutters. Analytical models have been developed in previous studies for predicting PDC cutter temperatures and their effects on bit wear and performance. The current paper investigates the effects of drag cutter friction on the rock. The thermal and mechanical loading imposed during the cutting process is described, with emphasis on the rock response. Of particular interest is the thermal response of the rock to the frictional heating and convective cooling conditions imposed during drilling. The friction and thermal models developed for PDC cutters are extended and applied to quantitatively determine these conditions for the typical downhole environment. An analytical solution is then applied to determine the thermal response of the rock mass. The results show that contact pressures and temperatures experienced by rock chips during the drag cutting process are in the range where a limited degree of metamorphism of some rock constituents is possible. It is concluded that because of the brief exposure time and shallow penetration of frictional heat, any metamorphic changes that do occur do not extend more than a fraction of a millimeter beyond the rock surface. 26 refs., 25 figs., 2 tabs.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789
OSTI ID:
6592735
Report Number(s):
SAND-88-1481C; CONF-8808167-1; ON: DE89002881
Resource Relation:
Conference: International conference on friction phenomena in rock, Fredericton, Canada, 24 Aug 1988; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English