Investigation of the potential for using electrochemical technology to reduce drill bit wear
Recent work has shown that an important drill bit wear mechanism in aqueous environments is electrochemical in nature. The synergistic effects of corrosion and abrasion are responsible for a large percentage of bit wear in laboratory studies. It has been shown that measured wear rates can be reduced by factors of two to five with the application of a voltage potential which opposes and exceeds the galvanic potential generated by the corrosion cells existing downhole. The present study investigates the potential for applying this technique in the downhole environment. The results demonstrate that a downhole generator sub powered by drilling fluid is a possible electrical power source. Graphite is chosen as the optimal nonsacrificial anode material for this application. Steel is also shown to be a possible anode material, but the anode would be sacrificial in this case, requiring periodic replacement. The electrical power required to achieve the desired effect for 4-1/2 inch drill bit is determined to be on the order of one milliwatt. Additionally, up to 250 feet of 4 inch drill pipe could be protected from corrosion with power levels on the order of 150 milliwatts. These relatively low power levels suggest that dry cell batteries could alternatively be employed as the power source; however, the temperature limitations of commercially available batteries would have to be overcome for geothermal applications.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 6594551
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-82-0896; ON: DE83007373
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Alliance yields new understanding of bit wear-drilling performance relationship
HIGH-POWER TURBODRILL AND DRILL BIT FOR DRILLING WITH COILED TUBING
Related Subjects
42 ENGINEERING
DRILL BITS
WEAR
CORROSION
DRILL PIPES
DRILLING FLUIDS
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
GRAPHITE
STEELS
TESTING
ALLOYS
CARBON
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELEMENTAL MINERALS
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
FLUIDS
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
MINERALS
NONMETALS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PIPES
Geothermal Legacy
150901* - Geothermal Engineering- Drilling Technology & Well Hardware
420206 - Engineering- Mining & Drilling Equipment & Facilities- (1980-1989)