ROLLER CONE BIT GEOMETRY

The shape and profile of a bit depends partly on hole-size constraints and partly on the type of cutting
action desired.
The one unalterable constraint on overall bit design is the diameter of the hole to be drilled. Bit
components must be of the proper sizes and proportions to fit within this limited space. Hole size
determines which design variations are possible, and sometimes makes it necessary to enhance one
design element at the expense of another. The larger the hole size, the more flexible designers can
be in developing a well-balanced, optimum-performing bit.

Cone Profile Angle

Because it is not possible to fit three true rolling cones into the confined diameter of the borehole,
designers must align them at an angle. Cone profile angle is a design concession to hole-size
restrictions. There are normally three types of cone profile angles on tri-cone bits:

o Inner cone profile angle, in which the front part of the cone is trying to roll
around an axis which is normally past the center of the bit;
o

Intermediate cone profile angle, in which the intermediate section of the cone
rotates around an axis that is generally in the area just outside the bit diameter;

Outer cone angle, or gauge, in which the apex of the outer cone is trying to
revolve around a point considerably outside the bit's outside diameter.

The result of these cone angles is that the gauge (outer) rows produce a trailing/skidding action, while
the inner rows are in approximately a true roll and the intermediate cone angle is a major area of bit
wear.

Journal Angle and Offset

The geometric design features that determine cutting action are the journal angle (where the journal
is the bearing portion of the bit leg, as shown in Figure 1 ), and the offset.

Figure 1

Journal Angle
The journal angle, by definition, is the angle formed by the intersection of a line perpendicular to the
axis (or center line) of the journal and the center line of the bit.
Soft formation bits ( Figure 2 ) have smaller journal angles than hard formation bits ( Figure 3). For
example, a soft or medium formation bit may have a journal angle of 32.5, while a medium hard or
hard formation bit may have a journal angle of 36. Some specialty bits have a 39 journal angle.

Figure 2

Figure 3

Journal angle determines the following design parameters:

o Out-thrust load: By design, all three-cone bits load in an outboard or out-thrust

manner.
o

Journal diameter: The journal diameter must be large enough to provide

adequate strength so that the journal will not fail under high bit loads or rough
drilling conditions such as bit bouncing. Note that the journal and leg of the bit
are moment arm-type structures, which can deflect under load and load cycles.
These cycles can produce fatigue and breakage, resulting in the loss of the
journal/cone assembly in the hole.

Inner cone angles: As shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3 , soft formation bit types
with low journal angles (32.5) have greater cone profile angles and a higher
crowned bottom hole profile than hard formation, higher journal angle (36) bits.
Higher journal angle bits have a flat bottom-hole profile.

Roller bearing diameters and lengths: Journal angle affects the size and
length of various roller bearing type bit designs.

Shape of gauge teeth and degree of gauge tooth cutting action: The journal
angle, together with the amount of offset in angle bit design, affects the gauge
tooth shape and the degree of cutting action it provides.

Offset
Offset is the horizontal distance between the center line of the bit and a vertical plane through the
center-line of the journal. Figure 4 shows this offset as a positive displacement in the direction of
rotation (some bit companies measure offset in inches, while others measure it in degrees. Typical bit
offsets range from 0 to 5).

Figure 4

In general, the greater the offset distance on a bit, the higher the degree of gouging/scraping cutting
action it has. Soft formation bits generally have offsets that are considerably larger than those of hard
formation bits ( Figure 5 ).

Figure 5

All bits are designed with some amount of positive offset. If a bit were to have a negative offset, it
would produce a skidding and trailing action in the cutting structure, resulting in reduced penetration
rates, abnormal wear of the cutting structure and premature failure.
The following bit parameters depend on offset:

o In-thrust load: The greater a bit's offset, the more the gauge contact between
the cone and the borehole wall is reduced and, therefore, the greater the in-thrust
loading (remember that by design geometry, all three-cone bits load in an outthrust manner).
o

Shape of the gauge teeth: The greater a bit's offset, the more aggressive (i.e.,
gouging/scraping) is its cutting action. To facilitate this cutting action in soft
formation bits, the cutting structures are made as long and thin as possible. Hard
formation bits with less offset use shorter, broader teeth or inserts to increase
resistance to breakage and wear;

Degree of reaming action and gauge tooth wear: The greater the offset, the
less the amount of contact between the gauge face of the cone and the borehole
wall-bits with zero offset would have maximum hole contact.

This is important to understand because as offset increases, the tooth round decreases and tooth
space increases. It is therefore necessary, when gauging a soft formation bit, to position a gauge
tooth at the gauge point. Otherwise, a gauge ring can be passed over the cutting structure, creating
the illusion that a new bit is out of gauge.
The amount of contact that the cutter has with the borehole wall will, of course, influence the degree
of wear and the life of the gauge tooth.