High Energy Series Bit

Tungsten Carbide Insert Bits for Oil and Gas Drilling

High Energy series drill bit are engineered as a solution to increasing demands on drill bits which require greater weight on bit (WOB) and higher rotations per minute (RPM) for faster drilling. The series includes the following key enhancements to meet higher level drilling parameters:

Seal Enhancements
Improved Seal/Bearing System
Precision Hydraulics and Cleaning Efficiencies

Through a total, integrated systems approach Varel based the series on already proven technology and then looked at ways that would allow the operators to drill further and drill faster with our bits. The answer is the High Energy series which includes advanced technology, as well as two patent-pending innovations. Initial field tests show a consistent performance improvement of 25 percent in KRevs over previous technology, all while maintaining seal effectiveness.

Seal Enhancements

Anchoring the series are the two patent-pending innovations related to the product's seal. First, the Varel team developed a geometrically enhanced seal gland for increased seal reliability. This conical seal gland positions the seal in such a way that it can better handle pressure fluctuations and still maintain a preferred sealing location and interface. The second facet is the addition of a heat shield disc deployed between the seal and the inner bearing. This shield acts as a thermal insulator, protecting the seal from excessive thermal energy. Both innovations have been field tested and have shown significant impact in extending the life of the bearing seal in various high input energy applications.

Improved Seal/Bearing System

Varel first set out to develop a system that would support higher loads on the bearing surface, specific to the applications targeted. The result is a solution that incorporates a more robust journal bearing. An additional modification is the advanced lubrication compensation system, featuring a self-draining reservoir chamber to reduce cuttings build-up adjacent to the top of the reservoir. This protects the components from damaging debris. These enhancements work together to improve the longevity of the seal/bearing system and extended the life of the drill bit.

Precision Hydraulics and Cleaning Efficiencies

Varel incorporated the V-Jet^TM enhanced hydraulics package to this series enabling precision aiming of the nozzle flow to achieve excellent cuttings cleaning of the teeth while avoiding erosion of the bit's cones and the borehole wall due to recirculation. V-Jet translates into higher rates of penetration, more efficient drilling and extended bit life.

High Energy series bits are available in diameters ranging from 7-1/2" to 13-3/4" and in IADC codes ranging from 417 through 837. All IADC code 537 and softer in this series include Varel's V-Jet hydraulics package.