Experimental study reveals changes in mechanical properties of rocks under water injection, suggesting new designs for PDC bits.
The deterioration of rocks’ mechanical properties during the late stage of water injection development significantly reduces the rock-breaking efficiency of PDC bits. In this study, X-ray diffraction mineral composition analysis and triaxial compression mechanics tests were used to systematically characterize the weakening mechanism of water injection on reservoir rocks. Based on an analysis of mechanical experimental characteristics, this study proposes a multi-scale collaborative optimization method: establish a single tooth–rock interaction model at the micro-scale through finite element simulation to optimize geometric cutting parameters; at the macro scale, adopt a differential bit design scheme. By comparing and analyzing the rock-breaking energy consumption characteristics of four-blade and five-blade bits, the most efficient rock-breaking configuration can be optimized. Based on Fluent simulation on the flow field scale, the nozzle configuration can be optimized to improve the bottom hole flow field. The research results provide important theoretical guidance and technical support for the personalized design of drill bits in the later stage of water injection development.
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Yang et al. (2025) studied this question.
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