Drill-N-Ream®

Since the inception of horizontal drilling, operators have needed to ensure their lateral wellbores are conditioned before running swell packer assemblies or conventional cemented liners. Many companies have utilized dedicated reamer runs for this process, but these are time consuming and costly. Superior Drilling’s patented Drill-n-Ream® (DNR®) tool eliminates the need for a dedicated reamer run, as it conditions the wellbore while drilling. Once total depth is reached with a DNR® no additional wellbore conditioning is required; even for wells with 10,000’ lateral lengths or greater.

As of 12/31/18 the DNR® has been run in approximately 4800 wells. Each time the operator has successfully eliminated dedicated reamer runs.

Since all wellbores are not perfectly straight, but include spiraling and tortuosity due to directional drilling, torque and drag can become a problem especially in longer laterals. With its unique design, the patented Drill-n-Ream® creates a smoother wellbore which reduces torque and drag.

As can be seen in this table, torque at the surface was reduced by 4.8% in this example.

Any time a wellbore is not conditioned properly, operations slow down and costs increase. Hook loads are an easy identifier of troublesome hole conditions. A smoother wellbore lowers hook loads and quickens trips in and out of the hole, as well as eliminates costly mud additives needed for lubrication.

The RSS hook load data shown below is just one of numerous examples, and proves that Superior Drilling Products’ patented Drill-n-Ream® (DNR®) tool can lessen hook loads to optimize your drilling operation.

While drilling, BHA vibration can be lateral (XY), axial (Z), or torsional (T). Lateral vibrations cause bit whirl, axial vibrations cause bit bounce, and torsional vibrations cause stick-slip. These vibrations can damage MWD equipment, motors, and drill bits. The RSS data shown below is just one of numerous examples, and proves that Superior Drilling Products’ patented Drill-n-Ream® (DNR®) tool reduced vibration counts by 45% in this application. The DNR® accomplished this considerable benefit by forcing both eccentric reamers into opposite sides of the wellbore while in rotation. The PDC cutters then transmit the vibrations into the formation instead of allowing them to continue downhole and affect the BHA.

By diminishing vibration, drilling is optimized. Less vibration improves bit life, enhances MWD and mud motor reliability, and increases ROP.

A smooth wellbore will enhance weight transfer to the bit. This effect creates improved differential pressure, lower mechanical specific energy (MSE), and increased rate of penetration (ROP). Other drilling aspects which are improved include increased bit and mud motor life.

The first chart shows differential pressure (DP) and weight on bit (WOB). In the first half of the lateral the two wells perform in a similar fashion as WOB and DP are very close. However, in the second half of the lateral the well with the DNR® has increased DP, while the well without the DNR® requires more WOB and its DP has been lowered.