Logging and Log Interpretation - Streaming Potential Phenomena in SP Log Interpretation

Oil well drilling muds prepared with lubricating aids such as oil, graphite or mica will not produce a sufficiently strong protective lubricant film for the bit bearing surfaces under high load conditions encountered in drilling operations. Consequently, the damage to the bearing surfaces resulting from the absence of such a film frequently results in a shortening of the drill bit life. Several different types of extreme pressure lubricating additives for use in muds have been developed. These arlrlitives are capable of providing a protective lubricating film for bearing surfaces subjected to high load pressures. A modified version of the Timken lubricant tester, an instrument commonly used for testing the extreme pressure lubricating properties of oils, is used for measuring and controlling the lubricating qualities of the mud. Comparison tests made in the laboratory with 55/8-in. tricone bits drilling on steel plates immersed in extreme pressure lubricating muds and conventional muds showed that the bearing life of those bits tested in the lrrbricating mud was three to four times greater than obtained with conventional muds. Drilling tests made with extreme pressure lubricating muds in West Texas increased over-all bit life three to fourfold, reduced drilling torque and wear on drill pipe and drill collars. INTRODUCTION Roller bit cones contain roller, ball and journal-type bearings that are subjected to very heavy loading during drilling operations in which the only lubricant available for these bearings is either water or drilling mud. These bearings must be able to operate satisfac- torily in order for the cutting structures on the surface of the cones to be fully utilized. Frequently, the bearings wear to the point that the cones freeze and the bit must be pulled before the cutting structures on the cones become worn. In some instances the bearings continue to turn with severe wear but the cones, which are held on the bit by the bearings, drop off; and this causes an expensive fishing job. In other instances the bearings wear to the point that the cones pinch in causing an undergauge hole and delays to ream the hole. The advantage of increasing bit bearing life is self-evident. Because of inability to control the internal wear of bits while drilling, it was felt that improvement of the lubricating qualities of the circulating mud would be helpful. However, the often-discussed lubricating property attributed to muds has been a rather vague and intangible one. The literature has implied that the oil-emulsion muds are more effective lubricants than non-emulsion muds. Actually, there has been no direct method of measuring the lubricating property of muds which would indicate that one mud was better than another; there has been no way to determine whether the lubricating property of any mud was adequate. Furthermore, in comparing lubricating properties of muds, two qualities should be considered—the coefficient of friction and the extreme pressure lubricating qualities. For example, graphite can reduce the coefficient of friction, but does not provide a strong enough lubricating film to protect bit bearings subjected to high loads. The primary object of the investigation reported herein was to find a method for prolonging the bearing life of drill bits; and considering the heavy loads used in drilling, it was felt necessary to find both a method of measuring lubricating properties under high load conditions and methods of establishing effective lubrication under these conditions. Extreme pressure lubrication deals with that realm of lubrication where metal surfaces are in rubbing contact with each other under very high pressures. These pressures may be quite high, as for example,