IADC CLASSIFICATION OF DRILL BITS

Numerous types of drill bits are available, i.e. the

largest manufacturer makes 34 types and 33 sizes and

many more on request - Confusing.

Code: 5 2 2 R

1. Series

2. Type

3. Feature

4. Feature (2)

Classification of RCB

Sta

nd

ard

Ro

ller

Bea

rin

g

Ro

ller

Bea

rin

g

Air

Co

ole

d

Ro

ller

Bea

rin

g

Gau

ge

Pro

tect

ed

Sea

lled

Ro

ller

Bea

rin

g

Sea

lled

Ro

ller

Bea

rin

g

Gau

ge

Pro

tect

ion

Sea

led

Fri

ctio

n

Bea

rin

g

Sea

led

Fri

ctio

n B

eari

ng

Gau

ge

Pro

tect

ion

SE

RIE

S

FORMATIONS

TY

PE

S

1

Soft formations with low

compressive strenght and high

drillability

1

2

3

4

2Medium to med-hard formations

with high compressive strenght

1

2

3

4

3Hard semi-abrassive and abrassive

formations

1

2

3

4

4

Soft formations with low

compressive strenght and high

drillability

1

2

3

4

5Soft formations with low

compressive strenght

1

2

3

4

6Medium hard formations with high

compressive strenght

1

2

3

4

7Hard semi-abrasive and abrassive

formations

1

2

3

4

8Extremely hard and abrasive

formations

1

2

3

4

5 6M

ille

d-T

oo

th B

its

1 2

Dir

ecti

on

al

Oth

er

Inse

rt B

its

IADC BIT CLASSIFICATION FORM

FEATURES

7 8 93 4

CO DE FEATURE CO DE FEATURE

A Air application N

B O

C Center jet P

D Deviation control O

E Extended jets R Reinforced welds

F S Standard steel teeth

G Extra gauge/body protection T

H U

I V

J Jet deflection W

K X Chisel insert

L Y Conical insert

M Z Other insert

FEATURE (2)

Example

Code: 5 2 2 R

5 = code for "insert bits“

2 = code for "soft to medium formation“

2 = code for "roller bearing air cooled“

R = code for "reinforced welds"

Code: M 5 8 2

1. Cutter type and body material,

2. Cross-section profile,

3. Hydraulic design,

4. Cutter size and density

Classification of Drag Bits

First code designations are

D Natural diamond/matrix body

M Polycrystalline diamond cutters/matrix body

S Polycrystalline diamond cutters/steel body

T Thermally stable polycrystalline diamond cutters/matrix body

O Other

Second code designations are

1. long taper/deep cone

2. long taper/medium cone

3. long taper/shallow or no cone (parabolic)

4. medium taper/deep cone

5. medium taper/medium cone

6. medium taper/shallow or no cone(rounded)

7. short taper/deep cone (inverted)

8. short taper/medium cone

9. short taper/shallow or no cone (flat)

Third code designations are

1. bladed/changeable jets

2. bladed/fixed ports

3. bladed/open throat

4. ribbed/changeable jets

5. ribbed/fixed ports

6. ribbed/open throat

7. open face/changeable jets

8. open face/fixed ports

9. open face/open throat

10. alternative codes

1. radial flow

2. cross flow

3. other

Fourth code designations are

1. Cutter size: large, medium and small

2. Cutter density: light, medium and heavy

Example

Code: M 5 8 2

M code for “polycrystalline diamond cutters/matrix

body“

5 code for "medium taper/medium cone“

8 code for "fixed ports/open face“

2 code for "medium cutter size/light cutter

density”