3
2. Second, the drill steel becomes lodged into the
rock due to failure of the drilling system such as
the steel breaks, the air pressure being reduced
clogging the necessary release of air to expel the
cuttings, or the machine operations causing an
irretrievable bit in the hole. This is considered a
failure because the bit and the steel likely need to
be replaced thus resulting in the end of the bit life
production rate.
3. The third failure mode and the most common fail-
ure mode for a button bit occur when the ”but-
ton rolls.” This term indicates one of the carbide
inserts of the drill bit becomes worn loose from
the metallic host that makes up the body of the
drill bit. This usually occurs well before the more
abrasive-resistant carbide tooth wears flat. The less
abrasive-resistant steel body of the bit is worn away
by the constant particles of rock that are grinding
against the face and the sides of the bit by the cut-
tings as they are expelled from the borehole. This
wear reduces the strength of the bit’s body result-
ing in a button cleanly breaking loose or a fracture
along the edge of the bit’s face. See Figures 2 &3.
The third failure mode is the most common in the field
and is the target mode for the case study at hand to test
if the Enrich Bits &Tools treatment can improve bit life
reliability.
MATERIALS
The Drill Bits:
For the consideration of the manufacturer of the bits and
to reduce any negative projection of the manufacturer, The
producer of the bits and the type will remain anonymous. It
is worth mentioning the treated bits used in case studies 1
and 2 are from the same manufacturer. The untreated bits
in case study 2 however were not from the same manu-
facturer. This adds an unwanted variable and in phase two
of the study, the bits from the same manufacturer will be
utilized and the report will be updated.
Case Study 1:
The Drill: Sandvik Ranger DX800 The Rock: Missouri OG
Gasconade Dolomite
Casy Study 2:
The Drill: 2018 Epiroc T45
The Rock: Burlington Limestone Geologic Formation
RESULTS
Case Study 1:
In a direct comparison between treated and untreated drill
bits Table 1, the untreated bit produced 4,907 borehole feet
before the button roll failure of occurred (failure mode 3).
The treated bit produced 12,999 borehole feet before the
same failure mode occurred. See Figure 1.
Case Study 2
At the quarry location, 17,000 feet per bit is average wear
before a breakage failure (failure mode 3). This kind of
sheer breakage failure occurs in the untreated bits despite
which manufacturer is supplying the bits.
While a breakage failure did occur in one of the cryo-
genically treated bits at the typical production life, the Cryo
Treated Bit 2 outperformed the Untreated Bit 1 by 1.55×
or an increase of 55%. See Table 2. Combining the perfor-
mance of the treated bits vs. the untreated bits, the pen-
etration rates of the untreated bits were 163.1 ft/hour. The
treated bits had a penetration rate of 234.7 ft/hour. The
untreated bits’ combined production rates were 69% of the
performance of the treated bits.
It is important to note the increase in performance
of the second treated bit was only limited by the fact the
treated bit was lost in the pattern due to drilling failures
described in the failure second mode and not the result of
the third mode.
APPLICATION OF ENRICH BITS &TOOLS
TREATMENT TO DRILL BITS
The implementation of The Enrich Bits &Tools treat-
ment of button drill bits has yielded remarkable results.
Traditional drill bits often suffer from rapid wear, leading
to frequent replacements and increased operating costs. By
subjecting drill bits to the Enrich Bits &Tools treatment,
their wear resistance is significantly improved, resulting in
Eliminating Downtime. In-pit transportation to
restock drill bits is reduced as well as the time associated
with replacing the bit. The time associated with a bit change
can equate to the cost of a bit in machine availability and
the labor costs associated with it.
Job hazards associated with replacing worn-out bits are
reduced. While a standard operating procedure is associ-
ated with the task, human risk is associated with remov-
ing the worn-out bit and lifting and installing the new bit.
Table 1. Bit life measured in borehole feet.
Treated or
Non-treated
Cryo
Treated Bit
Non-
Treated Bit %Increase
Footage 12,999 4,907 165%
2. Second, the drill steel becomes lodged into the
rock due to failure of the drilling system such as
the steel breaks, the air pressure being reduced
clogging the necessary release of air to expel the
cuttings, or the machine operations causing an
irretrievable bit in the hole. This is considered a
failure because the bit and the steel likely need to
be replaced thus resulting in the end of the bit life
production rate.
3. The third failure mode and the most common fail-
ure mode for a button bit occur when the ”but-
ton rolls.” This term indicates one of the carbide
inserts of the drill bit becomes worn loose from
the metallic host that makes up the body of the
drill bit. This usually occurs well before the more
abrasive-resistant carbide tooth wears flat. The less
abrasive-resistant steel body of the bit is worn away
by the constant particles of rock that are grinding
against the face and the sides of the bit by the cut-
tings as they are expelled from the borehole. This
wear reduces the strength of the bit’s body result-
ing in a button cleanly breaking loose or a fracture
along the edge of the bit’s face. See Figures 2 &3.
The third failure mode is the most common in the field
and is the target mode for the case study at hand to test
if the Enrich Bits &Tools treatment can improve bit life
reliability.
MATERIALS
The Drill Bits:
For the consideration of the manufacturer of the bits and
to reduce any negative projection of the manufacturer, The
producer of the bits and the type will remain anonymous. It
is worth mentioning the treated bits used in case studies 1
and 2 are from the same manufacturer. The untreated bits
in case study 2 however were not from the same manu-
facturer. This adds an unwanted variable and in phase two
of the study, the bits from the same manufacturer will be
utilized and the report will be updated.
Case Study 1:
The Drill: Sandvik Ranger DX800 The Rock: Missouri OG
Gasconade Dolomite
Casy Study 2:
The Drill: 2018 Epiroc T45
The Rock: Burlington Limestone Geologic Formation
RESULTS
Case Study 1:
In a direct comparison between treated and untreated drill
bits Table 1, the untreated bit produced 4,907 borehole feet
before the button roll failure of occurred (failure mode 3).
The treated bit produced 12,999 borehole feet before the
same failure mode occurred. See Figure 1.
Case Study 2
At the quarry location, 17,000 feet per bit is average wear
before a breakage failure (failure mode 3). This kind of
sheer breakage failure occurs in the untreated bits despite
which manufacturer is supplying the bits.
While a breakage failure did occur in one of the cryo-
genically treated bits at the typical production life, the Cryo
Treated Bit 2 outperformed the Untreated Bit 1 by 1.55×
or an increase of 55%. See Table 2. Combining the perfor-
mance of the treated bits vs. the untreated bits, the pen-
etration rates of the untreated bits were 163.1 ft/hour. The
treated bits had a penetration rate of 234.7 ft/hour. The
untreated bits’ combined production rates were 69% of the
performance of the treated bits.
It is important to note the increase in performance
of the second treated bit was only limited by the fact the
treated bit was lost in the pattern due to drilling failures
described in the failure second mode and not the result of
the third mode.
APPLICATION OF ENRICH BITS &TOOLS
TREATMENT TO DRILL BITS
The implementation of The Enrich Bits &Tools treat-
ment of button drill bits has yielded remarkable results.
Traditional drill bits often suffer from rapid wear, leading
to frequent replacements and increased operating costs. By
subjecting drill bits to the Enrich Bits &Tools treatment,
their wear resistance is significantly improved, resulting in
Eliminating Downtime. In-pit transportation to
restock drill bits is reduced as well as the time associated
with replacing the bit. The time associated with a bit change
can equate to the cost of a bit in machine availability and
the labor costs associated with it.
Job hazards associated with replacing worn-out bits are
reduced. While a standard operating procedure is associ-
ated with the task, human risk is associated with remov-
ing the worn-out bit and lifting and installing the new bit.
Table 1. Bit life measured in borehole feet.
Treated or
Non-treated
Cryo
Treated Bit
Non-
Treated Bit %Increase
Footage 12,999 4,907 165%