5
Depending on the size and weight associated with a drill
bit, a crane is necessary. For this case study, the risk is less
of a factor.
Cost Savings: Reduced replacement frequency and
improved efficiency translate into substantial cost savings
for industries relying on drill bits.
Enhanced Precision: It is currently not proven in the
field but testing is underway to measure if the advanced
cryogenic treatment contributes to better-increased drilling
accuracies due to the dimensional stability of the bit. The
factors of the rock such as bedding planes likely play more
of a role in the drilling accuracies. Additionally, drilling
pressures and routine maintenance can impact accuracies
which could also play a larger role in the accuracies of bore-
holes for blasting. Future tests would be to match borehole
accuracy per footage to see if a correlation exists.
Environmental benefits: As the world’s resources are
growing more and more scarce, the pressure and need to
be more efficient is essential. The consumerism driving the
economics of the world today is not slowing down and the
need to provide more environmentally friendly options is
growing. The application of advanced cryogenics in pro-
duction drilling can reduce an operation’s need for bits in
half. This cuts down on the carbon footprint of a single bit
looking at the supply chain of transporting a bit from a
smelter overseas to reducing the need for the raw iron and
coal associated with its production in the first place.
CONCLUSION
The advanced cryogenic treatment from Enrich Bits &
Tools has evolved from its origins in preservation to become
an indispensable tool for enhancing the performance of
drill bits and wear parts. By improving wear resistance and
extending the lifespan of drill bits in the OG Gasconade
Dolomite Formation and the Burlington Limestone
Formation, cryogenic treatment has proven to be a valu-
able tool to reduce downtime, cut waste from expended
drill bits, and increase reliability by a factor of 165% in
highly abrasive rock and 55% in limestone. Cryogenic
treatment has been proving beneficial to quarry operations.
Continued testing in various rock masses and with alter-
native bit manufacturers are ongoing to enhance statistical
results with the potential to reduce drilling wear costs by
half.
REFERENCES:
[1] Jovičević-Klug, P. Rohwerder, M. Sustainable
New Technology for the Improvement of Metallic
Materials for Future Energy Applications. Coatings
2023, 13, 1822. doi.org/10.3390/coatings13111822
[2] Gunes, I., Uzun, M., Cetin, A., Aslantas, K., &Cicek,
A. D. E. M. (2016). Evaluation of wear performance
of cryogenically treated Vanadis 4 Extra tool steel.
Kovove Mater, 54(3), 195–204. pp 6.
[3] Ramesh, S., Bhuvaneswari, B., Palani, G. S., Lal, D.
M., &Iyer, N. R. (2017). Effects on corrosion resis-
tance of rebar subjected to deep cryogenic treatment.
Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, 31,
123–132. pp
[4] Ghasemi-Nanesa, H., &Jahazi, M. (2014).
Simultaneous enhancement of strength and ductility
in cryogenically treated AISI D2 tool steel. Materials
Science and Engineering: A, 598, 413–419.
Table 2. Measure-while-drilling results and drilling data
Treated or Non-treated Treated Bit 1 Treated Bit 2
Non-treated Bit
1
Non-treated Bit
2
Days in use 20 40 24 16
Footage 17,604 31,203 17,175 14,107
Holes 541 1,306 446 452
#of Blasts 5.75 6 4.5 4
Avg Drill (ft/hr) 226 230 242 250
Avg Fuel Conservation (g) 40.47 41.13 41.06 41.02
Feed Pressure (bar) 14.5 15.2 15 14.7
Rotation Pressure (bar) 46 51 48 45
Operating Hours 77.5 130.44 63.04 128.75
Burlington LA Abrasion 47.5 47.5 47.5 47.5
Burlington Formation
Density (g/cc)
2.23 2.23 2.23 2.23
Comments /Failure mode: Bit broke Lost steel &bit Bit broke In use -end of bit life
Depending on the size and weight associated with a drill
bit, a crane is necessary. For this case study, the risk is less
of a factor.
Cost Savings: Reduced replacement frequency and
improved efficiency translate into substantial cost savings
for industries relying on drill bits.
Enhanced Precision: It is currently not proven in the
field but testing is underway to measure if the advanced
cryogenic treatment contributes to better-increased drilling
accuracies due to the dimensional stability of the bit. The
factors of the rock such as bedding planes likely play more
of a role in the drilling accuracies. Additionally, drilling
pressures and routine maintenance can impact accuracies
which could also play a larger role in the accuracies of bore-
holes for blasting. Future tests would be to match borehole
accuracy per footage to see if a correlation exists.
Environmental benefits: As the world’s resources are
growing more and more scarce, the pressure and need to
be more efficient is essential. The consumerism driving the
economics of the world today is not slowing down and the
need to provide more environmentally friendly options is
growing. The application of advanced cryogenics in pro-
duction drilling can reduce an operation’s need for bits in
half. This cuts down on the carbon footprint of a single bit
looking at the supply chain of transporting a bit from a
smelter overseas to reducing the need for the raw iron and
coal associated with its production in the first place.
CONCLUSION
The advanced cryogenic treatment from Enrich Bits &
Tools has evolved from its origins in preservation to become
an indispensable tool for enhancing the performance of
drill bits and wear parts. By improving wear resistance and
extending the lifespan of drill bits in the OG Gasconade
Dolomite Formation and the Burlington Limestone
Formation, cryogenic treatment has proven to be a valu-
able tool to reduce downtime, cut waste from expended
drill bits, and increase reliability by a factor of 165% in
highly abrasive rock and 55% in limestone. Cryogenic
treatment has been proving beneficial to quarry operations.
Continued testing in various rock masses and with alter-
native bit manufacturers are ongoing to enhance statistical
results with the potential to reduce drilling wear costs by
half.
REFERENCES:
[1] Jovičević-Klug, P. Rohwerder, M. Sustainable
New Technology for the Improvement of Metallic
Materials for Future Energy Applications. Coatings
2023, 13, 1822. doi.org/10.3390/coatings13111822
[2] Gunes, I., Uzun, M., Cetin, A., Aslantas, K., &Cicek,
A. D. E. M. (2016). Evaluation of wear performance
of cryogenically treated Vanadis 4 Extra tool steel.
Kovove Mater, 54(3), 195–204. pp 6.
[3] Ramesh, S., Bhuvaneswari, B., Palani, G. S., Lal, D.
M., &Iyer, N. R. (2017). Effects on corrosion resis-
tance of rebar subjected to deep cryogenic treatment.
Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, 31,
123–132. pp
[4] Ghasemi-Nanesa, H., &Jahazi, M. (2014).
Simultaneous enhancement of strength and ductility
in cryogenically treated AISI D2 tool steel. Materials
Science and Engineering: A, 598, 413–419.
Table 2. Measure-while-drilling results and drilling data
Treated or Non-treated Treated Bit 1 Treated Bit 2
Non-treated Bit
1
Non-treated Bit
2
Days in use 20 40 24 16
Footage 17,604 31,203 17,175 14,107
Holes 541 1,306 446 452
#of Blasts 5.75 6 4.5 4
Avg Drill (ft/hr) 226 230 242 250
Avg Fuel Conservation (g) 40.47 41.13 41.06 41.02
Feed Pressure (bar) 14.5 15.2 15 14.7
Rotation Pressure (bar) 46 51 48 45
Operating Hours 77.5 130.44 63.04 128.75
Burlington LA Abrasion 47.5 47.5 47.5 47.5
Burlington Formation
Density (g/cc)
2.23 2.23 2.23 2.23
Comments /Failure mode: Bit broke Lost steel &bit Bit broke In use -end of bit life