Technical resources

Drilling Performance & Optimization

Sep 1, 2026 · 18 min read

When Should You Pull a Drilling Bit? A Decision Under Uncertainty

Knowing that a PDC bit is losing effectiveness does not automatically mean it should be pulled. A bit trip only makes economic sense if the expected improvement from replacing the bit exceeds the time required to trip out and return to bottom. This article examines how surface-data wear indicators, ROP trends, downhole torque context, trip-time estimates, and scenario analysis can turn bit condition into a more defensible operational decision.

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Aug 31, 2026 · 14 min read

Interpreting High ROP in the Context of Drilling Efficiency

Rate of penetration is one of the most visible drilling-performance metrics, but high ROP does not necessarily mean the drilling process is operating efficiently. This article examines how MSE, torque behavior, drilling dysfunctions, formation context, hole cleaning, bit condition, and wellbore quality change the interpretation of ROP—and why the best operating point cannot be determined from drilling speed alone.

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