Lateral jet hydraulics and oval cutter technology combine to further improve PDC performance North Sea Scott Field

The successful implementation of Lateral Jet PDC hydraulics has emerged over the last few years with quantifiable results. Lateral Jets set into the blades of the bit improve the cutter cleaning efficiency thereby increasing ROP. In addition to cleaning the plenum in front of the jet, fluid entrainment creates a venturi effect drawing the fluid across the blades serviced by the downward jets. This flow is then ejected at high speed to the junk slots. The operators of the North Sea Scott Field took a major initiative in this development, and in conjunction with the Lateral Jet company, expanded the technology to initiate a new cutter design and the second general of Lateral Jet type bits, the Fully Lateral Jet. This paper will track the development of the technology from the initial trials of Lateral Jets in the Scott Field, the rationale and design criteria that initiated oval PDC cutters and most recently the Fully Lateral Jet PDC drill bit.