Barrels of Cuttings per Foot Drilled

 

Cuttings Drilled Formulas
\( BBLOC \;=\;  D_h^2 \; ( 1 - n ) \;/\; 1029.4 \)     (\(bbl \;/\; ft\)) \( CFOC \;=\;  D_h^2 \; 0.7854 \; ( 1 - n ) \;/\; 144 \)     (\(ft^3 \;/\; ft\))
Symbol	English	Metric
\( BBLOC \) = Barrels of Cuttings per foot Drilled	\(bbl \;/\; ft\)	-
\( CFOC \) = Cubic Feet of Cuttings per Foot Drilled	\(ft^3 \;/\; ft\)	-
\( D_h \) = Drill Hole Size	\(in\)	-
\( n \) = Porosity	\(dimensionless\)	-

Barrels of cuttings per foot drilled measures the volume of cuttings (rock fragments) generated per foot of well drilled.  This is needed for understanding the efficiency of the drilling process, the performance of the drill bit, and the properties of the geological formations being drilled.  By monitoring and analyzing this metric, drilling operations can be optimized for better performance and cost effectiveness.

Importance

Drilling Efficiency  -  Helps in evaluating the effectiveness of the drilling process and identifying potential issues with the drill bit or drilling technique.
Formation Analysis  -  Provides insights into the geological formations being drilled, such as their density and composition.
Waste Management  -  Assists in planning the handling and disposal of drilling waste.

Considerations

Cuttings Volume Measurement  -  Accurate measurement of cuttings volume is critical.  This can be challenging due to the separation process and the presence of drilling fluids.
Variation by Formation  -  Different geological formations will produce varying volumes of cuttings, influencing the BBLOC.
Operational Adjustments  -  Operators may adjust drilling parameters based on BBLOC to optimize performance and manage costs.