Review of PDC cutter - Rock interaction: Methods and physics

The study on PDC cutters has a long history and is a key part of PDC bit technology. As today's geo-energy drilling demands continuously challenges the technology capabilities, the study on PDC cutter - rock interaction is continuously developing. This paper reviews the advances in both methods and physics on cutter - rock interaction. For experimental methods, different cutting test facilities are introduced, and the measurement of cutting forces, stresses and temperature are reviewed and compared. Experimental methods to study rock fragmentation and microcracks are also investigated. Studies on mechanistic modeling and numerical simulations on cutting rock are also reviewed. The merits and limitations of the models and simulations are compared and discussed. The effect of (i) cutting parameters, i.e. depth of cut, cutter inclination, cutter speed, wear flat area, cutter shape and axial and/or torsional impact loads, and (ii) cutting environments, i.e. bottomhole pressure, pore pressure, bottomhole stresses and temperature, are discussed and the corresponding studies are reviewed. The objective of this review is to offer a comprehensive knowledge on PDC cutter - rock interaction and provide insights on the directions for future research.

Automated summary

This paper reviews the advances in methods and physics on PDC cutter-rock interaction, including different cutting test facilities and experimental methods for measuring cutting forces, stresses, and temperature. The study also covers mechanistic modeling and numerical simulations on cutting rock. The effects of cutting parameters and cutting environments are discussed, and future research directions are suggested for a comprehensive understanding of PDC cutter-rock interaction.