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Summary Aiming at the difficulty of penetration in hard-plasticity formation represented by the Mahu oil field, a new type of chord-edge cutter is proposed. Through theoretical derivation and quantitative analysis of specific unit pressure (SUP) and breaking area, the penetration and rock-breaking area of the chord-edge cutter are studied, which clarifies that the rock-breaking efficiency of the chord-edge cutter is higher than that of the conventional cutter. The first part of the laboratory experiment investigated the drilling efficiency of two mini-bits on a special sample. The results show that the chord-edge cutter mini-bit has higher efficiency than a conventional mini-bit. The second part of the laboratory experiment investigated the influence of rate of penetration (ROP), revolutions per minute (RPM), and rock types on the drilling performance of chord-edge cutter mini-bit. The data show that the chord-edge cutter is more suitable for drilling hard-plastic rocks. It also reveals that the higher the RPM, the lower the stick/slip vibration, but the RPM above a certain value will lead to an increase in lateral vibration. ROP and weight on bit (WOB) are positively correlated. To verify these conclusions, a field test is carried out in the hard-plastic formation of a well in the Mahu. In this test, compared with a conventional polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) bit, a roller-cone bit, and a hybrid bit, the chord-edge cutter bit has the best drilling effect. Further, it is found that when using the chord-edge cutter bit, the high RPM and proper control of WOB can achieve a better drilling efficiency. This rule is mutually confirmed with the conclusion of the laboratory experiment. After the above research and its implementation, it can be concluded that the novel chord-edge cutter bit can achieve the research goal of higher efficiency, which provides a new idea to overcome challenges in the hard-plastic strata. Introduction China is a vast country with complex geological structures that oil and gas drilling projects often encounter. As shown in Figure 1, PDC bits are especially difficult to feed when drilling hard-plastic formations and broken rocks have strong abrasiveness, which results in poor drilling performances, such as serious wear and failure of bits, low ROP, short footage, and long drilling cycle. The microbit drilling test is carried out on the hard-plastic mudstone taken from the Baikouquan layer in Mahu, Xinjiang. The test found that the drilling bottom is smooth, indicating that the conventional PDC cutter cannot penetrate the rock.
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