NOV Introduces the ION+ Stealth PDC Cutter Technology

NOV ReedHycalog has introduced ION+™ Stealth cutter, its latest line of PDC shaped cutters designed to help operators drill faster through difficult rock without sacrificing reliability, bit life, and wellbore quality.

"With the ION+ Stealth , we've developed a cutter that enables operators to achieve higher drilling efficiency without making the traditional sacrifices in cutter life," said Richard Rivera, Director, PDC Cutter Technology, NOV.

Improving durability and efficiency

PDC shaped cutters have transformed fixed-cutter bit performance by concentrating stress into the formation, fracturing rock more efficiently, and increasing rates of penetration (ROP). Those same concentrated forces, however, increase stress on the cutter, accelerate wear, and increase the risk of damage in interbedded lithologies and other challenging applications where higher ROP and lower torque are critical.

ION+ Stealth is a patented curvilinear geometry that combines optimized planar and curved surfaces across the diamond table. The planar surface promotes rapid rock fracture for higher ROP, while the surrounding curved surfaces reduce reactive cutting forces and improve load distribution across the cutter face.

Organic contours minimize stress concentrations around sharp edges, and an optimized working ridge increases diamond volume in high wear areas to improve impact resistance and extend cutter life.

Together, this unique geometry enables operators to drill more aggressively while maintaining durability and control. The result is higher ROP, lower bit torque, reduced vibration, and longer cutter life compared with conventional cutter designs.

Proven across demanding applications

Field trials from West Texas to the Middle East have demonstrated that the ION+ Stealth cutter can overcome the traditional tradeoff between drilling efficiency and durability. In eight runs in a vertical intermediate well in the Delaware Basin, drill bits equipped with ION+ Stealth cutters increased ROP by 10% while drilling 13% more footage.

In an 8.5-in. lateral offshore Abu Dhabi, the ION+ Stealth helped the bit achieve the highest on-bottom ROP of 240.9 ft/hr (73.43 m/hr), the best performance in the application. The bit was pulled in excellent overall dull condition. In Oman, the new shaped cutter technology helped the bit achieve the third-highest ROP in the directional well, despite drilling the longest interval-1,427 ft (435 m)-at an average ROP of 84.5 ft/hr (25.75 m/hr).

Advancing drilling performance

As operators continue pushing the limits of drilling performance, innovations at the cutter level remain fundamental to improving efficiency and reliability. The ION+ Stealth reflects NOV ReedHycalog's continued commitment to advancing PDC cutter technology.

By combining a patented curvilinear geometry and advances in materials science with sophisticated proprietary modeling software, the new cutter line helps operators achieve higher ROP, extend bit runs, and improve durability across various challenging applications and lithologies.

For more information about the ION+ Stealth cutter line or to explore how this technology can enhance your drilling performance, please contact your local NOV ReedHycalog representative or email [email protected].