Three dimensional modeling of interactions between downhole drilling tools and rock chips

A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions stored therein, the instructions executable by one or more processors to facilitate performing a method for estimating the efficiency of a drilling tool, the method comprising:

• determining a position of a plurality of cutting elements on a plurality of blades disposed about a rotational axis of a downhole drilling tool;
• generating a three dimensional model of a borehole bottom;
• incrementally rotating the plurality of cutting elements about the rotational axis, each incremental rotation comprising:
• identifying a location for each of a first plurality of cutlets associated with each cutting element;
• calculating a depth of cut for each of the first plurality of cutlets based on the location of the cutlet and the three dimensional model of the borehole bottom;
• generating a three dimensional rock chip model for each cutting element, in response to the depth of cut of at least one of the first plurality of cutlets associated with the cutting element being greater than a critical depth of cut, each three dimensional rock chip model divided into a second plurality of cutlets extending in front of the cutting element into the three dimensional model of the borehole bottom and including a two dimensional model of a rock chip associated with each of the second plurality of cutlets;
• and
• updating the three dimensional model of the borehole bottom by removing each of the three dimensional rock chip models;
• and
• selecting the downhole drilling tool to be used in a drilling operation.

A downhole drilling tool modeling system, comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory communicatively coupled to the processor with computer program instructions stored therein, the instructions configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• determine a position of a plurality of cutting elements on a plurality of blades disposed about a rotational axis of a downhole drilling tool;
• generate a three dimensional model of a borehole bottom;
• incrementally rotate the plurality of cutting elements about the rotational axis, each incremental rotation causing the processor to:
• identify a location for each of a first plurality of cutlets associated with each cutting element;
• calculate a depth of cut for each of the first plurality of cutlets based on the location of the cutlet and the three dimensional model of the borehole bottom;
• generate a three dimensional rock chip model for each cutting element, in response to the depth of cut of at least one of the first plurality of cutlets associated with the cutting element being greater than a critical depth of cut, each three dimensional rock chip model divided into a second plurality of cutlets extending in front of the cutting element into the three dimensional model of the borehole bottom and including a two dimensional model of a rock chip associated with each of the second plurality of cutlets;
• and
• update the three dimensional model of the borehole bottom by removing each of the three dimensional rock chip models;
• and
• select the downhole drilling tool to be used in a drilling operation.

A drilling system, comprising:

• a drill string connected to a downhole drilling tool;
• and
• a rotary drive configured to rotate at least part of the drill string together with the downhole drilling tool;
• wherein efficiency of-the downhole drilling tool is modeled by:
• determining a position of a plurality of cutting elements on a plurality of blades disposed about a rotational axis of the downhole drilling tool;
• generating a three dimensional model of a borehole bottom;
• incrementally rotating the plurality of cutting elements about the rotational axis, each incremental rotation comprising:
• identifying a location for each of a first plurality of cutlets associated with each cutting element;
• calculating a depth of cut for each of the first plurality of cutlets based on the location of the cutlet and the three dimensional model of the borehole bottom;
• generating a three dimensional rock chip model for each cutting element, in response to the depth of cut of at least one of the first plurality of cutlets associated with the cutting element being greater than a critical depth of cut, each three dimensional rock chip model divided into a second plurality of cutlets extending in front of the cutting element into the three dimensional model of the borehole bottom and including a two dimensional model of a rock chip associated with each of the second plurality of cutlets;
• and
• updating the three dimensional model of the borehole bottom by removing each of the three dimensional rock chip models;
• and
• selecting the downhole drilling tool to be used in a drilling operation.