Modeling and simulation of complete drill strings

A computer program product for predicting behavior of a drill string assembly including a drill bit, the computer program product including a non-transitory tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method comprising:

• generating a mathematical representation of a drill bit, the representation including a geometry of each of a plurality of cutters and a geometry of one or more non-cutting components of the drill bit, the one or more non-cutting components including at least a portion of a drill bit crown;
• simulating one or more operating conditions incident on the drilling assembly, and simulating contact between the drill bit and at least one of a borehole wall and an earth formation, wherein simulating contact includes:
• simulating interaction between the plurality of cutters and at least one of a borehole wall and an earth formation using a first interaction parameter associated with forces experienced by the plurality of cutters, wherein the plurality of cutters are simulated as a first component to which the first interaction parameter is applied;
• and
• simulating interaction between the one or more non-cutting components of the drill bit and at least one of a borehole wall and an earth formation using a second interaction parameter associated with different forces experienced by the one or more non-cutting components, the second interaction parameter associated with frictional forces experienced by surfaces of the one or more non-cutting components due to rubbing against at least one of the borehole wall and the formation, wherein the non-cutting components of the drill bit are simulated as a separate component to which the second interaction parameter is applied, the first interaction parameter and the second interaction parameter including different rates of formation material removal;
• predicting physical responses of the drilling assembly to the one or more operating conditions and the simulated contact;
• and
• drilling a borehole based at least in part on the predicted physical responses.

A system for estimating a behavior of a drilling assembly including a drill bit during a drilling operation, the system comprising:

• a drilling assembly including at least a drill bit connected to a drill string, the drilling assembly configured to be disposed in a borehole;
• a plurality of sensors operatively associated with the drilling assembly;
• and
• a processor in communication with the plurality of sensors, the processor configured to perform:
• generating a mathematical representation of a drill bit, the representation including a geometry of each of a plurality of cutters and a geometry of one or more non-cutting components of the drill bit, the one or more non-cutting components including at least a portion of a drill bit crown;
• simulating one or more operating conditions incident on the drilling assembly, and simulating contact between the drill bit and at least one of a borehole wall and a formation, wherein simulating contact includes:
• simulating interaction between the plurality of cutters and at least one of a borehole wall and an earth formation using a first interaction parameter associated with forces experienced by the plurality of cutters, wherein the plurality of cutters are simulated as a first component to which the first interaction parameter is applied;
• and
• simulating interaction between the one or more non-cutting components of the drill bit and at least one of a borehole wall and an earth formation using a second interaction parameter associated with different forces experienced by the one or more non-cutting components, the second interaction parameter associated with frictional forces experienced by surfaces of the one or more non-cutting components due to rubbing against at least one of the borehole wall and the formation, wherein the non-cutting components of the drill bit are simulated as a separate component to which the second interaction parameter is applied, the first interaction parameter and the second interaction parameter including different rates of formation material removal;
• predicting physical responses of the drilling assembly to the one or more operating conditions and the simulated contact;
• and
• drilling a borehole based at least in part on the predicted physical responses.