Paper: Diamond Enhanced Hammer Bit Impacts Drilling Performance in The Val Verde Basin

Diamond Enhanced Hammer Bits in conjunction with Down-the-Hole Air Hammers have been utilized throughout the 1990's to improve penetration rates in hard formations as well as to reduce deviation and improve overall drilling costs. Significant improvements in bit life have been made by utilizing the 3rd Generation Impax Hammer Bits along with the current Best Drilling Practices that have been developed in the Val Verde Basin. This paper will review these Best Drilling Practices as well as discuss the new technology that was developed for these Percussion Drilling applications.