Diamond Bit

A diamond bit uses industrial-grade diamonds—either natural, synthetic, or polycrystalline—as the cutting medium to grind and shear through the hardest rock formations. When PDC cutters can't hold up and roller cone inserts wear out too fast, diamond bits are the last line of defense. They're unmatched in drilling hard, abrasive formations like granite, quartzite, and taconite, where other bit types simply can't deliver acceptable footage.

Core Advantages:

- Natural diamond, synthetic diamond, and impregnated diamond options

- Drills formations above 300 MPa compressive strength where other bits fail

- Longest bit life in abrasive formations—often 3-5x longer than TCI bits

- Smooth, gauge-true boreholes reduce casing running problems

- Available in surface-set and impregnated matrix configurations

- Low ROP but exceptional footage per bit in the hardest formations

Q: Why are diamond bits slower than PDC bits?

A: Diamond bits cut by grinding rather than shearing. The individual diamond particles remove rock through abrasion, which is inherently slower than PDC's shearing action. However, in formations that destroy PDC cutters within hours, a diamond bit's slower but steady progress delivers lower cost per foot overall.

Facing formations that destroy conventional bits? Our diamond bits are built for the hardest, most abrasive rock you can drill. Contact us with your compressive strength data for a custom recommendation.