Volga Burmash polycrystalline diamond compact bits in both steel-body and matrix-body designs, engineered for high rates of penetration through the directional and horizontal sections of Guyana's Stabroek deepwater wells. Fixed-cutter PDC technology excels in the soft-to-medium formations of the offshore Tertiary clastics, drilling longer intervals between trips and cutting cost-per-metre on every run.
Six Volga Burmash PDC families cover the full offshore bit programme — from general-purpose drilling and abrasive-interval protection to sidetracks, hole opening and coring. Each line is matched to formation, hole size and BHA so every section drills to plan.
The core PDC line for general-purpose drilling. A steel body carries precision-machined blade profiles and premium polycrystalline diamond cutters, with tuned hydraulics that keep the bottom of the hole clean at field flow rates. Blade count is set from 4 to 8 to match formation hardness — the everyday workhorse for vertical and directional sections offshore Guyana.
The matrix-body sister of the FastDrill series. A tungsten-carbide matrix body shrugs off erosion in abrasive formations and lets us run more aggressive gauge-protection geometry. Built for intervals where abrasive sands or high fluid velocities would chew through a steel body, keeping the bit on gauge through long laterals.
A PDC bit purpose-built for reaming and wiper-trip work. Aggressive gauge-cutting elements and a conditioning profile clean and dress the wellbore, while the enhanced gauge row holds full-gauge hole even after long drilling intervals with other bit types — the tool that keeps the hole in shape before casing.
Engineered for sidetrack and window-milling operations. A concave profile and aggressive cutting structure kick off cleanly from cement plugs or casing windows, while compact blade geometry gives the steerability needed with directional assemblies or rotary steerable systems — ideal for re-drilling and well recovery on the Stabroek Block.
An eccentric PDC bit that drills a hole wider than its nominal diameter using a bicentric, under-reamer design. The pilot section opens the initial bore while the eccentric section enlarges it to casing drift diameter in a single pass — enabling casing-while-drilling and one-trip hole-opening operations that save rig time offshore.
PDC core bits for formation evaluation and geological sampling. They cut an annular ring around a central core, preserving an intact cylindrical rock sample for laboratory analysis. Offered in standard wireline core-barrel sizes with PDC and diamond-impregnated cutter configurations to suit different rock types found in Guyana's offshore sequence.
Choosing the right body material is critical for PDC bit performance. The comparison below sets the steel-body lines (FD, WT, ST, BD) against the matrix-body FastDrillMatrix to help you decide.
| Feature | Steel Body (FD, WT, ST, BD) | Matrix Body (FDM) |
|---|---|---|
| Body Material | AISI 4145H modified alloy steel | Tungsten carbide matrix (infiltrated) |
| Erosion Resistance | Good — hardfacing applied to critical areas | Excellent — inherent carbide hardness |
| Impact Resistance | Excellent — steel absorbs shock loads | Good — matrix is harder but more brittle |
| Repairability | Easily rebuilt — cutters can be replaced and body re-machined | Limited — matrix body cannot be welded |
| Blade Count | Up to 8 blades | Up to 7 blades |
| Hydraulics | Highly customizable nozzle positions | Nozzle positions set during casting |
| Cost | Lower initial cost, lower rebuild cost | Higher initial cost, limited rebuild |
| Best For | Non-abrasive to mildly abrasive formations, directional work, short to medium intervals | Highly abrasive formations, long intervals, high flow rates, extended motor runs |
How the six lines map onto real work in the Stabroek Block and the wider Guyana-Suriname basin — from deepwater long laterals to abrasive intervals, sidetracks and formation evaluation.
The long horizontal sections that maximize reservoir contact in deepwater Stabroek wells demand high ROP and predictable steering. Rebuildable steel-body FastDrill bits drill these intervals fast, then come back to the plant for cutter replacement and re-machining — driving down cost per run across a multi-well campaign.
Where high-velocity drilling fluid carries abrasive sand that would erode steel hardfacing, the matrix-body FastDrillMatrix holds its geometry. The infiltrated tungsten-carbide body resists washout through long offshore intervals, keeping the bit on gauge to total depth.
For kicking off a sidetrack from a cement plug or casing window, SideTrack (ST) delivers a clean, steerable departure. When a section needs opening to casing drift in a single trip, BicentricDrill (BD) enlarges behind the pilot — saving rig time on costly deepwater days.
When the well programme calls for intact rock for the lab, CoreBits (CB) cut an annular ring and preserve a cylindrical sample. Standard wireline sizes with PDC or diamond-impregnated cutters suit the range of formations logged through Guyana's offshore sequence.
PDC and tricone bits are complementary, not interchangeable. Fixed-cutter PDC bits shine in the soft-to-medium clastics and carbonates of Guyana's offshore upper and intermediate sections, where they can deliver rates of penetration several times higher than roller cone bits and stay in the hole for long, trip-saving intervals. Their lack of moving parts also suits the extended motor and rotary-steerable runs typical of directional and horizontal drilling on the Stabroek Block.
Tricone bits keep the edge in harder, more interbedded or chert-laden formations, in spudding tophole, and wherever shock loading and unpredictable lithology would risk cutter breakage on a PDC. Many Guyana well plans run both — a PDC for the long drillable sections and a tricone bit for the hard stringers and surface hole — selected against offset data rather than habit.
To match a bit to your formation by IADC code and dull-grading history, see our guide on how to choose a drill bit by IADC code, and for the offshore supply picture read drill bits for the Stabroek Block. Or send us your well data and we will spec the run.
Tell us your hole size, formation and target depth. As the authorized Volga Burmash distributor in Guyana, we'll match a tricone, PDC or mining bit and respond with availability and pricing.
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