Field Diamond’s PDC Cutters Achieve 60m Single-Bit Run in Chile’s Harsh Ground

In Chile’s copper belt—known for formations with high quartz content, 8–12 rock hardness, and extreme abrasiveness—most drilling tools struggle to maintain penetration speed and tool life. The local mining team had long faced rapid bit wear and unstable drilling progress in copper ore layers containing more than 60% quartz.

To overcome this challenge, the customer equipped their DTH hammer bit with Field Diamond’s high-wear-resistance PDC cutters. The cutters’ durable diamond layer and strong thermal stability helped the bit endure heavy abrasion, while their optimized design improved cutting efficiency in quartz-rich ground. This upgrade allowed the DTH hammer bit to maintain steady performance throughout the entire hole.

During the field trial, traditional bits typically achieved around 30 meters per bit and required two bits to finish one hole, averaging 12.98 m/h efficiency. With Field Diamond PDC cutters installed, the enhanced DTH bit drilled a full 60-meter hole with a single tool, delivered higher penetration efficiency, and maintained a more even wear pattern. The result was a significant reduction in replacement time and lower drilling cost per meter.

The customer reported over 40% cost savings and a noticeably smoother drilling experience with fewer interruptions. As they summarized: “Using Field Diamond PDC cutters on our DTH bit completely changed the performance in Chile’s harsh copper ore—more stable, more durable, and far more efficient.”