Roller Cone Bits
Tricone roller cone drill bits manufactured by Volga Burmash for oil & gas, geothermal, and deep water well drilling. Available in sizes from 95.3 mm (3 3/4") to 660.4 mm (26") with open roller, sealed roller and sealed journal bearing configurations. IADC codes cover formations from ultra-soft clays to extremely hard abrasive rock.
Product Series
Grand (GRD)
Roller cone bits for drilling upper well sections and surface hole (conductor and protective casing). Grand bits use an open, non-sealed roller bearing: without sealing elements the journal can be maximised and the bearing is fully circulated, which reduces torque, cools the bearing and extends its life. Milled-tooth and TCI cutting structures with combined jet; can also be run on turbines. Available from 349.2 mm (13 3/4") to 660.4 mm (26").
- Bearing: Open (non-sealed) roller bearing
- Sizes: 349.2 - 660.4 mm
- IADC: 111 - 713
- Application: Upper sections, surface hole
GrandPro (GRDP)
GrandPro bits are designed for multiple runs in upper well sections. The sealed roller bearing (O-ring up to 17 1/2", two seals on larger sizes) extends bit life and lets the bits be stored between runs without jamming or corrosion of the bearing. Cost-effective when drilling several wells or long intervals with fewer trips. Available from 339.7 mm (13 3/8") to 660.4 mm (26").
- Bearing: Sealed roller bearing
- Sizes: 339.7 - 660.4 mm
- IADC: 115 - 715
- Application: Upper sections, multiple runs
GrandXtreme (GRDX)
The top tier of the Grand family for the most severe conditions in upper well sections. GrandXtreme bits use a sealed journal bearing with O-ring, two floating bushings and a silver-plated thrust washer that withstands extreme drill-string loads. Available in 349.2 mm (13 3/4"), 381.0 mm (15") and 444.5 mm (17 1/2").
- Bearing: Sealed journal bearing, O-ring, two floating bushings
- Sizes: 349.2 - 444.5 mm
- IADC: 117 - 837
- Application: Severe conditions, upper sections
Motor (MTR)
Roller cone bits for intermediate and production sections. The sealed journal bearing lets Motor bits work both with a rotary drive at high weight on bit and with a downhole motor at high rotation speed. Many pad-protection designs and options adapt the bits to specific conditions. Side jet, with combined jet standard on 11 5/8"-12 1/4".
- Bearing: Sealed journal bearing (O-ring)
- Sizes: 190.5 - 317.5 mm
- IADC: 117 - 837
- Application: Rotary and downhole motor drilling
MotorPro (MTRP)
The enhanced motor bit series for high load and high RPM drilling with a downhole motor. MotorPro bits use a premium sealed journal bearing with two seals, floating bushing, thrust washer and cap, and offer diamond-enhanced gauge inserts and a stabilized pad with TCI to protect the bit body in directional and horizontal wells.
- Bearing: Premium sealed journal bearing, two seals
- Sizes: 212.7 - 311.1 mm
- IADC: 117 - 837
- Application: Motor drilling, directional / horizontal wells
SlimHolePro (SLHP)
Small-diameter roller cone bits from 104.8 mm (4 1/8") to 171.4 mm (6 3/4") for horizontal drilling, sidetracking, re-entry jobs and final well sections. A sealed journal bearing gives long bearing life, the reinforced shirttail protects the bit body, and plasma hardfacing of the cones is available for abrasive formations. Side jet.
- Bearing: Sealed journal bearing
- Sizes: 104.8 - 171.4 mm
- IADC: 117 - 837
- Application: Slim hole, horizontal, sidetrack, re-entry
Size Range & Specifications
Size ranges and API connections of the Volga Burmash oil & gas roller cone series according to the VBM Oil & Gas catalogue. Other sizes can be manufactured on request.
| Bit Size (mm) | Bit Size (inches) | API Connection | Available Series |
|---|---|---|---|
| 104.8 - 114.3 | 4 1/8" - 4 1/2" | 2 3/8 API Reg | SLHP |
| 120.6 - 127.0 | 4 3/4" - 5" | 2 7/8 API Reg | SLHP |
| 139.7 - 171.4 | 5 1/2" - 6 3/4" | 3 1/2 API Reg | SLHP |
| 190.5 - 228.6 | 7 1/2" - 9" | 4 1/2 API Reg | MTR; MTRP in 212.7 and 215.9 |
| 241.3 - 317.5 | 9 1/2" - 12 1/2" | 6 5/8 API Reg | MTR; MTRP in 295.3 and 311.1 |
| 339.7 - 349.2 | 13 3/8" - 13 3/4" | 6 5/8 API Reg | GRDP; GRD and GRDX in 349.2 |
| 374.6 - 660.4 | 14 3/4" - 26" | 7 5/8 API Reg | GRDP (all sizes); GRD in 393.7, 444.5, 490.0, 508.0, 660.4; GRDX in 381.0, 444.5 |
Roller Cone Bits for Middle East Drilling Operations
The Middle East is one of the most active drilling regions in the world, with thousands of wells drilled annually across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, and Iraq. Roller cone bits remain the workhorse of the region's drilling operations, particularly for surface and intermediate hole sections where formations range from unconsolidated sands and soft shales to medium-hard carbonates.
Volga Burmash roller cone bits are engineered to handle the specific geological conditions found across the Arabian Peninsula. Whether you are drilling through the soft Neogene deposits of the upper sections, the competent Cretaceous limestones at intermediate depths, or the hard dolomites and anhydrites of deeper reservoir formations, our product range has the right IADC code and cutting structure to deliver optimal performance.
Bearing designs are matched to the hole section: the open roller bearing of the Grand series gives full circulation and cooling in surface hole, the sealed roller bearing of GrandPro allows multiple runs and long storage, and the sealed journal bearings of GrandXtreme, Motor, MotorPro and SlimHolePro provide reliable bearing life at high loads and in the high-temperature environments common in Middle Eastern wells, where bottomhole temperatures frequently exceed 150 degrees Celsius.
For operators using downhole motors for directional and horizontal wells — an increasingly common technique in the region — our Motor and MotorPro series are specifically designed to handle the higher rotational speeds and increased side loads associated with motor drilling. These bits deliver consistent steering response and gauge holding performance throughout extended motor runs.
VBM Middle East maintains stock of the most popular roller cone bit sizes and IADC codes in our Dubai warehouse, enabling delivery within days rather than the weeks typically required for international orders. For non-stock sizes or custom specifications, factory lead times are typically 6-8 weeks from order confirmation.
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