Drilling Rate Of Penetration Calculator

Work out drilling rate of penetration instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Drilling Rate Of Penetration Calculator

Rate of penetration rises roughly in proportion to weight on bit and rotary speed and falls with bit diameter. Mechanical specific energy — the energy consumed per unit volume of rock removed — is the diagnostic that shows whether extra weight and speed are actually being converted into hole or wasted in vibration and bit wear.

Formulas

Rate of penetration

ROP = K x WOB x RPM / bit diameter

Drilling efficiency

MSE = 4 WOB / (pi d^2) + 480 x RPM x torque / (pi d^2 x ROP)

Worked example

With the default values below, Drilling Rate Of Penetration Calculator returns Rate Of Penetration of 19.765. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Weight On Bitminimum 0.01 lb: 35,000 lb
Rotary Speedminimum 0.01 rpm: 120 rpm
Bit Diameterminimum 0.01 inches: 8.5 inches
Formation Drillability Constantminimum 0: 0.00004

Results

Rate Of Penetration: 19.765
Footage Per Day: 474.4
Weight On Bit Per Inch Of Diameter: 4,117.6
Mechanical Specific Energy: 955,546

Step by step

1Values used
2Rate of penetration
3Drilling efficiency
4Rate Of Penetration= 19.765
5Footage Per Day= 474.4
6Weight On Bit Per Inch Of Diameter= 4,117.6
7Mechanical Specific Energy= 955,546

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
Figures are rounded for display to 3 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
Drilling parameters must be set within the bit manufacturer's and bottom-hole assembly limits and the well's mechanical constraints. Exceeding them risks downhole tool failure and well control incidents.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Drilling parameters must be set within the bit manufacturer's and bottom-hole assembly limits and the well's mechanical constraints. Exceeding them risks downhole tool failure and well control incidents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does ROP stop improving with more weight?

Bit tooth founder — beyond a limit the cuttings cannot clear, the bit balls up or the teeth fail. MSE rises sharply at that point, which is the signal to stop adding weight.

What limits rotary speed?

Bit and bottom-hole assembly vibration, particularly stick-slip and whirl, which destroy bits and downhole tools. Drilling dynamics monitoring finds the safe window.