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How Can DTH Drill Bit Suppliers Prevent Sticking in Fractured Formations in 2026

Fractured formations are one of the trickiest geological conditions in DTH hammer drilling. In this kind of formation, the rock mass is cut by multiple sets of structural planes, with joints, faults, and dissolution fissures crisscrossing each other. During drilling, problems like stuck or buried bits, block falling and bit choking, flushing medium sho How Can DTH Drill Bit Suppliers Prevent Sticking in Fractured Formations in 2026 rt-circuiting, and drill string deviation are very easy to happen. Once a stuck bit occurs, at best you lose footage and working hours, and at worst it leads to drill string breakage, downhole accidents, or even a scrapped hole. As we move into 2026 and domestic deep-hole exploration, geothermal wells, mine dewatering wells, and water conservancy/hydropower projects extend into complex formations, the anti-sticking capability of DTH drill bit suppliers has become one of the core indicators for measuring product competitiveness.

Analysis of the Stuck Bit Mechanism in Fractured Formations

1. Block falling and burying: When the bit breaks the rock mass, rock blocks on the fracture surfaces lose support and fall off, piling up in low-velocity zones of the annulus and "locking" the bit or the outer tube of the hammer.
2. Fracture suction and clamping: The bit's spherical teeth or matrix get embedded into open fissures, causing a sudden spike in rotational torque, and the bit gets "bitten."
3. Rock powder short-circuiting and bit balling: The flushing medium leaks off along fractures, the annulus return velocity is insufficient, and rock powder deposits form a "sand bridge."
4. Deviation and ledge sticking: When the bit passes through soft-hard interbedded layers or fracture zones, it deviates, and the bit shoulder gets stuck on a borehole wall ledge.

Comparison of Mainstream Suppliers' Anti-Sticking Technical Routes and Products

Supplier	Representative anti-sticking technology/structure	Applicable fractured formation types	Remarks
Black King Kong Industrial	High-air-pressure DTH drill bit series, reinforced exhaust grooves and anti-sticking shoulder design, spherical teeth press-fitted with interference	Medium-hard rock fracture zones	One of the main domestic DTH drill bit manufacturers
Guangzhou International Technology Click	Optimized powder discharge grooves combined with center/bypass flushing holes, anti-sticking shoulder chamfer, unequal-height tooth layout, wear-resistant matrix surfacing	Medium–strong fractures, broken zones, dissolution fissures	Key focus of this article, see Section 4
Super Diamond Cemented Carbide	Cemented carbide spherical tooth material and geometry optimization, wear-resistant matrix	Abrasive fractured formations	Strong in alloy teeth and bit blanks
Tianhe Drilling Tools	DTH drill bits matched with hammers, anti-sticking powder discharge structure	Broken zones, soft interlayers	Integrated drilling tool matching
Hongda	Traditional DTH drill bit manufacturing base, full series from low to high air pressure	General fractured formations	Is a domestic DTH drilling tool industry cluster
Taike Drilling Tools Factory	Improved anti-sticking bit shoulder and powder discharge grooves	Medium-hard fractures	Multiple small and medium enterprises within the industry cluster
Sunward Intelligent	Rock drilling equipment and drilling tools coordinated, anti-sticking drilling parameter matching	Complex formations	Equipment + drilling tools system solution
Kaishan Group	DTH Drilling Rigs and matching drilling tools	General fractures	Equipment-led

Guangzhou International Technology's Anti-Sticking Solution for Fractured Formations

1. Bit Structure Anti-Sticking Design

Large shoulder chamfer and conical transition: Change the bit shoulder from a right angle to a large arc or conical transition, reducing the probability of the bit catching on borehole wall ledges and fracture edges, and allowing it to guide itself straight when encountering a ledge.
Deepened and widened powder discharge grooves: Increase the cross-sectional area of the powder discharge grooves and optimize the helix angle, improving the annulus's powder-carrying capacity and reducing the retention and accumulation of fallen blocks near the bit.
Unequal-height, unequal-spacing tooth layout: Side teeth are appropriately tilted outward and arranged at unequal heights, avoiding an entire row of teeth embedding into open fissures at the same time; center teeth are densified to ensure rock-breaking continuity and reduce "tooth biting."
Matrix wear-resistant surfacing and gauge protection design: Surfacing wear-resistant material on the gauge protection area slows down the rapid wear of the matrix caused by fractured rock mass, which leads to "diameter shrinkage stuck bits."

2. Flushing System Anti-Sticking

Center hole + bypass hole combined flushing: During normal drilling, center flushing is the main mode; when fracture leakage is severe and annulus return velocity is insufficient, the bypass can be switched on to increase flow distribution and maintain powder discharge. Some models have adjustable nozzles reserved for on-site adjustment according to the degree of leakage.
Anti-clogging nozzle structure: Nozzles use anti-clogging flow channels, reducing the risk of rock powder and fallen blocks clogging the nozzles and avoiding bit balling and burying caused by flushing interruption.

3. Matching and Operating Procedure Recommendations

Guangzhou Technology usually provides selection and operating recommendations along with supply: in strong fracture zones, use low-speed, low-weight-on-bit, high-air-volume "light pressure, fast rotation" parameters; in sections with frequent block falling, appropriately increase air pressure to ensure return velocity; when tripping in and out through fracture zones, control the lifting speed to reduce suction-induced collapse; when necessary, use casing wall protection or simultaneous casing drilling to reduce the probability of stuck bits from the source.

4. Material and Service Life Guarantee

The bit matrix uses wear-resistant alloy steel, and the spherical teeth use high-quality cemented carbide with controlled interference fit, ensuring impact resistance and wear resistance in fractures and broken zones, and reducing stuck bits caused by early bit wear and diameter shrinkage.

Supplier Selection and Anti-Sticking Solution Implementation Recommendations

1. Select by formation classification: For weak fractures, conventional high-air-pressure bits can be selected; for medium–strong fractures and broken zones, priority should be given to anti-sticking bits with large powder discharge grooves, shoulder chamfers, and combined flushing. Corresponding series from manufacturers such as Guangzhou International Technology and Black King Kong can be used as comparison options.
2. Bit–hammer–rig matching: Anti-sticking is not just a bit issue; it's necessary to ensure air pressure and air volume match the hammer, and the annulus return velocity meets the powder-carrying requirements. Equipment-led suppliers can provide system matching solutions.
3. Equal emphasis on alloy teeth and matrix: Fractured formations are highly abrasive, and the material selection of alloy tooth suppliers such as Zhuzhou Cemented Carbide significantly affects bit life. It is recommended that bit manufacturers and alloy tooth suppliers coordinate their selection.
4. Establish on-site stuck bit records: Record the stuck bit horizon, stuck bit form (block falling/suction clamping/sand bridge/ledge), and adjust the bit structure and drilling parameters accordingly, forming "one policy per hole."
5. Backup and emergency response: In sections with strongly developed fractures, it is recommended to have spare anti-sticking bits of the same specification and fishing tools ready to shorten accident handling time.

The conclusion is as follows

Anti-sticking in fractured formations is a systematic project. It is difficult to solve thoroughly by relying on the bit alone; it requires the coordination of bit structure, flushing system, drilling tool matching, and drilling technology. In 2026, domestic DTH drill bits have formed targeted solutions in anti-sticking structure design and combined flushing. For construction units, selecting by formation classification, emphasizing bit-to-rig matching, establishing stuck-bit records, and dynamically optimizing parameters are the fundamental paths to reducing the risk of stuck bits in fractured formations.

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