Axial, Lateral and Torsional Force Dampener

• US 20150376959A1
• Filed: 02/06/2014
• Published: 12/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: QCD Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: QCD Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Dinica, Cornel, Russell, Anthony Desmond, Monteil, Denice
• Granted Patent: US 10,858,895 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/07 Telescoping joints for varying drill string lengths; Shock absorbers

Abstract

A downhole tool for dampening vibrational, lateral, compressive, and tensile forces within a drillstring is described. The downhole tool generally includes a bottom end shaft configurable to a drillstring and that is telescopically engaged within a compression housing and a torsional housing. The torsional housing enables the bottom end shaft to slide axially with respect to the torsional housing whilst preventing torsional movement of the bottom end shaft relative to the torsional housing. The compression housing is configurable to drillstring equipment and operatively contains a first spring between the compression housing and the bottom end shaft that absorbs compression forces between bottom end shaft and compression housing.

Claims

1. A downhole tool for dampening compressive and tensile forces within a drillstring comprising:

a bottom end shaft configurable to a drillstring, the bottom end shaft telescopically engaged within a compression housing and a torsional housing;

the torsional housing having at least one longitudinal slot operatively containing at least one pin for sliding engagement within a corresponding longitudinal slot and engagement within a recess on the bottom end shaft, wherein engagement of the at least one pin within the corresponding longitudinal slot allows axial movement of the bottom end shaft relative to the torsional housing and prevents rotational movement of the bottom end shaft relative to the torsional housing;

the compression housing configurable to drillstring equipment, the compression housing operatively containing a first spring between the compression housing and the bottom end shaft, the first spring for absorbing compression forces between the bottom end shaft and the compression housing.

2. The downhole tool as in claim 1 further comprising a second spring operatively contained within the compression housing between the compression housing and the bottom end shaft, the second spring for absorbing tension forces between the bottom end shaft and the compression housing and wherein when under no compressive or tensile forces the first and second springs return the bottom end shaft to a balanced position.

3. The downhole tool as in claim 1 wherein the torsional housing includes a rubber insert configured to inner surfaces of the torsional housing, and wherein the at least one pin engages with the rubber insert.

4. The downhole tool as in claim 1 wherein the torsional housing operatively retains four pins.

5. The downhole tool as in claim 2 wherein the first and second springs are contained within first and second hydraulic chambers containing hydraulic fluid.

6. The downhole tool as in claim 1 further comprising a first seal operatively connected between the torsional housing and bottom end shaft.

7. The downhole tool as in claim 6 further comprising a second seal operatively connected between the compression housing and bottom end shaft.

8. The downhole tool as in claim 7 further comprising a pressure compensation system for equalizing pressure between the exterior of the tool and the first and second seals.

9. The downhole tool as in claim 8 wherein the pressure compensation system includes a pressure ring operatively positioned between the first and second seals having an internal diameter generally corresponding to the external diameter of the bottom end shaft, the pressure ring having at least one hole extending between an internal and external surface of the pressure ring and wherein the external surface operatively retains a pressure ring seal.

10. The downhole tool as in claim 1 wherein the first and second springs are rubber-coated.

11. The downhole tool as in claim 1 wherein the torsional housing comprises an outer torsion housing and an inner torsion cartridge, the inner torsion cartridge having the at least one longitudinal slot and the at least one pin, wherein the inner torsion cartridge and outer torsion housing have mating splines and recesses enabling helical and axial movement of the inner torsion cartridge relative to the outer torsion housing when the inner torsion cartridge is subjected to a torsional force relative to the outer torsion housing.

12. The downhole tool as in claim 11 further comprising a disk spring seated against downhole and uphole surfaces of the inner torsion cartridge for absorbing axial uphole and downhole forces when the inner torsion cartridge moves relative to the outer torsion housing.

13. The downhole tool as in claim 11 further comprising a second spring operatively contained within the compression housing between the compression housing and the bottom end shaft, the second spring for absorbing tension forces between the bottom end shaft and the compression housing and wherein when under no compressive or tensile forces the first and second springs return the bottom end shaft to a balanced position.

14. The downhole tool as in claim 11 wherein the first and second springs are contained within first and second hydraulic chambers containing hydraulic fluid.

15. The downhole tool as in claim 11 further comprising a first seal operatively connected between the torsional housing and bottom end shaft.

16. The downhole tool as in claim 15 further comprising a second seal operatively connected between the compression housing and bottom end shaft.

17. The downhole tool as in claim 16 further comprising a pressure compensation system for equalizing pressure between the exterior of the tool and the first and second seals.

18. The downhole tool as in claim 17 wherein the pressure compensation system includes a pressure ring operatively positioned between the first and second seals having an internal diameter generally corresponding to the external diameter of the bottom end shaft, the pressure ring having at least one hole extending between an internal and external surface of the pressure ring and wherein the external surface operatively retains a pressure ring seal.

19. The downhole tool as in claim 11 wherein the first and second springs are rubber-coated.

20. The downhole tool as in claim 11 wherein the inner torsion cartridge operatively retains four pins.

21. A downhole tool for dampening compressive and tensile forces within a drillstring comprising:

a bottom end shaft configurable to a drillstring, the bottom end shaft telescopically engaged within a compression housing and a torsional housing;

a first seal operatively connected between the torsional housing and bottom end shaft;

a second seal operatively connected between the compression housing and bottom end shaft;

the torsional housing having at least one longitudinal slot operatively containing at least one pin for sliding engagement within a corresponding longitudinal slot and engagement within a recess on the bottom end shaft, wherein engagement of the at least one pin within the corresponding longitudinal slot allows axial movement of the bottom end shaft relative to the torsional housing and prevents rotational movement of the bottom end shaft relative to the torsional housing;

wherein the torsional housing includes a rubber insert configured to inner surfaces of the torsional housing and wherein the at least one pin engages with the rubber insert;

the compression housing configurable to drillstring equipment, the compression housing operatively containing;

a first spring contained within a first hydraulic chamber containing hydraulic fluid between the compression housing and the bottom end shaft, the first spring for absorbing compression forces between the bottom end shaft and the compression housing; and

a second spring contained within a second hydraulic chamber containing hydraulic fluid between the compression housing and the bottom end shaft, the second spring for absorbing tension forces between the bottom end shaft and the compression housing;

wherein when under no compressive or tensile forces the first and second springs return the bottom end shaft to a balanced position.

22. The downhole tool of claim 21 further comprising a pressure compensation system for equalizing pressure between the exterior of the tool and the first and second seals, the pressure compensation system including a pressure ring operatively positioned between the first and second seals having an internal diameter corresponding to the external diameter of the bottom end shaft, the pressure ring having at least one hole extending between an internal and external surface of the pressure ring and wherein the external surface operatively retains a pressure ring seal.

23. A downhole tool for dampening compressive and tensile forces within a drillstring comprising:

a bottom end shaft configurable to a drillstring, the bottom end shaft telescopically engaged within a compression housing and a torsional housing;

a first seal operatively connected between the torsional housing and bottom end shaft;

a second seal operatively connected between the compression housing and bottom end shaft;

the torsional housing comprising an outer torsion housing and an inner torsion cartridge have mating splines and recesses enabling helical and axial movement of the inner torsion cartridge relative to the outer torsion housing when the inner torsion cartridge is subjected to a torsional force relative to the outer torsion housing;

the inner torsion cartridge comprising;

at least one longitudinal slot operatively containing at least one pin for sliding engagement within a corresponding longitudinal slot and engagement within a recess on the bottom end shaft, wherein engagement of the at least one pin within the corresponding longitudinal slot allows axial movement of the bottom end shaft relative to the torsional housing and prevents rotational movement of the bottom end shaft relative to the torsional housing; and

a disk spring seated against downhole and uphole surfaces of the inner torsion cartridge for absorbing axial uphole and downhole forces when the inner torsion cartridge moves relative to the outer torsion housing; and

wherein the compression housing is configurable to drillstring equipment, the compression housing operatively containing;

a first spring contained within a first hydraulic chamber containing hydraulic fluid between the compression housing and the bottom end shaft, the first spring for absorbing compression forces between the bottom end shaft and the compression housing; and

a second spring contained within a second hydraulic chamber containing hydraulic fluid between the compression housing and the bottom end shaft, the second spring for absorbing tension forces between the bottom end shaft and the compression housing;

wherein when under no compressive or tensile forces the first and second springs return the bottom end shaft to a balanced position.

24. The downhole tool of claim 23 further comprising a pressure compensation system for equalizing pressure between the exterior of the tool and the first and second seals, the pressure compensation system including a pressure ring operatively positioned between the first and second seals having an internal diameter corresponding to the external diameter of the bottom end shaft, the pressure ring having at least one hole extending between an internal and external surface of the pressure ring and wherein the external surface operatively retains a pressure ring seal.