Apparatus and methods for controlling drill string vibrations and applying a force to a drill bit

• US 8,950,513 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2012
• Issued: 02/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Montgomery, Matthew
• Original Assignee: Montgomery, Matthew
• Inventors: Montgomery, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Yong-Suk (Philip)
• Application Number:
  US13/573,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20140090892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 175/57, 175/322, 175/325.2, 175/56, 267/136, 267/134, 464/20, 464/21, 464/23, 464/87, 464/97, 464/18, 464/27
• US Class Current: 175/325.2
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/076 between rod or pipe and drill bit
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/1014 Flexible or expansible centering means, e.g. with pistons pressing against the wall of the well E21B17/1042 takes precedence

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for controlling drill string vibrations and applying a force to a drill bit include a body having a first piston at an uphole end in association with a drill string and a second piston at a downhole end in association with a drill bit. A first biasing member urges the first piston outward to provide a first force in an uphole direction to the drill string. A second biasing member urges the second piston outward to provide a second force in a downhole direction to the drill bit. When vibration from the drill string compresses the first biasing member, the first force resists the vibration and maintains the apparatus and drill bit in a consistent orientation. When an uphole force from the drill string or the drill bit compresses the second biasing member, the second force prevents movement of the drill bit in an uphole direction.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling vibrations of a drill string and applying a force to a drill bit, the apparatus comprising:

a body having an uphole end and a downhole end, wherein the body comprises a first piston positioned at the uphole end and a second piston positioned at the downhole end;

a first biasing member operatively associated with the first piston, wherein the first biasing member urges the first piston outward from the body to provide a first force in an uphole direction to the drill string engaged with the uphole end;

a second biasing member operatively associated with the second piston, wherein the second biasing member urges the second piston outward from the body to provide a second force in a downhole direction to the drill bit engaged with the downhole end; and

an outer housing and an inner member within the housing, wherein a first end of the inner member engages the first biasing member and a second end of the inner member engages the second biasing member, wherein compression of the first biasing member enables the first piston to move within the outer housing and external to the inner member, and wherein compression of the second biasing member enables the second piston to move within the outer housing and external to the inner member,

wherein a vibration from the drill string compresses the first biasing member such that the first force resists the vibration and maintains the body and the drill bit in a generally consistent orientation relative to the drill string, and wherein an uphole force from the drill string, the drill bit, or combinations thereof, compresses the second biasing member such that the second force prevents movement of the drill bit in an uphole direction.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first biasing member, the second biasing member, or combinations thereof comprise at least one Belleville spring.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first piston, the second piston, or combinations thereof, is adapted to move relative to the body a distance of two feet or more.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first piston, the second piston, or combinations thereof, is adapted to move relative to the body a distance of two feet or less.

5. A method for controlling vibrations of a drill string and applying a force to a drill bit, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an apparatus into a wellbore, wherein the apparatus comprises a first end adapted to contact and apply a force to the drill bit, a second end adapted to contact and apply a force to the drill string, a body, a first piston associated with the first end, a second piston associated with the second end, an outer housing, and an inner member within the housing;

using the drill bit to bore through a formation, wherein the formation applies an uphole force to the drill bit, wherein the uphole force compresses a first biasing member associated with the first end of the apparatus and engaging a first end of the inner member, wherein compressing the first biasing member moves the first piston relative to the body, within the outer housing and external to the inner member, and wherein the first biasing member applies a downhole counterforce to the drill bit to prevent movement of the drill bit in an uphole direction; and

extending the drill string into the wellbore thereby applying a vibrational force to the drill string, wherein the vibrational force compresses a second biasing member associated with a second end of the apparatus and engaging a second end of the inner member, wherein compressing the second biasing member moves the second piston relative to the body, within the outer housing and external to the inner member, and wherein the second biasing member applies an uphole counterforce to the drill string to resist the vibrational force and maintain the drill bit and the apparatus in a generally consistent orientation relative to the drill string.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first piston, the second piston, or combinations thereof, move a distance of two feet or greater relative to the body.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the first piston, the second piston, or combinations thereof, move a distance of two feet or less relative to the body.

8. An apparatus for controlling vibrations of a drill string and applying a force to a drill bit, the apparatus comprising:

a tubular housing having an axial bore with a first end and a second end;

a first mandrel positioned within the first end of the axial bore and movable in a first axial direction relative to the tubular housing;

a second mandrel positioned within the second end of the axial bore and movable in a second axial direction relative to the tubular housing;

a spring mandrel positioned within the axial bore between the first end and the second end;

at least one first biasing member positioned between the spring mandrel and the first mandrel; and

at least one second biasing member positioned between the spring mandrel and the second mandrel,

wherein a vibrational force from the drill string moves the first mandrel into the axial bore, thereby compressing said at least one first biasing member, wherein said at least one first biasing member applies a vibrational counterforce that resists the vibration and maintains the tubular housing and the drill bit in a generally consistent orientation relative to the drill string,

wherein an uphole force from the drill bit moves the second mandrel into the axial bore, thereby compressing said at least one second biasing member, and wherein said at least one second biasing member applies a downhole counterforce that prevents movement of the drill bit in an uphole direction.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a first stop member positioned between said at least one first biasing member and the spring mandrel for limiting movement of the first piston and a second stop member positioned between said at least one second biasing member and the spring mandrel for limiting movement of the second piston.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said at least one first biasing member, said at least one second biasing member, or combinations thereof, comprises at least one Bellville spring.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a first spring housing positioned between the spring mandrel and the first piston, wherein the first spring housing comprises a tubular member, and wherein said at least one first biasing member comprises at least one spring positioned along an exterior surface of the tubular member.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a second spring housing positioned between the spring mandrel and the second piston, wherein the second spring housing comprises a tubular member, and wherein said at least one second biasing member comprises at least one spring positioned along an exterior surface of the tubular member.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a spline engagement between the first mandrel and the tubular housing, between the second mandrel and the tubular housing, or combinations thereof.