Dynamic vibrational control

• US 9,382,761 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2007
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith International Incorporated (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Smith International Incorporated (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Huang, Sujian J., Oliver, Stuart, Stronach, Graham
• Primary Examiner(s): ALHIJA, SAIF A
• Application Number:
  US11/733,955
• Publication Number:
  US 20070192071A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,373 Days
• Field of Search: 703/10
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 10/00 Drill bits specially adapted for deflecting the direction of boring E21B7/064; with means for collecting substances E21B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 44/00 Automatic control systems specially adapted for drilling operations, i.e. self-operating systems which function to carry out or modify a drilling operation without intervention of a human operator, e.g. computer-controlled drilling systems; Systems specially adapted for monitoring a plurality of drilling variables or conditions

Abstract

A method for reducing vibration of a drilling tool assembly is disclosed. The method includes modeling the drilling tool assembly based on input parameters, simulating a vibration of a drill string coupled with a vibration of a drill bit, determining an initial total vibration from output parameters generated by the simulation, determining a location for at least one vibrational control device based on the initial total vibration to reduce the initial total vibration, and disposing the at least one vibrational control device on the drill string at the determined location.

Claims

1. A method to reduce vibration while drilling with a drilling tool assembly, the method comprising:

performing a simulation of the drilling tool assembly based on a plurality of input parameters;

determining a vibration of the drilling tool assembly based on the simulation;

comparing the vibration of the drilling tool assembly to a vibration criterion;

performing a simulation of the drilling tool assembly based on at least one modification to the plurality of input parameters, the modification to the plurality or input parameters including at least one of a modified design parameter of at least one vibration control device, a modified material property of the at least one vibration control device, a modified axial location of the at least one vibration control device along the drilling tool assembly, or an additional vibration control device along the drilling tool assembly;

based on the simulation, determining a vibration of the drilling tool assembly with the at least one modification to the plurality of input parameters;

comparing the vibration criterion to the vibration of the drilling tool assembly with the at least one modification to the plurality of input parameters; and

disposing, based on the comparison to the drilling tool assembly with the at least one modification to the plurality of input parameters, at least one vibration control device on the drilling tool assembly to reduce dynamic vibrations.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

actuating the at least one vibration control device disposed on the drilling tool assembly to dampen vibration, wherein actuating comprises engaging the at least one vibration control device with a borehole wall.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one vibration control device disposed on the drilling assembly comprises an expandable stabilizer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein disposing the at least one vibration control device comprises placing the at least one vibration control device on the drilling tool assembly at a location to limit lateral movement of the drilling tool assembly.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein disposing the at least one vibration control device comprises placing the at least one vibration control device on the drilling tool assembly at a vibrational antinode.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein disposing the at least one vibration control device comprises placing a plurality of vibration control devices, each placed at a distinct vibrational antinode along the drilling tool assembly.

7. A method for designing a drilling tool assembly, the method comprising:

inputting a plurality of input parameters including vibration control device parameters;

performing a simulation of the drilling tool assembly based on a plurality of input parameters;

determining a total vibration of the drilling tool assembly from the simulation;

modifying the vibration control device parameters based on the total vibration, wherein modifying the vibration control device parameters comprises at least one of altering a design parameter of at least one vibration control device, altering a material property of at least one vibration control device, changing a location of at least one vibration control device axially along the drilling tool assembly, or adding an additional vibration control device along the drilling tool assembly; and

simulating the drilling tool assembly based on the modified vibration control device parameters.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the vibration control device parameters include a location of at least one vibration control device.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one vibration control device comprises an expandable stabilizer.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein altering a design parameter of at least one vibration control device comprises changing a type of the at least one vibration control device.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising forming the drilling tool assembly based on the modified vibration control device parameters.