Wellbore drilling systems with vibration subs

• US 9,982,487 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2015
• Issued: 05/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Samuel, Robello, Caraway, Douglas B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bomar, Shane
• Application Number:
  US14/810,054
• Publication Number:
  US 20160053546A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 28/00 Vibration generating arrangements for boreholes or wells, e.g. for stimulating production for fishing for or freeing objects E21B31/005; for transmitting measuring-signals E21B47/14; for geophysical measurements G01V1/02
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/24 Drilling using vibrating or oscillating means, e.g. out-of-balance masses percussion drilling E21B1/00

Abstract

A bottom-hole assembly includes a drill string extendable within a wellbore and a drill bit positioned at a distal end of the drill string. A vibration sub is positioned in the drill string axially adjacent the drill bit and includes one or more vibratory devices that impart vibration to the drill bit.

Claims

1. A bottom-hole assembly, comprising:

a drill string extendable within a wellbore;

a drill bit positioned at a distal end of the drill string;

a reamer positioned in the drill string and axially offset from the drill bit;

a first vibration sub positioned in the drill string axially adjacent the drill bit and including one or more vibratory devices that impart vibration to the drill bit; and

a second vibration sub positioned in the drill string axially adjacent to the reamer and including one or more additional vibratory devices that impart vibration to the reamer.

2. The bottom-hole assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more vibratory devices comprise one or more piezoelectric modules.

3. The bottom-hole assembly of claim 2, wherein the one or more piezoelectric modules comprise piezoceramic actuators.

4. The bottom-hole assembly of claim 1, wherein a frequency of the vibration is between 0.001 Hz and 500 Hz.

5. The bottom-hole assembly of claim 1, wherein the first vibration sub vibrates in phase with the second vibration sub.

6. The bottom-hole assembly of claim 1, wherein the first vibration sub vibrates out of phase with the second vibration sub.

7. A method, comprising:

introducing a drill string into a wellbore, the drill string including a drill bit positioned at a distal end of the drill string, a reamer positioned in the drill string and axially offset from the drill bit, a first vibration sub positioned axially adjacent the drill bit and including one or more vibratory devices, and a second vibration sub positioned in the drill string axially adjacent to the reamerand including one or more additional vibratory devices;

actuating the one or more vibratory devices of the first vibration sub to impart vibration to the drill bit and thereby mitigate an occurrence of at least one of stick-slip and drill string whirl; and

actuating the one or more vibratory devices of the second vibration sub to impart vibration to the reamer.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

sensing local vibrations with a sensor and control module of the first vibration sub; and

sending electrical power to the vibratory devices when the local vibrations exceed a predetermined threshold.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein sending the electrical power to the vibratory devices comprises managing operation of a power source of the first vibration sub.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein managing operation of the power source comprises supplementing or charging a battery of the first vibration sub with a power generator selected from the group consisting of a turbine and a Moineau motor generator.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more vibratory devices comprise at least two piezoelectric modules, wherein at the at least two piezoelectric modules are oriented in at least two different directions, and wherein actuating the one or more vibratory devices comprises actuating the at least two piezoelectric modules in the at least two different directions.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein actuating the at least two piezoelectric modules comprises actuating the at least two piezoelectric modules independently or in unison.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein actuating the one or more vibratory devices comprises generating axial or longitudinal motion using vibratory devices oriented longitudinally in the tool body.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein actuating the one or more vibratory devices comprises generating lateral motion or torsional motion using vibratory devices oriented radially in the tool body.

15. The method of claim 7, further comprising actuating the one or more vibratory devices while running the drill string into the wellbore and prior to drilling.