Downhole oscillator

• US 9,885,212 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2012
• Issued: 02/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Coil Tubing Technology, Inc., Jason L. Swinford
• Original Assignee: Coil Tubing Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Swinford, Jerry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wright, Giovanna C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Runyan, Ronald R
• Application Number:
  US13/434,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20120247757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,140 Days
• Field of Search: 415202, 415903, 415904, 166249, 1661771, 1661772, 1661776, 175 55, 175 56, 175107, 175386
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 4/10 continuous unidirectional rotary motion of shaft or drilling pipe effecting consecutive impacts
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 4/14 Fluid operated hammers

Abstract

An exemplary embodiment of the downhole oscillator includes an outer housing at least partially surrounding a motor and a removably coupled eccentric member. The motor at least partially drives the rotation of the eccentric member thereby producing oscillations or vibrations along the outer diameter of at least a portion of the downhole assembly. The motor'"'"'s action is at least partly facilitated by expulsion of fluid from the drill string through the motor and onto the outer housing interior such that the force of the fluid produces rotation in the motor. Rotation may be enhanced through similar expulsion of fluid from the eccentric member. Alternatively, the fluid may be expelled from the motor and/or eccentric member against the wellbore thereby providing the desired rotation. A method of use may include providing an outer housing, motor capable of producing rotational movement, and eccentric member and coupling same.

Claims

1. A downhole oscillating tool, comprising:

a generally cylindrical eccentric member, comprising a closed end and an opposite open connection end, and comprising an outer diameter;

said eccentric member functionally coupled to a drill string at its open connection end;

said eccentric member having an enlarged portion extending axially from said closed end of said eccentric member, wherein said enlarged portion has a smaller surface area in relation to the remaining portion of said eccentric member;

a motor, wherein said motor is operatively connected to said eccentric member; and

wherein said eccentric member and said motor are at least partially contained within a housing.

2. The downhole oscillating tool of claim 1, further comprising:

a protrusion extending from said enlarged portion.

3. The downhole oscillating tool of claim 1, further comprising:

said motor having a motor internal channel extending at least partially therethrough, wherein said motor internal channel is in fluid communication with a fluid source;

said motor is connected to said eccentric member;

said eccentric member having an internal channel extending at least partially therethrough wherein said eccentric member internal channel is in fluid communication with said fluid source; and

at least one rotation port extending from said eccentric member internal channel to the exterior of said eccentric.

4. The downhole oscillating tool of claim 3, wherein said at least one rotation port extends radially in an oblique manner in relation to the longitudinal axis of said eccentric member.

5. The downhole oscillating tool of claim 4, wherein said at least one rotation port is angled backward toward said connecting end of said eccentric member.

6. The downhole oscillating tool of claim 3, further comprising:

said motor internal channel is in fluid communication with said eccentric member internal channel and said fluid source;

said motor functionally connected to said eccentric member at its connecting end and proximate said eccentric member internal channel thereby allowing fluid to flow from said motor internal channel to said eccentric member internal channel;

said motor having at least one drive port extending from said motor internal channel to the exterior of said motor, wherein said at least one drive port extends through at least a portion of the wall of said motor; and

wherein said eccentric member and said motor are at least partially contained within a housing, wherein said housing is functionally coupled to a drill string.

7. The downhole oscillating tool of claim 6, wherein said housing fully contains said eccentric member and said motor therein and wherein said at least one rotation port and said at least one drive port are in fluid communication with at least a portion of the interior of said housing.

8. A downhole oscillating tool of claim 7, wherein said at least one drive port extends radially in an oblique manner in relation to the longitudinal axis of said motor, and wherein said at least one drive port is angled backward in a direction away from said eccentric member'"'"'s connecting end.

9. The downhole oscillating tool of claim 1, wherein said eccentric member and said motor are fully contained within said housing.

10. A downhole oscillating tool, comprising:

an eccentric member;

wherein said eccentric member is asymmetrical;

a protrusion functionally attached to at least a portion of said asymmetrical eccentric member;

a motor functionally connected to said eccentric member wherein said eccentric member and said motor are at least partially contained within a housing, wherein said housing is functionally coupled to a drill string;

wherein said housing fully contains said eccentric member and said motor therein;

said eccentric member having an eccentric member internal channel extending at least partially therethrough wherein said eccentric member internal channel is in fluid communication with a fluid source;

at least one rotation port extending from said eccentric member internal channel to the exterior of said eccentric member;

said motor having a motor internal channel extending at least partially therethrough, wherein said motor internal channel is in fluid communication with said eccentric member internal channel and said fluid source;

said motor functionally connected to said eccentric member proximate said eccentric member internal channel thereby allowing fluid to flow from said motor internal channel to said eccentric member internal channel;

a top sub having a top sub internal channel extending at least partially therethrough, wherein said top sub internal channel is in fluid communication with a fluid source, and said top sub having a lower housing connection end and a lower motor connection end proximate thereto;

at least one dump port disposed intermediate said lower housing connection end and said lower motor connection end;

said top sub functionally connected to said housing at said lower housing connection end distal said eccentric member and said top sub functionally connected to said motor at said lower motor connection end distal said eccentric member;

a housing annulus being defined as the space between the exterior of said motor and the interior of said housing proximate said motor exterior, wherein said dump ports are in fluid communication with said annulus; and

wherein said top sub internal channel is in fluid communication with said motor internal channel.

11. The downhole oscillating tool of claim 10, wherein:

said motor further comprises;

a control sleeve;

a power shaft;

said power shaft at least partially surrounded by said control sleeve;

said power shaft rotatable in relation to said control sleeve;

said power shaft having a shaft wall;

said power shaft having an interior power shaft channel;

at least one opening provided in said shaft wall;

said at least one opening in fluid communication with said shaft channel;

said at least one opening in said shaft wall having an interior opening and

an opening axis;

said power shaft having a central longitudinal shaft axis and an upper end and a lower end; and

said opening axis of said at least one opening in said shaft wall radially oriented wherein said opening axis is positioned in an obtusely extending manner and wherein said opening axis is also angled backward in the direction of said upper end of said power shaft.

12. The downhole oscillating tool of claim 11, wherein said protrusion includes cobalt.

13. The downhole oscillating tool of claim 10, wherein the eccentric member is asymmetrical as between a portion of the eccentric member proximate its lower end in relation to a portion of the eccentric member proximate its upper end.

14. The downhole oscillating tool of claim 10, wherein said eccentric member and said motor are fully contained with said housing.

15. A downhole oscillating tool, comprising;

an eccentric member;

wherein said eccentric member is asymmetrical;

said eccentric member having a portion containing a larger surface area in relation to the remaining surface of said eccentric member;

said larger surface area having a protrusion attached thereto;

a motor having a motor internal channel extending at least partially therethrough,

wherein said motor internal channel is in fluid communication with a fluid source;

said motor functionally connected to said eccentric member; and

said motor having at least one drive port extending from said motor internal channel to the exterior of said motor, wherein said at least one drive port extends through at least a portion of the wall of said motor.

16. The downhole oscillating tool of claim 15, wherein said at least one drive port extends radially in an oblique manner in relation to the longitudinal axis of said motor, and wherein said at least one drive port is angled backward in a direction away from said eccentric member'"'"'s connecting end.

17. The downhole oscillating tool of claim 16, further comprising:

a housing, wherein said housing fully contains said eccentric member and said motor therein;

a top sub having a top sub internal channel extending at least partially therethrough, wherein said top sub internal channel is in fluid communication with a fluid source, and said top sub having a lower housing connection end and a lower motor connection end proximate thereto;

at least one dump port disposed intermediate said lower housing connection end and said lower motor connection end;

said top sub functionally connected to said housing at said lower housing connection end distal said eccentric member and said top sub functionally connected to said motor at said lower motor connection end distal said eccentric member;

a housing annulus being defined as the space between the exterior of said motor and the interior of said housing proximate said motor exterior, wherein said dump ports are in fluid communication with said annulus;

wherein said top sub internal channel is in fluid communication with said motor internal channel;

wherein said eccentric member having an eccentric member internal channel extending at least partially therethrough wherein said eccentric member internal channel is in fluid communication with a fluid source;

at least one rotation port extending from said eccentric member internal channel to the exterior of said eccentric member, wherein said at least one rotation port extends through at least a portion of said eccentric member; and

wherein said at least one rotation port extends radially in an oblique manner in relation to the longitudinal axis of said eccentric member and wherein said at least one rotation port is angled backward toward said connecting end of said eccentric member.

18. A method of using a downhole oscillating tool, comprising:

providing a downhole oscillator comprising a motor coupled to one or more eccentric members, wherein said motor and said eccentric member are at least partially contained within a housing;

functionally coupling the downhole oscillator to a drill string to produce a desired oscillation;

lowering said downhole oscillator into a wellbore;

operating said downhole oscillator;

removing the downhole oscillator from the wellbore;

manipulating the eccentric member by adding or removing various sizes, types, or shaped protrusions to manipulate the weight and/or size of the eccentric member, wherein the manipulating step may include selecting an appropriate eccentric member; and

reinserting the downhole oscillator into the wellbore and operating the downhole oscillator.