Downhole Piston Tools for Drilling Force and Friction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drilling methods for deep wells are costly and inefficient, with existing downhole devices failing to generate sufficient mechanical force to significantly enhance drilling rates and reduce friction between the drill string and well bore.
Innovation Solution
The combination of a Fluid Pulsing Down Hole Tool with Multiple In Series Pistons Down Hole Tools, which convert pressure pulses into mechanical force by adding additional pistons in series, allowing for the generation of significant mechanical force that can act in one or both directions to energize the drill string or drill bit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a single piston down hole tool is used to convert pressure pulses into mechanical force, then some mechanical force is generated, but the force is not significant enough to substantially increase drilling rates
Solution Approach 1:
The down hole tool is divided into multiple piston segments arranged in parallel. Each piston independently converts pressure pulses into mechanical force, and the forces from all pistons combine to produce a significant total force that can substantially increase drilling rates.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple pistons are combined within a single down hole tool housing, with all pistons working simultaneously to generate mechanical force. The combined output of all pistons produces a cumulative force effect that overcomes the limitation of a single piston.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If drilling fluid is pumped continuously through the drill string, then cuttings are carried away, but friction between the drill string and well bore remains high
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic pressure pulses instead of continuous pumping. The pulsing action creates intermittent high-velocity fluid flow that periodically reduces friction between the drill string and well bore, while still maintaining effective cuttings removal during the pulse phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure pulsing creates vibrational motion in the drilling fluid and drill string, which helps reduce friction through fluid dynamic effects and prevents the drill string from becoming stuck in the well bore.
3Productivity
If the weight on the drill bit is increased to double the penetration rate, then drilling efficiency improves, but the mechanical stress on the drill string and equipment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces purely mechanical weight-on-bit with a hybrid approach that combines moderate mechanical weight with pulsing-induced mechanical forces. The pressure pulses generate additional downward force on the drill bit through the piston mechanism, achieving high penetration rates without proportionally increasing the static mechanical stress on the drill string.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach increases drilling rates and reduces friction, making drilling more cost-effective by leveraging the mechanical force generated from pressure pulses to improve the cleaning of the rock face and enhance drilling efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
combining a Fluid Pulsing Down Hole Tool with one or more Multiple In Series Pistons Down Hole Tool that can convert pressure pulses generated by the Fluid Pulsing Tool into mechanical force
Implementation Method 2
a number of down hole devices which exploit the water hammer effect to create pulsation of the flow of the drilling fluid
Implementation Method 3
down hole devices which exploit the water hammer effect to create pulsation of the flow of the drilling fluid have been developed
Data Source
AI summary
An underground drilling method where drilling fluid pulsing down hole tool is combined with a multiple in series pistons down hole tool to provide vigorous vibrations in the drill string and deliver vibrating energy to the drill bit to increase penetration rates and reduce friction between the drill string and the hole. One example method and apparatus shown can operate a simple percussive down hole mud hammer.