Drill String Damper Assembly for In-Drilling Instrument Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Percussion drilling operations pose a harsh environment with extreme shock and vibration, exceeding 3500 g force, which is detrimental to sensitive measuring tools and components, necessitating a solution to reduce or eliminate the need for a separate logging stage in drilling operations.
Innovation Solution
A damper apparatus is designed to support measuring instruments during pneumatic percussion drilling, utilizing resiliently compressible portions with varying elasticity and movement limiting portions to dampen shock and vibration, reducing forces experienced by the instruments to less than 100 g force, thereby allowing for accurate data collection during drilling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If measuring instruments are used during percussion drilling, then data collection capability is improved, but the instruments are damaged by extreme shock and vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by installing damper apparatus with resiliently compressible portions (such as elastomeric materials, springs, or viscoelastic materials) between the measuring instrument and the drill string structure before drilling operations begin. These dampers are pre-configured to absorb and attenuate the extreme shock and vibration forces (exceeding 3500g) that occur during percussion drilling, thereby protecting the measuring instrument from damage while enabling continuous data collection during the drilling process
2Reliability
If traditional two-stage drilling operation is used, then instrument protection is achieved, but operational efficiency deteriorates due to separate logging stage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by integrating the measuring instrument directly into the drill string assembly, combining the drilling function and measurement/logging functions into a single unified operation. This eliminates the need for a separate second stage where additional equipment must be lowered to log information, allowing continuous data collection during drilling and significantly improving operational efficiency while the damper apparatus ensures instrument protection
3Reliability
If damper apparatus with multiple resiliently compressible portions is used, then shock damping is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by using resiliently compressible portions made of elastomeric materials, viscoelastic materials, or spring elements that combine different material properties to achieve effective shock and vibration damping across multiple frequency ranges and force magnitudes. These composite damping structures provide superior protection against the extreme forces of percussion drilling while maintaining a relatively compact and manageable device configuration
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
The damper apparatus effectively reduces shock and vibration by an order of magnitude, enabling measuring instruments to function accurately and survive the drilling process, thereby eliminating the need for a separate logging stage and enhancing the efficiency of percussion drilling operations.
Implementation Method 1
one or more of the one or more damper apparatus comprise one or more resiliently compressible portions, preferably at least two resiliently compressible portions having different elasticity
Implementation Method 2
the or each damper apparatus dampens shock/vibration from the pneumatic percussion drilling that is experienced by the measuring instrument
Data Source
AI summary
A damper apparatus for use in pneumatic percussion drilling comprises a body having one or more damper apparatus supporting a measuring instrument. Each damper apparatus dampens shock/vibration from the pneumatic percussion drilling that is experienced by the measuring instrument.