Elastomeric Drill Cuttings Agitator for Sticking Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drill cuttings agitators for horizontal wellbores are costly, require extensive maintenance, and increase the complexity of drill string connections, while their limited radial extent reduces their effectiveness in agitating low side cuttings beds, which can lead to drill string sticking and wellbore loss.
Innovation Solution
A drill cuttings agitator comprising an elastomeric sleeve with radially extending agitator members that can be reconfigured to fit around drill pipes, eliminating the need for separate subs and allowing for more effective agitation by increasing the sweep radius and reducing friction, thus facilitating the removal of cuttings without the need for additional connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional paddle-type or bladed central section agitators are used, then cuttings bed agitation is achieved, but the number of connections in the drill string increases significantly, increasing complexity and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the agitator function with the drill pipe by integrating the paddle-type section directly into the drill pipe structure. This eliminates the need for separate CBA tools and their associated connections, reducing complexity while maintaining agitation effectiveness. The agitator is formed as an integral part of the drill pipe, combining the drilling and agitation functions into a single component.
Solution Approach 2:
The drill pipe is designed to serve multiple functions: both drilling and cuttings agitation. The integrated paddle-type section allows the drill pipe to perform agitation tasks without requiring separate specialized tools, making the drill pipe a multi-functional component that reduces overall system complexity.
2Reliability
If conventional CBA tools are used, then cuttings removal is facilitated, but manufacturing, transportation, maintenance and inspection costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the agitator function into the drill pipe structure, the patent eliminates the need for separate CBA tools. This integration reduces manufacturing costs by avoiding the production of additional components, lowers transportation costs by reducing the number of tools to be moved, and decreases maintenance and inspection requirements by reducing the number of separate components to monitor.
3Power
If paddle-type or bladed central section is used, then local turbulence is created, but the radial extent is limited, reducing proximity to low side cuttings beds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the agitator's reach by utilizing the rotational motion of the drill pipe to create turbulence that extends beyond the immediate radial proximity of the paddle-type section. The rotation of the integrated agitator on the rotating drill pipe generates flow patterns that reach further radially, effectively agitating cuttings beds at greater distances from the agitator structure itself.
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 elastomeric drill cuttings agitator reduces manufacturing, maintenance, and transportation costs, enhances agitation efficiency, and allows for on-site adaptation to borehole conditions, minimizing the risk of drill string sticking and wellbore loss by effectively removing low side cuttings beds.
Implementation Method 1
the elastomeric sleeve is elastically deformable to facilitate reconfiguration of the drill cuttings agitator from the first configuration to the second configuration and vice versa
Implementation Method 2
CBA tools are sub-based tools with a paddle-type or bladed central section designed to create local turbulence when rotated
Implementation Method 3
reducing friction, thus facilitating the removal of cuttings
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, the drill cuttings agitator includes an elastomeric sleeve and a plurality of agitator members extending radially from the elastomeric sleeve.