Hydraulic Pipe String Vibrator Rotor-Stator Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe string vibrators for oil and gas wells are susceptible to the negative effects of elevated wellbore temperatures and pressures, and fail to effectively induce vibration along the entire length of the pipe string due to the use of materials like rubber, which degrade in such environments.
Innovation Solution
A tubular housing-based vibrator with a stator and rotating shaft, utilizing a rotation generator section that creates pressure pulses by varying fluid flow areas, allowing for vibration of the pipe string without the use of rubber or rubber-like materials, and capable of generating vibrations along the entire length of the pipe string.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If rubber or rubber-like elastomers are used as seals in Moineau power sections, then the device can generate rotation and vibration, but the seals are negatively affected by elevated wellbore temperatures and pressures, drilling fluids, chemicals, and contaminants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the rubber seal component entirely from the system. Instead of using a Moineau power section with rubber elastomer seals, the invention employs a rotor-stator assembly with fluid dynamic interaction that generates rotation without any rubber components, thereby eliminating the reliability issue caused by seal degradation in harsh wellbore conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical rubber seal-based Moineau power section with a fluid dynamic rotor-stator system. The rotation is generated through fluid flow interaction between the rotor blades and stator vanes, substituting the mechanical sealing mechanism with a fluid-based power generation mechanism that is more suitable for high-temperature, high-pressure wellbore environments
2Force
If reciprocating impact elements or eccentric rotating masses are used to induce vibration, then vibration can be generated, but the vibration is limited to a localized segment of the pipe string
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the rotation generation and vibration generation functions into a single integrated rotor-stator assembly. The same fluid flow that drives rotor rotation also creates pressure pulsations that generate vibration, merging two separate functions into one compact device that simultaneously achieves both rotation and full-length vibration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from localized vibration (affecting only a small segment near the vibrator) to full-length vibration by utilizing the fluid column as a transmission medium. The pressure pulsations generated by the rotor-stator assembly propagate through the entire fluid column, thereby vibrating the entire pipe string length rather than just a localized area
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 solution effectively reduces friction between the pipe string and the wellbore by creating oscillations through pressure pulses, maintaining effectiveness in harsh wellbore conditions and providing consistent vibration along the entire pipe string length.
Implementation Method 1
creating pressure pulses by varying fluid flow areas
Implementation Method 2
Fluid introduced in the central bore of the pipe string circulates through the rotation generator
Implementation Method 3
effectively reduces friction between the pipe string and the wellbore by creating oscillations through pressure pulses
Data Source
AI summary
A vibrator apparatus to be positioned onto a pipe string is disclosed. The apparatus is comprised of a tubular housing, a tubular stator having a radial fluid opening, and a rotating rotor shaft with a longitudinally extending fluid bore and at least one radially extending fluid passage that intermittently aligns with the stator fluid opening. A rotation generator is provided to rotate the rotor shaft in response to fluid flow. Fluid flow through the fluid bore of the rotor shaft is discharged from the radially extending fluid passage of the rotor as it rotates in response to fluid flow and is intermittently interrupted by the stator as the rotor is rotated past the radial fluid opening in the stator thereby creating pulses in the fluid column and vibrating the pipe string.