Modified Helical Wellbore Stabilizers for Flow and Vibration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wellbore stabilizers face challenges in balancing the need for reduced friction, vibration, and flow area while maintaining effective support for drill strings, particularly in non-vertical wellbores, and often suffer from installation difficulties due to hard coatings on helical elements.
Innovation Solution
The design of helical wellbore stabilizers with a modified 'Z' or 'S' shape, featuring variable annular flow areas and unobstructed axial paths, along with distributed load lines, reduces friction and vibration, and facilitates easier installation by providing clamping locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If helical wellbore stabilizing elements are used to maintain drill string alignment, then friction and vibration are reduced, but the flow area between adjacent elements decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating variable annular flow areas along the length of the helical elements, with different flow characteristics at different axial positions. The flow area is not uniform but varies locally to optimize both friction reduction and flow efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic behavior by allowing the annular flow area to vary along the length of the helical elements, creating a non-static flow pattern that adapts to the rotational motion and operational conditions of the drill string.
2Reliability
If hard coatings are applied to helical elements to reduce wear, then element durability improves, but installation difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the installation process by providing distinct clamping locations on the helical elements that are separate from the coated surfaces. These uncoated or differently coated clamping locations allow installation tools to engage with the element without penetrating the hard coating, enabling easy installation while maintaining durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the coating properties at different locations on the helical elements. The clamping locations have different coating characteristics compared to the main body, allowing for easy installation at specific points while maintaining wear resistance elsewhere.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If distributed load lines are implemented on helical elements, then localized contact pressure is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the geometric parameters of the helical elements, specifically the dimensions and positioning of the load lines. By controlling parameters such as load line width, spacing, and axial position, the design achieves distributed loading while remaining manufacturable.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a stabilizer for use in a wellbore. The stabilizer, in one example, includes a downhole tubular coupleable to a downhole conveyance in a wellbore. In accordance with this example, the stabilizer additionally includes two or more helical wellbore stabilizing elements extending radially outward from the downhole component, the two or more helical wellbore stabilizing elements shaped such that an annular flow area between leading edges of adjacent helical wellbore stabilizing elements and between trailing edges of adjacent helical wellbore stabilizing elements is variable along at least a portion of a length (L) of the two or more helical wellbore stabilizing elements, and such that an unobstructed axial flow path exists between the adjacent helical wellbore stabilizing elements along the length (L).