Snubber Tool Vibration Isolation Downhole Drilling

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vibration-resistant housings for directional measurement tools in downhole drilling often fail to provide sufficient protection against harmful vibrations, particularly at frequencies above 200 Hz, which can damage sensitive components.

Innovation Solution

A snubber tool with a mule shoe adapter and UBHO adapter is introduced, featuring a rebound compliance component and a compression compliance component, along with a drive washer that selectively applies further compression to these components in response to external forces, effectively isolating vibrations and maintaining pre-compression to protect sensitive equipment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If vibration resistant housings are used to protect sensitive components, then protection against vibrations is improved, but sufficient protection against high frequency vibrations (above 200 Hz) is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration protectionVSAvoidprotection effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The snubber tool applies pre-compression to the elastomeric compliance components before vibration occurs. This pre-compression creates a cushioning effect that is already in place to absorb and dampen high frequency vibrations above 200 Hz, rather than relying solely on the housing structure to protect against vibrations after they occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical parameters of the protection system by introducing compliant elastomeric components with specific stiffness and damping characteristics. The compliance components have variable stiffness that allows them to effectively dampen high frequency vibrations, transforming the rigid housing protection approach into a compliant, vibration-absorbing system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If pre-compression is applied to compliance components, then vibration damping is improved, but loss of pre-compression under external loading occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration dampingVSAvoidpre-compression retention

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The snubber tool employs a dynamic drive washer mechanism that can move axially in response to external loading conditions. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain optimal pre-compression on the elastomeric compliance components during drilling operations, adapting to changing loads while preserving the vibration damping capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The drive washer acts as a feedback mechanism that responds to external forces applied to the mule shoe adapter. When external loading occurs, the drive washer moves to maintain the pre-compression force on the compliance components, ensuring continuous vibration protection throughout the drilling process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a drive washer is added to selectively apply compression, then vibration isolation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration isolationVSAvoidsnubber tool structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drive washer serves as an intermediary element between the mule shoe adapter and the elastomeric compliance components. It selectively transmits and applies compression forces to the compliance components based on external loading conditions, enabling sophisticated vibration isolation without requiring a complex active control system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 snubber tool effectively mitigates shock and vibrations above 200 Hz, ensuring the longevity of elastomeric components and providing soft snubbing, thereby protecting sensitive components from damage and enhancing damping capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

a rebound compliance component having a first stiffness and a first pre-compression and a compression compliance component having a second stiffness larger than the first stiffness and a second pre-compression smaller than the first pre-compression. The rebound compliance component and the compression compliance component are configured to retain at least of portion of the first pre-compression and second pre-compression, respectively, under external loading of the snubber tool.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The drive washer may be configured to selectively apply a further compression to the rebound and compression compliance components in response to a force acting on the mule shoe adapter.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 3

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Data Source

PatentUS11008852B2Snubber tool for downhole tool string

Publication Date: 2021.05.18 LORD CORP

AI summary

A snubber tool can be installed in a downhole tool string to reduce vibration in the downhole tool string. The snubber tool includes two compliance components having different stiffness properties and pre-compression and a drive washer that selectively applies further compression to the compliance components in response to external forces acting on the snubber tool. The compliance components retain their initial pre-compression under external loading of the snubber tool.