Steering Head Vibration Control via Borehole Wall Actuation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Drilling operations cause vibrations in drill strings, leading to wear, reduced lifetime, impaired efficiency, and rougher cutting of formations due to ineffective vibration control.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that utilize sensors to measure vibration parameters and apply controlled forces against the borehole wall using actuators to reduce drill string vibrations, incorporating a processor to determine and coordinate the forces applied by steering pads to stabilize and steer the drill string.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If drilling operations are conducted to disintegrate the formation, then drilling productivity is achieved, but vibrations are generated on the drill string causing wear and reduced lifetime

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrilling efficiencyVSAvoiddrill string lifetime

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses sensors to detect vibrations on the drill string and feeds this information back to a controller that actuates steering pads to apply counteracting forces against the borehole wall, actively reducing vibrations while maintaining drilling operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the harmful vibrations into useful information by using sensors to detect them, then uses the steering pads to apply forces that not only reduce vibrations but also provide steering control, turning a problematic phenomenon into an opportunity for enhanced control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Speed

If drilling operations are conducted at high speed, then productivity is improved, but vibrations increase causing rougher cutting and impaired efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrilling speedVSAvoidvibration intensity

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the actuation of steering pads based on real-time vibration measurements, allowing the drilling operation to maintain high speed while actively compensating for vibrations through dynamic control forces applied against the borehole wall

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters by adjusting the force applied by steering pads in response to measured vibration characteristics, modifying the drilling dynamics to reduce harmful vibrations while maintaining productive drilling speed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 drill string vibrations, extending the drill assembly's lifetime, improving drilling efficiency, and achieving smoother cutting by actively damping and controlling vibrations.

Implementation Method 1

obtaining one or more measurements of a parameter of the vibration of the drill string

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration measurement: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

applying at least one force against a wall of the borehole responsive to the obtained one or more measurements to reduce the vibration of the drill string

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectActive vibration control through applied force: Damping

Data Source

PatentUS9273522B2Steering head with integrated drilling dynamics control

Publication Date: 2016.03.01 BAKER HUGHES CO

AI summary

A method, apparatus and computer-readable medium for reducing a vibration of a drill string in a borehole. A sensor of the drill string obtains one or more measurements of a parameter of the vibration. A processor determines at least one force for controlling the measured vibration from the measured parameter. At least one actuator applies the determined at least one force against the borehole wall to control the vibration of the drill string.