Vibrating Downhole Tool Rotor Valve Pressure Fluctuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vibrating tools for drill strings require high supply pressure, are complex, and prone to breakage, and create backpressure that reduces drilling efficiency and increases operational costs.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that cyclically vent drilling fluid through a valve in the drill string to reduce pressure, using a rotor within a tubular body that separates the fluid into a central bypass portion and an annular rotor portion, allowing the rotor to rotate and create pressure fluctuations that induce vibration in the drill string.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If conventional vibration tools cyclically block and unblock drilling fluid flow to increase pressure, then vibration effect is achieved, but supply pressure requirements increase and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor is rotated by the drilling fluid flow itself without requiring external power sources or complex control systems. The fluid pressure differential across the rotor vanes automatically drives the rotor to rotate, generating the vibration effect through the cyclic opening and closing of the valve port.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses hydraulic principles by utilizing the drilling fluid flow to rotate the rotor and actuate the valve. The fluid pressure differential across the rotor creates the rotational motion that cycles the valve port open and closed, eliminating the need for mechanical linkages or external actuation systems.
2Force
If conventional vibration tools use high supply pressure to create vibration, then vibration effect is achieved, but operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates periodic vibration through the cyclic rotation of the rotor which periodically opens and closes the valve port. This periodic action generates pressure fluctuations in the drilling fluid that propagate as vibration waves through the drill string, achieving the desired vibration effect without requiring continuously high supply pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the pressure parameter dynamically rather than maintaining constantly high pressure. The rotor rotation creates alternating high and low pressure cycles in the drilling fluid, generating vibration through pressure fluctuations rather than requiring sustained high pressure levels.
3Force
If conventional vibration tools create backpressure in drilling fluid supply, then vibration effect is achieved, but drilling efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts a portion of the drilling fluid flow through the rotor and valve port to create the vibration effect. By taking out only the necessary flow through the rotor ports rather than blocking the entire flow path, the system generates vibration without creating significant backpressure that would reduce drilling efficiency.
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 reduces the need for high supply pressure, simplifies the system, and enhances drilling efficiency by creating a resonant frequency that vibrates the drill string, reducing wall friction and improving force transfer to the drill bit.
Implementation Method 1
rotating at least one rotor within a tubular body disposed in-line within the drill string wherein the venting can comprise intermittently passing the drilling fluid through a rotor port disposed in the rotor and a corresponding tubular body port disposed in the tubular body. The rotor can be rotated by the drilling fluid.
Implementation Method 2
cyclically venting the drilling fluid through a valve disposed in a side wall of the drilling string so as to cyclically reduce the pressure of the drilling fluid in the drill string
Implementation Method 3
creating a resonant frequency that vibrates the drill string, reducing wall friction and improving force transfer to the drill bit
Implementation Method 4
separating the drilling fluid into a central bypass portion and an annular rotor portion, the bypass portion can flow past the rotor, and the rotor portion can rotate the rotor
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an apparatus for vibrating a downhole drill string operable to have a drilling fluid pumped therethrough. The apparatus comprises a tubular body securable to the drill string and having a central bore therethrough, a valve in the tubular body for venting the drilling fluid out of the drill string and a valve actuator for cyclically opening and closing the valve. The method comprises pumping a drilling fluid down the drill string and cyclically venting the drilling fluid through the valve so as to cyclically reduce the pressure of the drilling fluid in the drill string. The valve can comprise a tubular body port and a corresponding rotor port selectably alignable with the tubular body port as the rotor rotates within the central bore. The valve actuator can comprise at least one vane on the rotor for rotating the rotor as the drilling fluid flows therepast.