Model Development of Torsional Drillstring and Investigating Parametrically the Stick-Slips Influencing Factors

2012 ◽  
Vol 135 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Parimal Arjun Patil ◽  
Catalin Teodoriu

Drillstring vibration is one of the limiting factors maximizing drilling performance. Torsional vibrations/oscillations while drilling is one of the sever types of drillstring vibration which deteriorates the overall drilling performance, causing damaged bit, failure of bottom-hole assembly, overtorqued tool joints, torsional fatigue of drillstring, etc. It has been identified that the wellbore-drillstring interaction and well face-drill bit interaction are the sources of excitation of torsional oscillations. Predrilling analysis and real time analysis of drillstring dynamics is becoming a necessity for drilling oil/gas or geothermal wells in order to optimize surface drilling parameters and to reduce vibration related problems. It is very challenging to derive the drillstring model considering all modes of vibrations together due to the complexity of the phenomenon. This paper presents the mathematical model of a torsional drillstring based on nonlinear differential equations which are formulated considering drillpipes and bottom-hole assembly separately. The bit–rock interaction is represented by a nonlinear friction forces. Parametric study has been carried out analyzing the influence of drilling parameters such as surface rotations per minute (RPM) and weight-on-bit (WOB) on torsional oscillations. Influences of properties of drillstring like stiffness and inertia, which are most of the times either unknown or insufficiently studied during modeling, on torsional oscillation/stick-slip is also studied. The influences of different rock strength on rate of penetration (ROP) considering the drilling parameters have also been studied. The results show the same trend as observed in fields.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shilin Chen ◽  
Chris Propes ◽  
Curtis Lanning ◽  
Brad Dunbar

Abstract In this paper we present a new type of vibration related to PDC bits in drilling and its mitigation: a vibration coupled in axial, lateral and torsional directions at a high common frequency (3D coupled vibration). The coupled frequency is as high as 400Hz. 3D coupled vibration is a new dysfunction in drilling operation. This type of vibration occurred more often than stick-slip vibration. Evidences reveal that the coupled frequency is an excitation frequency coming from the bottom hole pattern formed in bit/rock interaction. This excitation frequency and its higher order harmonics may excite axial resonance and/or torsional resonance of a BHA. The nature of 3D coupled vibration is more harmful than low frequency stick-slip vibration and high frequency torsional oscillation (HFTO). The correlation between the occurrence of 3D coupled vibration and bit design characteristics is studied. Being different from prior publications, we found the excitation frequency is dependent on bit design and the occurrence of 3D coupled vibration is correlated with bit design characteristics. New design guidlines have been proposed to reduce or to mitigate 3D coupled vibration.


Author(s):  
Dapeng Zhao ◽  
Sigve Hovda ◽  
Sigbjørn Sangesland

The whirl phenomena in the bottom hole assembly (BHA) is believed to be formed by the imbalance of the rotational drill collar. Backward whirl is caused by the nonlinear contact between the BHA and the borehole, and can be extremely damaging to the down hole tools and borehole. In the previous studies, a two-degrees-of-freedom lumped parameter model is developed for representing the drill collar in lateral motions (whirl). Due to the bit-rock interaction, the stick slip torsional vibration is very common. In the current work, therefore, the torsional vibration causing fluctuation of rotary speed is taken into account. The simulation results indicate that the drill collar whirls forward at lower constant rotary speed. With increasing rotary speed, the backward whirl is activated by the contact between the drill collar and the borehole wall. The nonlinear contact forces obey the Hertzian contact law, which led to lateral bounce of the drill collar and impact borehole wall chaotically. The modified Karnopp friction model is adopted to simulate the stick slip rotary vibration of the BHA. The different characters of lateral vibrations are identified by a power spectrum density diagram with and without consideration of the stick slip vibration.


Author(s):  
Md. Mejbahul Sarker ◽  
D. Geoff Rideout ◽  
Stephen D. Butt

Lateral whirl vibrations in long sections of horizontal oilwell drillstrings, which are essentially enclosed shafts lying on the low side of the wellbore, are potentially destructive to the bit, pipes and downhole tools. Forward or backward whirl can lead to impact with the borehole, and stick slip and bit bounce can cause tool joint failure, twist-off, and bit damage. A complete deviated drillstring has been modelled by having decoupled axial and torsional segments for the vertical and curved portions, and nonlinear three-dimensional multibody segments with lateral vibration in the final horizontal section ending at the bit. The model can predict how axial and torsional bit-rock reactions are propagated to the surface, and the role that lateral vibration near the bit plays in exciting those vibrations and stressing components in the bottom-hole-assembly. The proposed model includes the mutual dependence of these vibrations, which arises due to bit-rock interaction and friction dynamics between the drillstring and wellbore wall.


Author(s):  
Lei Wang ◽  
Jianming Yang ◽  
Stephen Butt ◽  
Hongyuan Qiu

A dynamic bottom hole assembly (BHA) model is built with finite element method (FEM) in this paper. This model is used for evaluation the influence of externally added vibration to the BHA system. With this dynamic model along with a general bit-rock interaction formula, the BHA’s motion in axial and torsional directions are examined. Parametric study is carried out by varying the parameters of the applied vibration force, including the mean value, amplitude, angular frequency, and the location of this force excitation. The simulation results indicate that externally applied vibration force is indeed able to improve drilling performance. In particular, the mean value and amplitude of the applied force have a almost linear relation with ROP and WOB. The stresses distributions along BHA are investigated as well.


Author(s):  
Y. D. Mulia

For S-15 and S-14 wells at South S Field, drilling of the 12-1/4” hole section became the longest tangent hole section interval of both wells. There were several challenges identified where hole problems can occur. The hole problems often occur in the unconsolidated sand layers and porous limestone formation sections of the hole during tripping in/out operations. Most of the hole problems are closely related to the design of the Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA). In many instances, hole problems resulted in significant additional drilling time. As an effort to resolve this issue, a new BHA setup was then designed to enhance the BHA drilling performance and eventually eliminate hole problems while drilling. The basic idea of the enhanced BHA is to provide more annulus clearance and limber BHA. The purpose is to reduce the Equivalent Circulating Density (ECD,) less contact area with formation, and reduce packoff risk while drilling through an unconsolidated section of the rocks. Engineering simulations were conducted to ensure that the enhanced BHA were able to deliver a good drilling performance. As a results, improved drilling performance can be seen on S-14 well which applied the enhanced BHA design. The enhanced BHA was able to drill the 12-1/4” tangent hole section to total depth (TD) with certain drilling parameter. Hole problems were no longer an issue during tripping out/in operation. This improvement led to significant rig time and cost savings of intermediate hole section drilling compared to S-15 well. The new enhanced BHA design has become one of the company’s benchmarks for drilling directional wells in South S Field.


Author(s):  
Jialin Tian ◽  
Xuehua Hu ◽  
Liming Dai ◽  
Lin Yang ◽  
Yi Yang ◽  
...  

This paper presents a new drilling tool with multidirectional and controllable vibrations for enhancing the drilling rate of penetration and reducing the wellbore friction in complex well structure. Based on the structure design, the working mechanism is analyzed in downhole conditions. Then, combined with the impact theory and the drilling process, the theoretical models including the various impact forces are established. Also, to study the downhole performance, the bottom hole assembly dynamics characteristics in new condition are discussed. Moreover, to study the influence of key parameters on the impact force, the parabolic effect of the tool and the rebound of the drill string were considered, and the kinematics and mechanical properties of the new tool under working conditions were calculated. For the importance of the roller as a vibration generator, the displacement trajectory of the roller under different rotating speed and weight on bit was compared and analyzed. The reliable and accuracy of the theoretical model were verified by comparing the calculation results and experimental test results. The results show that the new design can produce a continuous and stable periodic impact. By adjusting the design parameter matching to the working condition, the bottom hole assembly with the new tool can improve the rate of penetration and reduce the wellbore friction or drilling stick-slip with benign vibration. The analysis model can also be used for a similar method or design just by changing the relative parameters. The research and results can provide references for enhancing drilling efficiency and safe production.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Fleming ◽  
Roberto Ucero ◽  
Yuliya Poltavchenko

Abstract After analyzing the historical data of neighboring wells adjacent to the drilling site, 11 bit trips were required due to the low mechanical performance of the bottom hole assembly elements. This observation is based on maximum circulation hours and low helical bucking values that make it uneconomic to drill the sections with a positive displacement motor drive system. A redesign the bottom hole assembly was proposed to achieve an improved mechanical performance which allowed the section to be drilled with a single assembly. With a focus on increasing the mechanical limitations of the downhole elements, the use of 4 ¾" equipment is considered instead of the 3 ½" standard equipment used in this hole size. One of the biggest challenges was modifying the 4 ¾" positive displacement motor (PDM) to fit into the 5 ½" hole given that the mud motor has a maximum unmodified diameter of 5 ½". Using the force analysis module of a State-of-the-art BHA modelling software suite, multiple iterations were performed to simulate and validate an alternative PDM design and accompanying directional assembly. This new design featured modifications to an existing 4 ¾" PDM deploying a long gauge bit in combination with a fit for purpose measurement while drilling system. After numerous runs using this assembly design, it was found that there was no additional or unexpected wear of the modified Mud Motor components or associated elements of the downhole equipment. These observations act to validate the pre-job engineering force analysis. With the improved mechanical specifications of the 4 ¾" Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) components, circulating hours were increased from 100 hours to 250+ hours in a stepwise process. This enabled drilling of the entire 5 ½" section with a single BHA, comparing favorably to the legacy approach with an average of eleven bit runs. The modified 4 ¾" PDM coupled with long gauge bit technology enabled a reduction in the oriented to rotate drilling ratio and an associated increase in the overall rate of penetration (ROP). It can be concluded that the substitution of 4 ¾" drilling equipment for 3 ½" in the 5 ½" hole section, increased the drilling efficiency between 30-50% according to field data obtained in Ukraine. The modified 4 ¾" PDM combined with long gauge bit technology has the potential to improve 5 ½" hole drilling performance in other locations. Following a structured planning process using State-of-the-art BHA modelling software suite enabling the evaluation of the significant forces that act in the drilling assembly and so significantly reducing the risks associated with exceeding the original design limits of the assembly. By improving the mechanical performance of the drilling assembly in a 5 ½" hole, new territory for drilling engineers and design engineers is now available to increase the drilling performance in slim wellbores.


Author(s):  
Vadim Tikhonov ◽  
Olga Bukashkina ◽  
Raju Gandikota

Drilling with PDC bits can cause severe torsional and axial oscillations. These oscillations are accompanied by periodic sticking of the bit followed by accelerated rotation. The so-called “stick-slip” increases bit wear and fatigue and causes premature failure of BHA and drillstring components. It is well known that these torsional oscillations are nonlinear and self-induced. The present study investigates the coupling between axial and torsional oscillations. The cutting process is based on the Detournay model, which provides for the effect of the bottomhole pressure and the local pore pressure. The axial stiffness of the drillstring is taken into account with the axial motion equations coupled with the torsional equations, in contrast to previous models where axial equations were considered independently. Axial oscillations are allowed to occur even when the bit is in the stick phase. The new model also includes bit “bouncing” when it loses contact with the bottomhole. The equations are solved by time integration. By results of the analysis of transient processes the spectral density is determined. The objective of the paper is to improve understanding of stick-slip oscillation nature and assess the contribution of parameters that influence their intensity. The study includes the effect of the rotor rpm, intrinsic specific energy of rock, number of PDC blades, wear flat length of blades, etc. Results of the study will help drillers to select and change drilling parameters more efficiently to reduce severe stick-slip oscillations.


2016 ◽  
Vol 248 ◽  
pp. 85-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farooq Kifayat Ullah ◽  
Franklyn Duarte ◽  
Christian Bohn

A common problem in the petroleum drilling process is the torsional oscillation generated by the friction present during the cutting process. Torsional oscillations in drill string are particularly difficult to control because the drill string is an underactuated system, it has a very small diameter to length ratio and it is driven at top end with the cutting process at the other end. These factors make the drill string prone to self-excited torsional vibrations caused by the stick-slip of the cutting bit. The system is modeled as a torsional pendulum with two degrees of freedom, where the upper inertia models the top drive and also part of the drilling pipes. The bottom inertia models the bottom hole assembly (BHA). The drill is considered to be a massless torsional spring-damper. The drill string is subjected to friction, which is formulated using a dry friction model. The friction model takes into account Coulomb friction, stiction and Stribeck effect. The latter friction component is the main nonlinear phenomenon that introduces negative damping at the bit; it leads to self-enforcing stick-slip torsional oscillations.In the approach of this work, for the attenuation of these self-excited oscillations a recursive backstepping control strategy is used and it is carried out in continuous time. The main contribution of this work, which is different from the backstepping approaches reported in the literature, is to use a nonlinear/artificial damping as virtual control input. The stability of the system has been proven in the sense of Lyapunov. The goal of the proposed algorithm is to deal the underactuation of the system and to provide a good response for different operating points. The effectiveness and robustness of the controller has been tested in simulations.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Waleed Al-Baghli ◽  
Mohammad Al-Salamin ◽  
Sulaiman Sulaiman ◽  
Atef Abdelhamid ◽  
Ali Alnemer ◽  
...  

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