Inertia damping systems and methods
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsYuelin Shen, Mauro Caresta, Scott Richard Woolston, Clint William Philbrick
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A torsional damping system includes a housing having an interior space. An inertia ring is located in the interior space, and a torsion fluid is located between the inertia ring and the housing. The inertia ring is rotatably installed relative to the housing. As the housing oscillates, the inertia ring damps at least a portion of the oscillation. The torsional damping system may be included in a downhole tool or bottomhole assembly, and used to damp oscillations along a drill string or along the bottomhole assembly, including between a downhole motor and a cutting tool.
Claims10
A downhole inertia damping system, comprising:
- a collar positioned axially between a downhole tool and a bit;
- and
- a damper coupled to the collar, the damper comprising:
- a mandrel disposed in the collar, the mandrel and the collar defining an internal chamber therebetween;
- a first inertia ring disposed around the mandrel inside the internal chamber, the first inertia ring being rotatable within the internal chamber and relative to the collar;
- a second inertia ring disposed around the mandrel inside the internal chamber, the second inertia ring being rotatable within the internal chamber and relative to the collar;
- a bearing element disposed around the mandrel in the internal chamber and extending between the mandrel and the collar to separate the first inertia ring from the second inertia ring;
- a bushing disposed on the first inertia ring or the second inertia ring, the bushing configured to contact the bearing element;
- and
- a torsion fluid contained within the internal chamber and in contact with the first inertia ring, and in contact with the second inertia ring via a plurality of openings in the bearing element.
A method for damping oscillations, comprising:
- rotating a collar downhole that is connected to a damper and positioned axially between a downhole tool and a bit, the damper comprising:
- a mandrel disposed in the collar, the mandrel including a first surface, and the first surface and the collar defining an internal chamber therebetween;
- a first inertia ring disposed around the mandrel inside the internal chamber, the first inertia ring being rotatable within the internal chamber and relative to the collar;
- a second inertia ring disposed around the mandrel inside the internal chamber, the second inertia ring being rotatable within the internal chamber and relative to the collar;
- a bearing element disposed around the mandrel in the internal chamber, and extending between the mandrel and the collar to separate the first inertia ring from the second inertia ring;
- a bushing disposed on the first inertia ring or the second inertia ring, the bushing configured to contact the bearing element;
- and
- a torsion fluid contained within the internal chamber and in contact with the first inertia ring, and in contact with the second inertia ring via a plurality of openings in the bearing element;
- and
- in response to rotating the collar, rotating the first inertia ring and the second inertia ring out of sync with the rotation of the collar.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.