System and method for damping vibration in a drill string
AssigneeAPS Technology, Inc.
InventorsMark Ellsworth Wassell, William Evans Turner, Daniel E. Burgess, Carl Allison Perry
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for damping vibration in a drill string can include a valve assembly having a supply of a fluid, a first member, and a second member capable of moving in relation to first member in response to vibration of the drill bit. The first and second members define a first and a second chamber for holding the fluid. Fluid can flow between the first and second chambers in response to the movement of the second member in relation to the first member. The valve assembly can also include a coil or a valve for varying a resistance of the fluid to flow between the first and second chambers.
Claims20
A system configured to control vibration of a drill string during a drilling operation, the drill string including a drill bit at a downhole end of the drill string, the drill bit configured to define a borehole in an earthen formation, the system comprising:
- a controller configured to cause a damping force to be applied to the drill bit that is subject to vibration during the drilling operation;
- and
- at least one sensor configured to be in electronic communication with the controller, the at least one sensor configured to detect a displacement of the drill bit during the drilling operation, the at least one sensor further configured to transmit to the controller a signal that is indicative of the displacement of the drill bit when the at least one sensor is in electronic communication with the controller, the controller configured to, in response to the signal that is indicative of the displacement of the drill bit, vary the damping force to be applied to the drill bit as the drill bit is displaced due to the vibration.
A method of controlling vibration of a drill string in an earthen formation, the drill string including a drill bit configured to define a borehole in the earthen formation, the method comprising the steps of:
- detecting, via at least one sensor, a displacement of the drill bit;
- and
- in response to the step of detecting, causing a damping force to be applied to the drill bit as the drill bit is being displaced.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.