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in Vibration Control
Don W. Dareing, * SPE
Summary
Drill collar length directly affects the overall vibration
response of drillstrings. Drill collar length is partly
responsible for severe vibrations in hard rock drilling but
can also be the solution to vibration control. This paper
gives a new interpretation to the cause and control of
drillstring vibrations and presents the results in terms of
formulas that can be directly applied by the drilling
engineer.
Introduction
It is standard practice to design the length of drill collars
WB
0.85 Wa FB
APRIL 1984
drillstrings are the result of resonance or frequency tuning. Resonance exists when the frequency of the applied
force is equal to a natural free vibration frequency. The
drill collar section, however, controls the overall vibration response because its cross-sectional area is several
times the cross-sectional area of drillpipe. The collars act
as receivers and amplifiers of vibration energy from the
drill bit. In one sense the drill collar section is the dog
wagging the tail, which in this case is the drillpipe section. This observation, supported by calculations and
field data, is explained further in the paper.
Assumptions made in the analysis are as follows.
1. The BRA is a constant-OD and -ID drill collar
section.
2. The drill bit is a roller cone rock bit.
3. The formation is medium to hard.
4. The natural frequency of damped free vibration of
the BRA is not significantly different from its natural
frequency of undamped free vibration.
5. Axial and torsional stiffness of stabilizers do not
significantly alter the natural modes and vibration.
6. Role inclination and curvature do not affect natural
frequency of BRA's.
One goal of the paper is to give alternative vibration
control techniques for alleviating rough running. Shock
absorbers are proved alternatives. Rough' running can
also be alleviated by adjustments in BRA design. A third
alternative is rotary speed selection, based on techniques
given in the paper.
1.4
\
\
\
1.2
.... 1.0
t:
.8
....I
DYNAMIC AXIAL
DISPLACEMENT
4212
f"'=-L- CPS
.6
....I
/\
TORSIONAL
MODE
5o
:::l
~
AXIAL MODE
)(
"
,
.4
.2
--
O~--~2----~4----~6----~8-----1~O---
irE
or
iVa
Ina = 4L' ................................ (3)
638
VS.
or
Vo
Ino= 4L' ................................ (6)
Since the speed of a shear wave in steel is 10,650 ft/sec
[3246 m/s], the natural frequency of the fundamental
drill collar torsional mode is
2,662
Ino = :L
............................. (5)
Source of Excitation
Possible sources or means of exciting the axial and torsional drill collar natural modes include time-varying
longitudinal forces and torsional loads, which can be applied to the drill collars from various sources, such as
pump pressure, sidewall friction, and drill-bit/formation
interaction. More studies are needed to identify
operating conditions where each may dominate. In addition, the various types of drill bits (roller cone, diamond,
polycrystalline diamond compact) generate different
loading conditions to the bottom end of the drill collars,
and more field data and analysis are needed to determine
JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY
A
l-
150
100
:z:
W
;=
50
l-
'0
iii
......:
Z III 2
~~ 20
W;:)
1110
:z:
l-
how interactive dynamic forces between bit and formation are generated.
Measurements of drillstring vibrations over the past 25
years show that drill-bit displacement frequencies are
three cycles per bit revolution for three-cone bits. 2,3
This frequency has been consistently measured at the
drill bit and at the kelly. The three-cycle-per-revolution
frequency can sometimes be verified by counting the
number of kelly bounces over a given period of time.
This can be done especially at low rotary speeds such as
60 rev/min. The vertical vibration of the kelly is the
result of a three-cone bit rolling over high and low spots
in the formation. Cores taken from hard rock formations
often show a three-lobed pattern associated with roughrunning areas (Fig. 3). This type of three-lobed pattern
will induce axial and torsional bit displacement frequencies of three cycles per revolution, which can be related
to rotary speed by
bending, suggest that the collar section took a fixed position in the well bore and rotated about its own axis instead of wobbling about the axis of the wellbore. Under
this condition the bit would tend to cut into the formation
over a small area, cutting out a low spot and eventually
developing three low spots and three high spots in the
formation as the bit penetrated and vibrated into the
formation.
During this particular field test, the natural
longitudinal frequency of the drill collar section happened to be tuned to 3 cycles/rev, and energy was fed into the collar section with the slightest amount of bit
displacement, encouraging further dynamic bit forces
that possibly created the three low spots. In other words,
the excitation frequency, as determined by Eq. 8, was
tuned to the natural fundamental frequency, Eq. 4, ofthe
drill collar section. Resonance developed, accompanied
by severe dynamic bit forces.
3N N
f= - = cycles/sec. . .................... (8)
60 20
4,212
20
- - - - .............................. (9)
or
84,240
Ncr = -L-- rev/min. . ................... (10)
639
1.4
1.2
...
iii
)(
5 150
~
t-
Il.
~ 100
CJ
Z
w
lI-
a::
!:
.S
....
50
!::
co
1.0
TIME
cc
....
....
0
.6
.4
()
...: 1 0 1SEC
u.
.1
.2
a:i
..J
iii
=>
I-
0~--~2-----4~--~6~--~S----~10~--I
40
SO
120
160
200
640
Drillstring Response
To support further the importance of drill collar length in
the critical speed calculation, consider a 6,800-ft
[2073-m] drillstring containing 800 ft [244 m] of drill
collars. The longitudinal vibration calculation for the entire drill string corresponds to the critical speed of 105
rev/min based on drill collar length (Eq. 10). Vibration
response predictions are based on forced vibration
response equations similar to the ones given in Ref. 4.
Input conditions for this example calculation are given in
Table 1.
Calculated displacements, stresses, and forces are
given in Table 2. When axial movement of the drill bit is
0.25 in. [0.64 cm] (or 0.5-in. [1.27-cm] peak-to-peak
total movement), kelly bounce or vertical movement is
1.1 in. [2.8 cm] (or 2.2 in. [5.6 cm] total vertical movement). The largest dynamic forces occur in the drill collar section, as expected, with the maximum dynamic
JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY
105
0.25
20,000
50,000
0.1
0.01
Axial
Displacement
(in.)
Stress
(psi)
Force
(Ibf)
6,800
6,600
6,400
6,200
6,000
5,800
5,600
5,400
5,200
5,000
4,800
4,600
4,400
4,200
4,000
3,800
3,600
3,400
3,200
3,000
2,800
2,600
2,400
2,200
2,000
1,800
1,600
1,400
1,200
1,000
Drill Collars
1.10
0.89
0.52
0.09
0.39
0.79
1.06
1.15
1.05
0.78
0.40
0.23
0.60
0.94
1.14
1.16
1.00
0.70
0.39
0.47
0.81
1.09
1.22
1.17
0.97
0.68
0.52
0.71
1.01
1.23
1,586
3,739
5,268
5,916
5,575
4,309
2,354
665
2,574
4,496
5,709
5,994
5,311
3,816
1,978
1,812
3,644
5,262
6,123
6,052
5,091
3,538
2,309
3,048
4,709
6,005
6,511
6,123
4,990
3,626
7,000
16,500
23,200
26,000
24,600
19,000
10,400
3,000
11,300
19,800
25,200
26,400
23,400
16,800
8,700
8,000
16,000
23,200
27,000
26,700
22,400
15,600
10,200
13,400
20,700
26,500
28,700
27,000
22,000
16,000
800
600
400
200
0
1.29
1.19
0.92
0.52
0.25
500
2,590
4,627
5,994
6,480
14,000
73,200
130,800
169,500
183,200
Distance
(ft)
Vibration Control
Vibration control techniques can be used either to increase or to decrease vibration forces in drillstrings.
However, vibration elimination is the main concern here
because large dynamic forces are normally associated
with drill string failures. As more is understood about optimal dynamic force levels, it may be desirable to create
specific dynamic bit forces to increase penetration rate
without damaging drillstring components.
Four basic techniques for reducing the magnitude of
mechanical vibrations are: (1) change natural frequency,
(2) change forcing frequency, (3) increase or apply
mechanical damping, and (4) eliminate source of excitation. This section gives operational alternatives, based
on the control techniques, for alleviating rough running.
The drill string given in the previous example (Table 2)
will be used as a reference to evaluate the different alternatives. Note that the numbers in Table 2 correspond to a
critical rotary speed of 105 rev/min based on 800 ft [243
m] of drill collars. Dynamic bit force amplitude
predicted for this condition is 183,200 lbf [824 400 N].
The dynamic force distribution along the 6,800-ft
[2073-m] drill string is also listed in Table 3 under the
Case 1 column.
641
10.0
9.0
8.0
0
7.0
""Q
6.0
j:
DRILL
PIPE
RESPONSE
ell:
I
I
I
I
I
~
~
::;
~
5.0
4.0
I \
\
.0
FREQUENCY, CPS
I
.20
.eo
200
ROTARY SPEED. RPM
eo
\
\
\
'2
14
II
210
320
~
~
>< 3.0
2.0
\
\
,
,
DRILL
:+.-_ _ _ COLLAR
~ RESPONSE
1.0
I
I
o~-~-~-~-~~--~--~--~
20
40
60
80
100
ROTARY SPEED - RPM
'0
FREaUE:CY. CPS
120 140
II
40
eo
.20
.eo
200
240
210
320
ROTARY SPEED.RPM
Shock Absorber. One way to detune the natural frequency of the BHA from a drill bit excitation frequency
is by using a shock absorber directly above the drill bit.
A shock absorber lowers the natural frequency of the
BHA and shifts the resonant peak to the left of drill bit
excitation frequency. Fig_ 9 shows how the resonance
peak is shifted away from the desired rotary speed range
642
fna=-l
211"
g ...........................
mt
(11)
Case 1
6,800
6,600
6,400
6,200
6,000
5,800
5,600
5,400
5,200
5,000
4,800
4,600
4,400
4,200
4,000
3,800
3,600
3,400
3,200
3,000
2,800
2,600
2,400
2,200
2,000
1,800
1,600
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0
7,000
16,500
23,200
26,000
24,600
19,000
10,400
3,000
11,300
19,800
25,200
26,400
23,400
16,800
8,700
8,000
16,000
23,200
27,000
26,700
22,400
15,600
10,200
13,400
20,700
26,500
28,700
27,000
22,000
16,000
14,000
73,200
130,800
169,500
183,200
Case 2
500
1,000
1,600
1,800
1,600
1,300
700
200
760
1,300
1,700
1,800
1,600
1,100
600
540
1,100
1,500
1,800
1,800
1,500
1,050
700
910
1,400
1,800
1,900
1,800
1,500
1,100
1,000
5,000
8,800
11,400
12,300
Case 3
-2,900
7,000
9,900
11,100
10,500
8,100
4,400
1,200
4,800
8,400
10,700
11,300
10,000
7,200
3,700
3,400
6,800
9,900
11,500
11,300
9,600
6,700
4,300
5,700
8,900
11,300
12,200
17,400
24,900
30,500
32,700
31,200
26,700
21,500
19,700
Case 4
2,300
5,400
7,600
8,500
8,000
6,200
3,400
960
3,700
6,500
8,200
8,600
7,700
5,500
2,900
2,600
5,300
7,600
8,800
8,700
7,300
5,100
3,300
4,400
6,800
8,700
9,400
10,700
12,000
13,000
13,600
13,900
14,300
15,100
19,600
DRILL
PIPE
HEAVY
DRILL
PIPE
DRILL
COLLARS
DRILL
BIT
CASE I
SHOCK
ABSORBER
.,/
CASE
CASEN
CASEm
ft [396 m] of heavy driilpipe (Fig. 10, Case 4) will accomplish about the same reduction in dynamic bit force.
In this case, dynamic bit force amplitudes are reduced
from 183,200 lbf [814914 N] to 19,600 lbf [87 185 N].
This force reduction is the result of natural frequency
reduction accomplished by drill collars and heavy drillpipe having a combined length of 1,700 ft [518 m]. The
economics of this vibration control alternative need to be
evaluated.
Phase Selection. Phase selection may be another way to
alleviate vibrations and at the same time increase
penetration rate. There is a phase change (depending on
damping) when the excitation frequency passes through
resonance. On the low side of resonance, drill collar
displacements are in phase with bit displacements-i.e.,
when the cones roll over a high spot in the formation,
each point in the drill collars reaches peak displacements
at the same instant the drill bit reaches its peak displacement. This means that instantaneous maximum dynamic
bit loads impact on the low spots of a three-lobed bottomhole pattern.
On the high side of resonance, points in drill collars
move downward when the bit moves upward or drill collar displacements are approximately 180 out of phase
with bit displacements. This means that the maximum
dynamic bit force impacts the high spots of a three-lobed
bottomhole pattern.
0
643
Conclusions
Severe drill string vibrations are an indication of drill collar or BHA resonance. In areas where drill strings run
rough, it would be worthwhile to calculate the natural
frequencies of both axial and torsional modes in the collars (or BHA) and compare those frequencies with the
3-cycle/rev excitation frequency, assuming the bit is a
three-cone bit. Adjustments in the design of the BHA
may help reduce the vibrations.
For engineering calculations, the natural frequency
and critical rotary speed of BHA's can be approximated
by assuming that the top end of the BHA is unconstrained by drillpipe. Heavyweight drillpipe should be
included as part of the BHA.
The critical speed of a given BHA is useful, because it
is a reference speed for judging how much the rotary
speed should be increased or decreased to reduce rough
drilling.
This study reinforces the shock absorber as an effective vibration control tool. Field data and economic
studies are needed to evaluate heavy drill pipe as a vibration control tool.
Nomenclature
=
I =
Ina' InO =
=
=
FB
644
k =
L
mt
=
=
N =
Va
Vo
Wa
WB
=
=
first, second,
etc.
shock absorber spring constant, lbf/ft
[N/m]
length of BHA, ft [m]
total mass of bottomhole assembly,
slugs
rotary speed, rev/min
speed of compression (tension) wave,
16,850 ft/sec [5136 m/s]
speed of shear wave, 10,650 ft/sec
[3246 m/s]
weight in air per unit length, lbf/ft
[N/m]
weight on bit, lbf [N]
mass density, slugs/cu ft [slugs/m 3 ]
References
1. Timoshenko, S., Young, D.H., and Weaver, W. Jr.: Vibration
Problems in Engineering, fourth edition, John Wiley & Sons Inc.,
New York City (1974) 364.
2. Deily, F.H., Dareing, D.W., Paff, C.H., Ortloff, J.E., and Lynn,
R.D.: "Downhole Measurements of Drill String Forces and Motions," Trans., ASME (1968) 217-25.
3. Garrett, W.R.: "The Effect of a Downhole Shock Absorber on
Drill Bit and Drill Stem Performance," paper ASME 62-Pet-21
presented at the AS ME 1962 Petroleum and Mechanical Engineering Conference, Dallas, Sept. 23-26.
4. Dareing, D.W. and Livesay, BJ.: "Longitudinal and Angular
Drill-String Vibrations With Damping," Trans., AS ME (1968)
1-9.
5. Recommended Practice for Drillstem Design and Operating
Limits, tenth edition, API, Dallas (1981), 65-69.
6. Dareing, D.W.: "Guidelines for Controlling Drill String Vibrations," paper AS ME 83-Pet-9 presented at the 1983 ASME
Energy Technology Conference and Exhibition, Houston, Jan.
30-Feb.3.
E+OO
Hz
E-Ol
m
N
E+OO
JPT
Original manuscript received in Society of Petroleum Engineers office Aug. 27, 1982.
Paper accepted for publication March 21, 1983. Revised manuscript received July 18,
1983. Paper (SPE 11228) first presented at the 1982 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition held in New Orleans Sept. 26-29.