Method and apparatus to vibrate a downhole component by use of acoustic resonance

Abstract

A method and apparatus of vibrating a tubing string in a wellbore comprises a rigid carrier or conveyance structure coupled to an acoustic resonance apparatus. The acoustic resonance apparatus comprises a housing section containing a fluid. A pulser or other device is activated to generate acoustic waves in the fluid. A portion of the acoustic wave energy is reflected by a reflector in the acoustic resonance apparatus. The operating frequency of the pulser or other device is adjusted to achieve acoustic resonance in the fluid.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for generating a vibration in a tool string, comprising: 
 a housing for storing fluid and adapted to be coupled to the tool string; and    a device adapted to generate an acoustic resonance in the fluid.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the device is adapted to create an acoustic wave in the fluid, the apparatus further comprising a reflector to reflect the acoustic wave to generate the acoustic resonance.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the device comprises a pulser.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the reflector comprises an orifice.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the housing defines a first flow area on a first side of the orifice, the apparatus further comprising a conduit on a second side of the orifice, the conduit having a second flow area that is less than the first flow area.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein a ratio of the first and second flow areas has a predetermined value to determine a reflection coefficient of the reflector.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the fluid has a predetermined density to determine the reflection coefficient of the reflector.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor to measure timing of acoustic wave propagation in the fluid.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a controller adapted to receive measurement signals from the at least one sensor, the controller further adapted to control the device.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the device comprises a pulser.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is adapted to adjust the frequency of the pulser.  
     
     
         12 . A method for use in a wellbore, comprising: 
 coupling an acoustic resonance device to a tubing string;    running the tubing string into a wellbore; and    activating the acoustic resonance device to generate a vibration in the tubing string.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising generating an acoustic wave in fluid contained in a housing section.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising providing a reflector in the acoustic resonance device to reflect the acoustic wave.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein activating the acoustic resonance device comprises achieving acoustic resonance in the fluid.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising providing an orifice in the reflector and selecting flow areas on opposing sides of the orifice to achieve a reflection coefficient of the reflector.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising selecting a fluid having a predetermined density to control the reflection coefficient of the reflector.  
     
     
         18 . A string for use in a wellbore, comprising: 
 a carrier structure; and    an acoustic resonance device coupled to the carrier structure, the acoustic resonance device adapted to generate a vibration in the carrier structure.    
     
     
         19 . The string of  claim 18 , wherein the acoustic resonance device comprises a housing section and an acoustic wave generating device, the housing section containing a fluid and the acoustic wave generating device adapted to generate an acoustic wave in the fluid.  
     
     
         20 . The string of  claim 19 , wherein the acoustic resonance device further comprises a reflector to reflect the acoustic wave.  
     
     
         21 . The string of  claim 20 , wherein the reflector comprises an orifice.  
     
     
         22 . The string of  claim 21 , wherein the housing section defines a first flow area on one side of the orifice, the string further comprising a conduit defining a second flow area on the other side of the orifice, the second flow area being less than the first flow area.