Shock absorbing tool and methods of use

Abstract

According to embodiments, an apparatus and methods of use are provided for simultaneously and continuously absorbing both axial and torsional shock imparted on drilling equipment conventionally used during the drilling of a subterranean wellbore in the oil and gas industry.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for simultaneously dampening at least axial and torsional forces imparted on drilling equipment during drilling of a subterranean wellbore, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one housing having an uphole end, a downhole end, and forming a housing central bore extending longitudinally therethrough, the at least one housing having an inner surface a portion of which forming a plurality of longitudinally extending splines,   at least one spline assembly, slidably received within the housing bore, the at least one spline assembly having an uphole end, a downhole end, and forming a spline assembly bore extending longitudinally therethrough, the spline assembly having   an outer surface, at least a portion of which forming a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves for corresponding with the plurality of longitudinally extending splines of the at least one housing,   an inner surface, at least a portion of which forming a plurality of helical keys radially disposed about the inner surface, and   at least one piston, operably connected to the at least one spline assembly,   at least one mandrel, telescopically received in a first tool-neutral position within the spline assembly bore, having an uphole end, a downhole end, and forming a mandrel bore extending longitudinally therethrough, the at least one mandrel having an outer surface, at least a portion of which forming a plurality of helical grooves for corresponding with the plurality of helical keys of the at least one spline assembly,   at least two hydraulic fluid chambers, the at least two hydraulic fluid chambers being axially spaced and fluidically distinct from one another, a first one of the at least two hydraulic fluid chambers configured to house the at least one piston and controllably dampen movement thereof,   wherein, at least the axial forces cause the at least one mandrel to travel relative to the at least one spline assembly, imparting forces on the at least one spline assembly, causing the longitudinally extending grooves of the spline assembly to move along the corresponding splines of the housing, and   wherein, at least the torsional forces cause the at least one mandrel to telescopically rotate within the least one spline assembly, imparting forces on the at least one spline assembly, causing the helical groves of the mandrel to move along the corresponding helical keys of the spline assembly, and   wherein movement of the at least one mandrel relative to the at least one spline assembly into a second shock-absorbing position is hydraulically dampened and opposed by movement of the piston within the first one of the at least two hydraulic fluid chambers returning the at least one mandrel to the first tool-neutral position.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the return movement of the at least one mandrel to the first tool-neutral position is hydraulically dampened and opposed by a second of the at least two hydraulic fluid chambers. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one housing may comprise at least two housing tubulars. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first of the at least two fluid chambers is formed between the inner surface of the at least one housing and the outer surface of the at least one mandrel. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one housing comprises at least one upper seal assembly tubular, and the second of the at least two fluid chambers is formed between an inner surface of the at least one upper seal assembly tubular and the outer surface of the at least one mandrel. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two fluid chambers contain different volumes of hydraulic fluid. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the hydraulic fluids are pre-loaded into the at least two fluid chambers prior to operation of the apparatus. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is threadably engaged within and rotatable with a drilling string for drilling the subterranean wellbore. 
     
     
         9 . A method for simultaneously dampening at least axial and torsional forces imparted on drilling equipment during drilling of a subterranean wellbore, the method comprising:
 providing an apparatus having
 at least one housing, the at least one housing having an inner surface, at least a portion of which forming a plurality of longitudinally extending splines, 
 at least one spline assembly, slidably received within the housing, the spline assembly having 
 an outer surface, at least a portion of which forming a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves for corresponding with the plurality of longitudinally extending splines of the at least one housing, and 
 an inner surface, at least a portion of which forming a plurality of helical keys, the at least one spline assembly operably connected to at least one piston, 
 at least one mandrel, telescopically received within the spline assembly, the mandrel having an outer surface forming a plurality of helical grooves for corresponding with the helical keys of the spline assembly, and 
 at least two fluid chambers, the at least two fluid chambers being axially spaced and fluidically distinct from one another, and the at least one piston being positioned within a first one of the at least two fluid chambers, 
   and allowing the apparatus to dampen at least the axial and torsional forces, or both, wherein the axial and torsional forces cause the at least one mandrel to telescope about the plurality of helical keys relative to the plurality of helical grooves of the at least one spline assembly, and further cause the at least one spline assembly to move along the plurality of longitudinal grooves relative to the longitudinal splines of the at least one housing.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein movement of the at least one spline assembly is hydraulically opposed by the at least one piston, recoiling the at least one spline assembly to a tool-neutral position. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein recoil movement of the spline assembly to the tool neutral position is hydraulically opposed by a second of the at least two fluid chambers. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the apparatus may be operably connected within the drilling equipment for drilling the subterranean formation. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein drilling fluids for operating the drilling equipment may pass through the housing central bore.