Methods and apparatus for dampening forces acting upon the drill string during drilling of subterranean wells

Abstract

A method for protecting one or more shock sensitive devices from drilling shocks. The method comprises positioning a shock absorbing device within a tubular of the drill string, deploying the drill string including one or more shock sensitive devices and the shock absorbing device, enabling the one or more shock-sensitive devices while the drill string is operated in an underground environment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, within a drill string, for protecting one or more shock sensitive devices from drilling shocks, the method comprising:
 positioning a shock absorbing device within a tubular of the drill string,   deploying the drill string including the one or more shock sensitive devices and the shock absorbing device,   enabling the one or more shock sensitive devices while the drill string is operated in an underground environment.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 whereby the shock absorbing device allows a shock attenuation of the one or more-shock sensitive devices,   whereby the shock attenuation occurs towards multiple attenuation modes, including axial and torsional.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 ,
 whereby the attenuation modes are combined.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 ,
 whereby the shock attenuation occurs towards variable frequency modes, from a low frequency to a high frequency,   whereby the low frequency includes a frequency range from 0.1 to 10 Hz,   whereby the high frequency includes a frequency range from 10 Hz to 1000 Hz.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 whereby the shock absorbing device defines at least one flow bore,   whereby a portion of the one or more shock-sensitive device is contained within the flow bore of the shock absorbing device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 ,
 whereby the one or more shock-sensitive device are included in a section within a Rotary Steerable System;   whereby the section within the Rotary Steerable System includes an electronic section, a sensor section, a steering section;
 whereby the electronic section or the sensor section of the Rotary Steerable System includes magnetic field measurements. 
   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 ,
 whereby the shock absorbing device includes a non-magnetic material, which enables the use and operation of the magnetic field measurements of the Rotary Steerable System;   whereby at least one magnetic field sensor is disposed within the at least one flow bore of the shock absorbing device.   
     
     
         8 . A method, within a drill string, for protecting one or more shock sensitive devices from drilling shocks, the method comprising:
 stacking multiple shock absorbing devices within a tubular of the drill string,   deploying the drill string including the one or more shock sensitive devices and the stacked multiple shock absorbing devices,   enabling the one or more shock sensitive devices while the drill string is operated in an underground environment.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 ,
 whereby each of the stacked multiple absorbing devices is focused towards one or multiple specific attenuation mode;   whereby the attenuation mode includes solicitation modes like torsional, radial, axial;   whereby the attenuation mode occurs towards one or multiple frequencies.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 ,
 whereby each of the stacked multiple absorbing devices are positioned in the drill string at torsional vibration antinodes.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 ,
 whereby the stacked multiple shock absorbing devices define at least one flow bore,   whereby the at least one flow bore of the stacked multiple shock absorbing devices defines an inner diameter and an outer diameter,   whereby the ratio of the outer diameter to the inner diameter of the stacked multiple shock absorbing devices is smaller than 2.41,
 whereby for example, if the outer diameter is 4.75 inches [121 mm], then the inner diameter is at least 2.6 inches [66 mm], 
 whereby for example, if the outer diameter is 6.75 inches [171 mm], then the inner diameter is at least 2.8 inches [71 mm], 
 whereby for example, if the outer diameter is 8 inches [203 mm], then the inner diameter is at least 3.5 inches [89 mm]. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 ,
 whereby the one or more shock sensitive devices are included as a section within a Rotary Steerable System;   whereby the section within the Rotary Steerable System includes an electronic section, a sensor section, a steering section;   whereby the electronic section or the sensor section of the Rotary Steerable System includes magnetic field measurements.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 ,
 whereby the stacked multiple shock absorbing devices include a non-magnetic material, which enables the use and operation of the magnetic field measurements of the Rotary Steerable System;   whereby at least one magnetic field sensor is disposed within the at least one flow bore of the stacked multiple shock absorbing devices.   
     
     
         14 . A method, within a drill string, for protecting one or more shock sensitive devices from drilling shocks, the method comprising:
 positioning a torsional vibration dampening tool within a tubular of the drill string,   deploying the drill string including the one or more shock sensitive devices and the torsional vibration dampening tool,   enabling the one or more shock sensitive devices while the drill string is operated in an underground environment,   flowing through the torsional vibration dampening tool while drill string is operated in an underground environment.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 ,
 whereby the torsional vibration dampening tool includes a wall with an internal surface and an external surface;
 whereby the internal surface of the wall of the torsional vibration dampening tool allows to contain the one or more shock sensitive devices; 
 whereby the external surface of the one or more shock sensitive devices and the internal surface of the wall of the torsional vibration dampening tool defines a flow bore, 
 whereby the external surface of the wall of the torsional vibration dampening tool defines a tool outer diameter; 
   whereby shock absorbing elements are contained within the wall of the torsional vibration dampening tool.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 ,
 whereby the flow bore between the external surface of the one or more shock sensitive devices and the internal surface of the wall of the torsional vibration dampening tool allows to flow a fluid,   whereby the fluid flow is defined by a flow-by velocity depending on a predetermined fluid flow rate and the tool outer diameter,
 whereby the flow-by velocity is at least 26 ft/sec [0.13 m/s], for the tool outer diameter of 4.75 inches [121 mm] and the predetermined fluid flow rate of 200 GPM [0.76 m3/min]; 
 whereby the flow-by velocity is at least 38 ft/sec [0.19 m/s], for the tool outer diameter of 6.75 inches [171 mm] and the predetermined fluid flow rate of 400 GPM [1.51 m3/min]; 
 whereby the flow-by velocity is at least 29 ft/sec [0.15 m/s], for the tool outer diameter of 4.75 inches [121 mm] and the predetermined fluid flow rate of 600 GPM [2.27 m3/min]. 
   
     
     
         17 . An Apparatus including:
 a torsional vibration dampening tool, comprising a non-shouldered load bearing threads connection to transmit an axial drilling load, also know as a weight on bit,
 whereby the non-shouldered load bearing threads connection defines an upper part and lower part of the torsional vibration dampening tool, 
 whereby the non-shouldered load bearing threads connection allows relative rotation of the upper part relative to the lower part of the torsional vibration dampening tool. 
   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 ,
 whereby the torsional vibration dampening tool includes threads which contain an intermediate medium that provides lubrication or anti-galling properties,   whereby the torsional vibration dampening tool includes threads which contain an intermediate medium which promotes heat removal from the threads.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 ,
 whereby the torsional vibration dampening tool comprises dampening elements, having a progressive geometry such that higher torque engages different area of the dampening elements,   whereby the dampening elements have an increased cross section in the area engaged last such that the torsional vibration dampening tool becomes stiffer.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 ,
 whereby the torsional vibration dampening tool comprises dampening elements, having a progressive geometry such that a higher torque engages the dampening elements,
 whereby the dampening elements are engaged sequentially from first to last, 
 whereby the last engaged dampening elements are stiffer than the first engaged dampening elements, 
 whereby the last engaged dampening elements have a larger cross section than the first engaged dampening elements, 
 whereby the last engaged dampening elements are built of different material compared to the first engaged dampening elements.