Well serving system employing sonic energy transmitted down the pipe string

Abstract

A well servicing system in which sonic energy is transmitted down a pipe string to a down hole work area a substantial distance below the surface. The sonic energy is generated by an orbiting mass oscillator and coupled therefrom to a central stem to which the piston of a cylinder-piston assembly is connected. The cylinder is suspended from a suitable suspension means such as a derrick, with the pipe string being suspended from the cylinder in an in-line relationship therewith. The fluid in the cylinder affords compliant loading for the piston while the fluid provides sufficiently high pressure to handle the load of the pipe string and any pulling force thereon. The sonic energy is coupled to the pipe string in a longitudinal vibration mode which tends to maintain this energy along the string.