Drill String Research Articles

Geomagnetic support for directional drilling

The high-tech directional drilling (DD) procedure for the development of hydrocarbon resources requires high precision positioning of the drill string. Such accuracy can be achieved by navigation based on the Earth’s magnetic field (EMF), which ensures hitting a given target with an error of 3 m at a distance of 15 km. However, the EMF is characterized by multi-scale variability both in space and time. Therefore, the full stack of DD geomagnetic support includes a detailed, real-time estimation of the EMF spatio-temporal variability in the deposit region and geomagnetic activity forecast. Particularly strict control of a drill string orientation is required when drilling in the Arctic region. The article is devoted to modern technologies for effective accounting of the features of the EMF space-time structure to ensure precise navigation of the drill string. The paper is based on the report delivered at the RAS Presidium meeting on 11 June 2024.

DESIGNING EQUIPMENT FOR SYNERGETIC CHEMICAL ENGINEERING PROCESSES ACCORDING TO DRILLING RIG MODERNIZATION RESEARCH MODELS

In the materials of the article, examples of calculations and selection of a technological complex for drilling a well with a depth of 5650 m are considered, a complex of mechanization and partial automation of lowering and lifting operations during well drilling is analyzed, the advantages of such systems are established compared to installations that are not equipped with a complex of ASP mechanisms. The justification of the feasibility and economic efficiency of the introduction of the proposed technical solutions for the development of a device for limiting the movement of the melting unit of the drilling rig was carried out, its principle and electrical diagrams were proposed, the technical feasibility was substantiated, and the economic effect of the implementation of the developed design of the device for limiting the movement of the melting unit was calculated. The components of the developed methodology for calculating energy costs and machine time costs during SPO by lifting complexes are presented, an assessment of the perfection of lifting complexes of drilling rigs with different drives in terms of machine time costs of lifting a drill string for a well drilling cycle, an assessment of the perfection of lifting complexes of drilling rigs with different drives in terms of energy consumption rise of the drill string during the well drilling cycle. The materials of the article consider examples the calculation and the chosen technological complex for wells drilling with the depth of 5650 m, analyses the complex of mechanisms to mechanise and partially automate lowering-lifting operations while wells drilling and establishes advantages of such systems, comparing to the sets not equipped with the complex of mechanisms ALL.

Consideration of ways to improve the efficiency of deep well drilling

The object of the research is the composition of the bottom of the drill string when installing screw amplifiers. One of the biggest problems is the place of installation of the screw amplifier in the arrangement of the bottom of the drill string and its influence on the dynamic properties of the rock-crushing tool. The results of the study of the influence of the use of a screw amplifier on the efficiency of drilling deep wells were obtained. According to the results of research, it was determined in particular that the imposition of vibrations often causes a change in the nature of the interaction of the bit with the hole rock, therefore, the installation of the amplifier at different points of the layout will have different effects on the drilling performance. It is shown that the kinetic energy accumulated by the weighted drill pipes, when the amplifier is installed above the bit, is transmitted through the screw mechanism to the rock-destroying tool (bit) and is an operation that leads to an increase in drilling performance. Thanks to the conducted research, it has been proven that the property of the drill string elements and the disturbances of the oscillatory processes of various nature acting on them are related to the dynamic loading of its elements due to the installation of the amplifier in different places of the layout of the bottom of the string. This is due to the fact that the proposed screw amplifier is used with a friction fuse, which causes the rotary movement of the screw under the action of the torque and the translational movement of the nut together with the overbit mass attached to the bit. In most practical cases, especially during deep drilling, bits fail due to the destruction of the rolling bearings of the roller bit, which leads to jamming of the roller bit and leaving them in the holes. For practical use, the proposed design uses a friction fuse, which connects the bit to the drill pipe column through an elastic element. Analytical studies and performed calculations show that this screw amplifier will effectively ensure the destruction of any rocks, especially during overloads without slippage of reaches and be used for the construction of wells in native mining and geological conditions.

Analysis of the Dynamics of the Lower Drill String Assembly in a Deep Well Coring Operation

In order to carry out the geological characteristics, evolution law and other scientific research of the deep strata in the extra-deep well, it is necessary to carry out the coring operation in the extra-deep depth. However, with the increase of drilling depth, the force of drill string in the underground becomes more and more complicated, and there is contact collision between the core and the core after the core tool is bent, which makes the core broken. Clarifying the dynamic behavior of the BHA during the extra-deep well coring process is helpful to obtain a more complete core. Therefore, this paper adopts the simulation analysis method to simulate the coring process of the extra-deep well with a 163.5mm diamond bit and a 140mm corer under the real drilling hole trajectory. The stress, eddy motion and the contact between the inner barrel of the core tool and the core of the lower 1000m drill assembly are analyzed. The results show that the hole expansion rate of coring bit is 2.5% in the process of low bit weight and low rotational speed. When the core is 8m, the core barrel is under compression, bending and torsion, and under the restriction of the centralizer and the core hole, the middle and upper part of the core tool bend greatly, and the contact degree with the core is high, and the larger contact force is easy to cause the lower core to fracture.

Research on Highly Reliable Self-Powered Vibration Sensors for Geological Drilling

Vibration signals at the bottom of the drill string during geological drilling are crucial for lithological identification and drilling parameter optimization. However, existing downhole vibration sensors suffer from limitations in power supply and reliability. This study proposes a self-powered vibration sensor with high redundancy based on the triboelectric nanogenerator principle, which is capable of measuring both axial and transverse vibrations, thereby reducing the dependence on external power sources. The experimental results show that the sensor can measure axial vibration frequencies ranging from 0 to 11 Hz with an error of less than 4% and transverse vibration frequencies ranging from 0 to 5 Hz with an error of less than 5%. It can operate stably in temperatures from 0 to 180 °C and relative humidities from 0 to 95%. The sensor’s axial vibration measurement features six identical measurement structures, providing high redundancy and effectively enhancing its reliability. Furthermore, the sensor exhibits power generation capabilities. When an external load of 1 MΩ is applied to the axial measurement module and 10 MΩ to the transverse measurement module, the sensor achieves its maximum power output for both axial and transverse measurements, reaching 32.4 × 10−9 W and 2.1 × 10−9 W, respectively. Compared to traditional bottom-of-the-hole vibration sensors, this sensor possesses self-powering capabilities and high reliability, which can improve the operational efficiency and hold significant practical value for future applications.

Control strategies for mitigating torsional and axial vibrations in rotary oilwell drilling systems

Abstract This paper examines a nonlinear dynamics model to explore the significant factors influencing the coupled torsional-axial vibrations of a drill string. The primary focus lies in effectively modeling, analyzing, and controlling both torsional and axial vibrations occurring in a rotary oil well drilling system. The model employed incorporates a wave equation with a damping term (PDE) connected to an ordinary differential equation (ODE) through a nonlinear function representing the interaction between the drill bit and the rock. We proceed to establish the well-posedness of the coupled PDE-ODE in an appropriate functional space. As a PDE-ODE coupled system, we specifically investigate the stability problem concerning the velocity at the bottom extremity, considering both the presence and absence of the damping term in the wave PDE. To address this, we propose a systematic method based on a Lyapunov approach for designing feedback controllers. These controllers ensure system stability and effectively suppress harmful vibrations.

Temperature prediction of geothermal drilling considering the drilling fluid thermophysical parameters

An increasing number of geothermal wells are being drilled to meet the growing demand for geothermal energy. Given that the harsh environment of geothermal wells exposes drill-following tools to the risk of high-temperature failure, scholars have developed thermo-mathematical models to predict the temperature field distribution in wellbore. To the best of authors' knowledge, most models ignore the interaction between the fluid thermophysical parameters and its temperature. They also overlook the fact that the actual structure of the drilling column causes changes in the convective heat transfer coefficients between the fluid and the well wall, which subsequently affects heat transfer from the wellbore. In this study, we tested the changes of thermal property parameters of drilling fluid with density and temperature. Based on the actual drill string structure and considering the variation in thermophysical parameters during drilling fluids’ circulation, we innovatively established a transient heat transfer model for geothermal horizontal wells with heat–fluid–solid coupling. Subsequently, a drilled geothermal well was used to simulate the temperature during drilling. The effects of the drilling fluid system, density, and displacement, rotary speed, and WOB during drilling on the wellbore temperature distribution were analyzed. Furthermore, suggestions for the selection of drilling fluid and parameters during the drilling process were given. The results of this study can help accurately predict the wellbore temperature of geothermal wells and high-temperature wells, which provides guidance for the rational selection of drilling tools for drilling operations.

Flow field analysis of newtonian fluid flow induced by planetary and radial motion of drill string

Abstract At present, in the process of oil drilling, the drill string is an essential downhole drilling tool. It is immersed in the hole filled with drilling fluid for a long time, and it is driven by the rotation of the rotary table to drill down. In this process, the drill string will not only rotate around its axis but also may rotate around the axis of the hole and produce radial motion. It is important to study the flow law of Newtonian fluid flow induced by drill string movement, which can effectively reduce drilling accidents caused by drill string vortex and buckling, thus reducing economic losses. After research and analysis, the finite volume method, which has good applicability and obvious advantages, is used to discretize the established mathematical model, and the mathematical equation after discretization is obtained. By using MATLAB software, the flow field of Newtonian fluid induced by drill string rotation motion is analyzed, the axial velocity distribution diagram and tangential velocity distribution diagram are obtained, and the velocity flow diagram under different eccentricity conditions is drawn. It is found that secondary flow occurs only when the eccentricity reaches a certain distance requirement.

Wyznaczanie dynamicznego ciśnienia formacji w strefie odwiertu

The article shows that the pressure drop in the near-wellbore zone decreases with increasing time that the well is left uncased due to the filtration of the drilling fluid filtrate into the formation. Under certain conditions, this does not pose a risk of drill string sticking. From the perspective of establishing the nature of changes in dynamic reservoir pressure behind the mud cake, the experimental studies by Johnson and Klotz (Stepanov, 1999), which determine the amount of filtrate entering the reservoir under both static and dynamic conditions, are particularly interesting. It should be noted that establishing the amount of filtrate experimentally takes into account in advance the nonlinearity of fluid movement along the borehole wall and through formation rocks. Reservoir pressure will increase to the depth of penetration of the drilling fluid filtrate, so the value of Rk is taken equal to the radius of a certain contour with formation pressure. The article shows that the dynamic reservoir pressure behind the mud cake initially rises intensively over time, and then, after a certain point, remains almost constant; the filtrate from the drilling fluid entering the formation partially displaces the reservoir fluid and fills the resulting pore space. During dynamic filtration, an intensive increase in pressure behind the mud cake occurs within 20–30 hours and depends little on the absolute values of fluid loss from the washing liquid, the thickness of the mud cake, and the initial pressure drop. Experience in drilling deep wells shows that sticking of the lower part of the drill string primarily occurs when opening productive horizons with low permeability (0.06–2) · 10–15 m2. Consequently, the ratio of the permeability of the rock of deep-lying productive horizons to that of the mud cake is approximately more than 1,000. Therefore, when opening productive horizons, pressure equalization practically does not occur, and leaving the drill string against these rock formations without movement for 15–20 minutes leads to its sticking due to the pressure difference.

Opracowanie konstrukcji świdra wiertniczego do zwiercania skał o różnych właściwościach mechanicznych

This paper presents a description of a bit design with a combined cutter layout, aimed at increasing the efficiency of breaking rocks with different mechanical properties. The results from industrial testing of the manufactured bits are analyzed, revealing the need to improve their hydraulic flushing system. Computer modeling was conducted using the Flow Simulation CAD/CAM package of the Solid Works system, where various models of the design options for the bit, the borehole bottom, and a segment of the drill string were created. For each variant, numerical calculations of the fluid motion were carried out using the finite element method. Based on the simulation results, optimal angles of inclination for the jet nozzles relative to the bit axis and their distance from this axis were determined. Key factors influencing the stability of the bit cutters, which destroy the rock by cutting with axial vibrations, were identified, and analytical dependencies for their predictive stability were derived. The wear rate of the bit cutters was determined by instantaneous values of such physical parameters as: the degree of wear, rock cutting speed, temperature, axial loading force on the cutter, and the friction coefficient at the contact between the cutter and rock. Temperature is especially impactful, reaching levels exceeding 1000°C in the cutting zone; it is often regarded as the primary factor influencing bit cutter stability. To maximize the efficiency of rock-breaking in the process of drilling wells, it is necessary to set the following vibration parameters: frequency, amplitude, and vibration mode, which can be determined from the results of mathematical modeling.

Research on Drillpipe Stick-slip Vibration and Its Suppression Mechanism in Deep Well Drilling

Abstract During drilling deep wells, stick-slip vibration(SSV) is a reciprocating vibration form of drill bit adhesion, sliding, re-adhesion, and re-sliding. If not suppressed, it can cause serious drilling accidents, such as accelerated wear of drilling equipment, which lead to decreased drilling safety, reduced drilling efficiency, and prolonged drilling cycle. This article establishes a SSV model of the drill string system, considering the three degrees of freedom of the rotary table/top drive, hammer, and drill bit, and analyzes the SSV characteristics of the drill bit during deep well drilling. The SSV analysis of the drill string system was carried out for well XX-X-4, and the sensitivity of rotational speed, viscous damping, drilling pressure, drill bit length, and friction torque coefficient was analyzed. The results showed that the friction torque coefficient and rotational speed are the main factors affecting stick reduction efficiency, while the length of the drill collar is a secondary factor. The WOB and viscous damping have the least impact on stick reduction efficiency. The parameters were optimized to reduce SSV as the target. This article has certain guiding significance for deep well drilling operations.

Influential mechanism of operational parameters on internal resonance of drill strings by numerical simulations

Abstract Drill string vibration is highly conductive to drill string fatigue and component failure. In this study, a finite element model of a drill string with bottom hole assembly (BHA) is constructed to investigate the effect of different operational parameters, such as different string length, density, pressure, and velocity of drilling fluid on drill string natural frequencies, and thus internal resonance by considering fluid-structure interaction (FSI) in ANSYS. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the natural frequencies decrease as the length of the drill string increases, which is especially true for the axial mode. The condition of 1:1 internal resonance between the axial and torsional modes only occurs when the length of drill string is sufficiently high. Nevertheless, this resonance fades away in the presence of fluid. The increment of fluid density slightly increases the natural frequency in lateral mode, whereas decreases that in axial mode. On the other hand, this effect of density is negligible in the torsional mode. The natural frequencies for axial, torsional and lateral modes decrease as the fluid velocity increases, and the impact of fluid pressure on natural frequency is almost not observable. The numerical results for the case without drill fluid are in qualitative agreement with analytical solutions. when considing the effect of drill length on natural frequency.

Analysis of nonlinear vibration of lateral-torsional coupling for drill string in deviated well

To clarify the motion characteristic of the drill string in deviated well, the nonlinear dynamic model of lateral-torsional coupling for drill string system is established by the Lagrange equation. This model incorporates the contact between the drill string and borehole wall, torque dissipation, and borehole trajectory effects. Additionally, the contact behavior using linear elastic contact model is simulated. Meanwhile, the torque transfer law in the drill string system is described by a discrete torque-drag model. Finally, numerical simulations are employed to determine the dynamic properties of the drill string system. The results reveal that friction losses in drill string systems are increased with higher well inclination angles. The motion of BHA along the x direction is predominantly concentrated near the wellhole center at inclination angle of 65°, while in the y direction it primarily focuses on the low side of the wellhole. An increase in inclination angle leads to a more prominent occurrence of stick-slip motion in the drill string. When inclination angle more than 25°, there is a slightly higher collision frequency observed between the BHA and the low side of the borehole wall compared to that with the upper side. When increasing the WOB (weight on bit) to 160 kN, stick-slip motion becomes more pronounced within the drill string. Through parametric dynamics analysis of the drill string system, the rotary speed can be controlled in range from 40 to 70 r/min, and the WOB should be restricted in range from 20 to 40 kN in well depth 5000 m.

Optimizing Deep Geothermal Drilling for Energy Sustainability in the Appalachian Basin

This study investigates the geological and geomechanical characteristics of the MIP 1S geothermal well in the Appalachian Basin to optimize drilling and address the wellbore stability issues encountered. Data from well logs, sidewall core analysis, and injection tests were used to derive elastic and rock strength properties, as well as stress and pore pressure profiles. A robust 1D-geomechanical model was developed and validated, correlating strongly with wellbore instability observations. This revealed significant wellbore breakout, widening the diameter from 12 ¼ inches to over 16 inches. Advanced technologies like Cerebro Force™ In-Bit Sensing were used to monitor drilling performance with high accuracy. This technology tracks critical metrics such as bit acceleration, vibration in the x, y, and z directions, Gyro RPM, stick-slip indicators, and bending on the bit. Cerebro Force™ readings identified hole drag caused by poor hole conditions, including friction between the drill string and wellbore walls and the presence of cuttings or debris. This led to higher torque and weight on bit (WOB) readings at the surface compared to downhole measurements, affecting drilling efficiency and wellbore stability. Optimal drilling parameters for future deep geothermal wells were determined based on these findings.

Dynamics of an offshore drilling tube system based on a riser–drill string–drilling fluid coupling model

ABSTRACT Accurate prediction of dynamic characteristics of an offshore drilling tube system under marine environmental loads is significant to secure the safety of offshore drilling operations. Based on previous works for coupling riser with drill string to form a pipe-in-pipe structure, in this present work, the influence of drilling fluid is taken into consideration to develop a riser–drill string–drilling fluid coupling model; and the corresponding verifications are conducted via comparison with the experimental results. The collisions between riser and drill string are demonstrated to restrict the lateral drifting of the riser, which, however, can be intensified by the upward flow of drilling fluid. In addition, as increasing the offset of the drilling platform, the lateral drifting of the riser also increases; moreover, the position for the maximal drifting moves upwards to the sea surface. When the part of the drill string below the mudline is taken into consideration, the increasing angle of well inclination is illustrated to restrict the lateral drifting of the riser above the mudline.

THREADED LUBRICANTS FOR DRILL PIPES BASED ON OIL PRODUCTION WASTE

The oil and gas industry occupies a leading position in the development of the country's fuel and energy complex, and the effectiveness of its activities largely depends on the technical and economic indicators of drilling. When performing well work and operating oil and gas wells, many material costs are associated with the operation of oil pipes, namely the reliability of threaded connections operating at high pressures and temperatures in aggressive environments. The need to develop deeper and deeper horizons, the use of forced drilling modes, the transition to later stages of operation of most oil and gas fields, the aging of existing funds and the increase in the volume of overhauls leads to an increase in tripping operations, and therefore the requirements for the reliability of the connection of oil-grade pipes are moving to a new level. Studies have shown that up to 87 % of all drill string accidents are related to poor thread condition. This unsatisfactory condition of the locking threaded joints forces us to look for ways to improve durability. Many foreign and domestic scientists have been studying and improving threaded joints in drill pipes. According to the authors, one of the most promising ways to increase the TEI of drilling is to develop and use more and more effective lubricants for locking joints of drilling tools. Studies have shown that conventional lubricants are not effective enough in modern realities, and sometimes lubricants are completely washed out of threaded joints. In addition, as the drilling depth increases, the friction force increases and the hydrodynamic load increases, and the increase in pressure in the threaded connection complicates the conditions due to the effect on the lubricant of chemically active and abrasive drilling muds and many other factors. The article discusses the obtained results of studies of lubricant bases for threaded connections of drill pipes used for the oil industry, the distinctive features of which are physical and chemical composition, including low molecular weight polyethylene, synthetic rubber, rubber softeners, powdered graphite, vegetable oils.The authors of the article selected the basis of lubricant from industrial rubber production waste, and also presented the advantages of the developed lubricants and materials. The practical significance of the obtained research results lies in the possibility of increasing the wear and sealing properties of threaded pipe joints used in drilling oil and gas wells.

التصميم ألامثل للعملية الهيدروليكية لرأس الحفر

All drilling companies emphasize the importance of maintaining optimum drilling bit hydraulics in real-time drilling operations. The behavior of flow rate and pressure plays a crucial role in monitoring and optimizing drilling processes. By ensuring the hydraulic conditions are optimal, various drilling-related issues such as equipment failure, wellbore instability, and kicks can be minimized, resulting in significant time and cost savings. The paper's main objective is to illustrate the impact of mud pump flow rate optimization on the cutting Transport Fluid Velocity (TFV). This optimization directly influences the pressure loss inside the drill string and annular space, which, in turn, affects the selection of optimum nozzle sizes. The goal is to achieve efficient bottom hole cleaning and hole conditioning, ultimately leading to satisfactory rates of penetration (ROP). The study conducted a series of tests using different pump flow rates ranging from 100 to 500 gallons per minute (gpm) to drill two different sections. An 8 ½" bottom hole assembly (BHA) with a Tri-cone bit and a 6 1/8" BHA with a Polycrystalline Diamond bit were used. The WellPlane Software was employed for optimization. The results of the study indicate that for the 8 ½" section, a minimum pump rate of 488.3 gpm is necessary to avoid cutting accumulation and the formation of bed height. On the other hand, for the 6 1/8" section, a minimum pump rate of 193.2 gpm is required. The optimal parameters for achieving a bed height of zero in the 8 ½" section are a pump flow rate of 500 gpm and nozzle size of (316). For the 6 1/8" section, a pump flow rate of 250 gpm and nozzle size of (514) are recommended. In summary, the optimization of bit hydraulics is essential for mitigating drilling problems and reducing overall drilling costs. By maintaining proper flow rate and pressure conditions, along with appropriate nozzle sizes, efficient bottom hole cleaning can be achieved, leading to improved rates of penetration and overall drilling performance.

Numerical investigation of wellbore damage due to drill string lateral vibration

During drilling operations, cyclic loading is exerted on the wellbore wall by the vibrations of the drill string. This loading could lead to rock fatigue, which in turn might result in wellbore failure. In this study, a numerical model is developed to simulate the effects of repeated loading on rock fatigue and failure. The simulation is based on an elasto-plastic constitutive model coupled with a damage mechanics approach, which allows us to examine the wellbore instability due to drill string vibrations. The model is verified with the existing data in the literature related to experiments on impact of a steel ball against a curved wall. The findings indicate that cyclic loading increases the development of plastic strain around the wellbore significantly compared to static conditions, promoting rock fatigue. Furthermore, the cyclic loading expands the radius of the yielded zone substantially, a critical factor for maintaining wellbore integrity. The proposed model can be used to evaluate the wellbore stability under repetitive loading caused by the drill string action.

Production processes optimization through machine learning methods based on geophysical monitoring data

The purpose of the article is to create an effective method for low-delay monitoring of the operating state of a drill string and a drill bit without interfering with the proper drilling process. For the drilling process to be continuously controlled, an experimental setup that operates by utilizing the phase-metric method of control was developed. Any movement of the bit causes a change in the electrical characteristics of the probing signal. To obtain a stable signal from a bit immersion depth of up to 250 m, a frequency of probing electrical signals of 166 Hz and an amplitude of up to 500 V were used; the sampling rate of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) was 10101 Hz. To identify the state of the drill string and the bit based on graphs of time-dependences of changes in the probing signal electrical characteristics, the present authors investigated a number of deep learning methods. Based on the results of the study, a series of capsular neural network methods ( CapsNet ) was chosen. The authors developed modifications of 2D-CapsNet: windowed Fourier transform (WFT) - 2D-CapsNet and frequency slice wavelet transform (FSWT) - 2D-CapsNet. Both of these methods showed a 99% accuracy in determining the transition between two layers of rocks with different properties, which is 2–3% higher than the currently used measurement-while-drilling (MWD) and logging-while-drilling (LWD) rock surveys. Both of these methods unambiguously reveal self-oscillations in the drill string. When determining a fully serviceable bit in the case of self-oscillations, the (FSWT) - 2D-CapsNet method showed an accuracy of 99%.

Study on Mechanism of Stick–Slip Vibration Based on Torque Characteristics of PDC Bit

Stick–slip vibration (SV) of drill string systems is the main cause of fatigue failure of PDC bits under complex drilling conditions. Exploring its mechanism is helpful for identifying the causes of bit failure and developing preventive measures to prolong bit service life. In this study, the influence of various factors on torque characteristics is tested by drilling rock breaking with various PDC bits and the variations in torsion variables and torsion speed of drill string systems under different torque loading conditions of drill bits are ascertained. Through a finite element simulation of the drill string–bit system, the influence of the PDC bit on the torsional deformation with variable torque is determined, and the influence mechanisms of bit size, tooth structure, invasion depth, rock strength, and other factors on the SV induced by a PDC bit are established. The results show that the change in the reaction resistance moment of the formation rock leads to variation in the driving speed of the drill string system, which is one of the main reasons for the SV. Even if the torque change in the bit is minor, SV will occur if the drill string is too long.