Oscillatory behaviour and strategy to reduce drilling vibration

Abstract

Drill String dynamic behaviour during the oil drilling operation, was a major source for the failure of the Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA). The behaviour produced torsional vibration, which underpins the stick slip phenomena. Besides threatening the safety of the oil drilling process, such failure cause interruptions in the drilling operations and incurred high maintenance cost to the oil drilling company. This issue can be resolved with the implementation of the optimum control mechanism while operating the drill string. In this research, an optimum control mechanism was proposed to suppress the torsional vibration as well as mitigate the risk of stick slip phenomenon from occurring. The mechanism was proposed through a series of rigorous research strategies i.e. updated-mathematical equation modelling, experimentation and simulation. As the first step, a mathematical equation model describing system dynamics was derived to set the parameter of investigation. Representing the freedom torsional of the two degrees - conventional vertical drill string, the model was used to predict the frictional Torque On Bit (TOB) through non-linear friction force, denoting the ground-formation behaviour during drilling activity. Using a velocity feedback system, the drill-string oscillation was reduced while gradually increasing its velocity via gain scheduling method – allowing fast response to load disturbance. To avoid the motor torque from exceeding the maximum threshold, a Weight On Bit (WOB) was introduced. This approach remarks the novel contribution of this research. Next, an experiment on the preliminary test rig within a controlled laboratory set up was conducted. The rotary drill rig was assembled to identify the dynamics (i.e. parameters) of an individual part of the drill string. The results obtained were then applied in the drill string operation experiment, to identify the optimum control mechanism that can avoid the torsional vibration. To enable triangulation of results, a simulation was conducted by applying the same parameters obtained from the test rig experiment in the model– which is the optimum control mechanism that was proposed in this research to minimise torsional vibration, as well as reducing the chance of drill-string failure due to stick-slip phenomenon.