Directional/complex wells

Tool Suites Mature To Combat Damaging Torsion Vibrations Downhole

Bad vibes are being addressed by contractors as operators push to go faster, deeper, and longer with unconventional wells.

Render of Baker Hughes’ GuardVibe downhole vibration control tool at work. Source: Baker Hughes.
Render of Baker Hughes’ GuardVibe downhole vibration control tool at work.
Source: Baker Hughes.

il and gas operators’ pursuit of speed and efficiency when it comes to more-complex, long lateral wells has given rise to vibrations events that can sideline drilling operations by damaging vital downhole tools. One of the costly phenomena is called torsional vibration, which is caused by a twisting motion because of fluctuating torques.

The key to smoothing out the drilling experience is to keep the bit and drillpipe above the bottomhole assembly (BHA), spinning in unison. If they start spinning at different speeds, a torsional event can occur that can take the drilling experience from the The Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations” to Jerry Lee Lewis’ “A Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On” faster than you can trip out of the hole.

Have you ever wrung out a wet towel? That’s an instance of applied torsional vibration. You applied opposing twisting forces to the towel’s ends, causing it to twist and vibrate.

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