A Method for Applying the Use of a Smart 4 Controller for the Assessment of Drill String Bottom-Part Vibrations and Shock Loads

Abstract

Optimization of drilling processes for oil and gas and geothermal wells requires the effective use of mechanical energy for the destruction of rocks. When constructing a well, an important indicator of the drilling stage is the mechanical speed. Therefore, when performing drilling operations, operators usually use blade bits of an aggressive design and often use forced drilling modes. Drill bits under forced operation modes generate a wide range of vibrations in the drilling tools; in turn, a drill string, being a long-dimensional deformable body, causes the development, amplification, and interconnection of vibrations of different types. Vibration loads reduce the technical and economic indicators of drilling, with destructive effects on drill string elements, and cause complications and emergencies. The authors initiated the creation of an informational and analytical database on emergency situations that occurred as a result of excessive vibrations of the drill string during the construction of deep wells in the deposits of the Dnipro–Donetsk Basin. For the first time, the suitability and effectiveness of using the Smart 4 controller (“Innova Power Solutions”, Calgary, Canada) for monitoring the vibration load of the drilling tool was tested in industrial conditions, while the controller was used as a separate element in the drill string. A special module was developed for the reliable installation of the Smart 4 controller, with a power battery in the layout of the lower part of the drill string. During the testing of the proposed device for measuring vibrations in the process of drilling an inclined well, verification of the registered data was carried out with the help of a high-cost telemetry system. The implementation of the proposed innovation will allow each operator to assess the significance of the impact of vibrations and shocks on the production process and, if necessary, adjust the drilling modes or apply vibration protection devices. In addition, service departments that operate and repair drilling equipment will be able to obtain an evidence base for resolving warranty disputes or claims.