DOWNHOLE VIBRATION APPARATUS AND METHODS
A method of extending an earthen bore comprises the steps of rotating a drill bit at the end of a tubular while vibrating the tubular. The method results in reduced friction to tubular advance through the bore and results in stabilized drill bit loading and longer usable drill bit life. A method of conditioning a cement slurry in an annulus between a casing and a bore to improve a resulting cement liner comprises the steps of coupling a vibration generator to the casing, running the casing into the bore, displacing the cement slurry into the annulus and using the vibration generator to vibrate the casing. A vibration generator may comprise a mass, having a mass center, coupled to a frame, a motor and a power source to spin the mass about an axis offset from the mass center.
1 . A method of advancing a tubular through a highly deviated portion of an earthen bore comprising the steps of:
coupling a vibration generator to a tubular;
running the tubular into the bore to dispose the vibration generator within the highly deviated section; and
activating the vibration generator to vibrate a portion of the tubular within the highly deviated section of the bore.
2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
coupling a drill bit to the tubular; and
rotating the drill bit against an end of the bore.
3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the tubular is a drill string.
4 . The method of claim 2 wherein the step of rotating the drill bit against the end of the bore comprises the steps of:
coupling a mud motor to the drill bit; and
providing a flow of pressurized fluid to the mud motor to rotate the drill bit.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the step of coupling a vibration generator to a tubular comprises the steps of:
coupling a mass having a mass center to the tubular;
coupling a motor to the mass;
coupling a power source to the motor; and
activating the motor to spin the mass on an axis offset from the mass center.
6 . The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
coupling a float device to the tubular;
displacing a volume of cement slurry through the tubular and the float device and into an annulus between the tubular and the bore; and
conditioning a portion of the volume of cement slurry within the highly deviated section.
7 . The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
coupling a second vibration generator to the tubular;
disposing the second vibration generator within the highly deviated section; and
activating the second vibration generator to vibrate a second portion of the tubular within the highly deviated section of the bore.
8 . The method of advancing a tubular through a highly deviated section of an earthen bore comprising the steps of:
coupling a mass having a mass center to a tubular;
coupling a motor to the mass;
coupling a power source to the motor;
running the tubular into the earthen bore to position the mass within the highly deviated section of the bore; and
spinning the mass on an axis offset from the mass center to vibrate a portion of the tubular adjacent the mass.
9 . The method of claim 8 wherein the power source is a battery and the motor is an electrically-driven motor.
10 . A method of extending an earthen bore comprising the steps of:
coupling a drill bit and a vibration generator to a tubular;
running the tubular into the bore;
rotating the drill bit against an end of the bore; and
vibrating the tubular using the vibration generator.
11 . The method of claim 10 further wherein the step of vibrating the tubular using the vibration generator comprising the steps of:
coupling a mass having a mass center to a tubular sub;
coupling a motor to the mass;
coupling a power source to the motor; and
activating the motor to spin the mass about an axis offset from the mass center.
12 . The method of claim 10 wherein the step of rotating the drill bit against the end of the bore comprises the step of:
fluidically driving a mud motor to rotate the drill bit relative to the tubular.
13 . The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of:
coupling a second vibration tool to the tubular; and
vibrating the tubular using the second vibration tool.
14 . A method of conditioning a volume of cement slurry disposed within an annulus between a tubular and an earthen bore into which the tubular is run, comprising the steps of:
coupling a vibration generator to the tubular;
displacing the volume of cement slurry through the bore of the tubular and into the annulus; and
activating the vibration generator to vibrate the volume of cement slurry.
15 . The method of claim 14 wherein the step of coupling a vibration generator to the tubular comprises the steps of:
rotatably coupling a mass having a mass center to the tubular; and
coupling a motor to the mass;
coupling a power source to the motor; and
activating the motor to spin the mass on an axis offset from the mass center.
16 . The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of coupling a float device to the tubular.
17 . The method of claim 16 wherein the float device is at least one of a float collar and a float shoe.
18 . The method of claim 17 wherein the float device comprises a check valve.
19 . The method of claim 14 wherein the step of coupling a vibration generator to the tubular comprises the steps of:
providing a sub having a first threaded connection at a first end coupled to the tubular, a second threaded connection at a second end, and a fluid passage therebetween in fluid communication with the bore of the tubular.
20 . The vibration tool of claim 14 wherein the sub further comprises a second threaded connection at a second end of the fluid passage.
21 . The vibration tool of claim 14 wherein the sub further comprises a float shoe having a valve.