Method and apparatus for damping/absorbing rotational vibrations/oscillations

1. A vibration damping device for use with one or more downhole electronics, the downhole electronics having a longitudinal axis, the vibration damping device comprising:

a device housing mechanically coupled to the downhole electronics, the device housing defining a receptacle having a volume and an inner surface, wherein the downhole electronics comprise a sensor, and wherein the device housing along with the downhole electronics together create a sensor string maintained in a centralized position inside a drill string;

an inertia element movably supported in the receptacle and having a volume, a mass, and a non-zero moment of inertia about the longitudinal axis;

wherein the volume of the receptacle is greater than the volume of the inertia element so as to define an interstitial volume therebetween and wherein the interstitial volume is occupied by a fluid or an elastomer.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the inertia element is supported within the receptacle in a manner that allows the inertia element to rotate about the longitudinal axis without contacting the walls of the receptacle, further including at least one of a longitudinal bearing and a radial bearing positioned between the inertia element and the device housing.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the device housing comprises an annular wall having an outer radius and a central bore therethrough and wherein the receptacle is defined in the annular wall.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the device housing is integral with the downhole electronics.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein the device housing includes a variable compensation volume in fluid communication with the receptacle.

6. The device of claim 3 wherein a variable compensation volume is defined by a variable compensation housing, wherein the variable compensation housing is formed separately from the device housing, and wherein the variable compensation housing is received within the device housing.

7. The device of claim 2 wherein the inertia element has a shape selected from the group consisting of square toroids, tori, and azimuthally-spaced segments.

8. A method for tuning a downhole torsional damping device to match at least one desired downhole electronics, the downhole torsional damping device having a longitudinal axis and including an inertia element and a damping fluid or elastomer, comprising the steps of:

a) calculating a set of natural frequencies and mode shapes for the downhole electronics based on the mechanical properties of the downhole electronics, wherein the downhole electronics comprise a sensor, and wherein the downhole torsional damping device along with the downhole electronics together create a sensor string maintained in a centralized position inside a drill string;

b) selecting at least one desired frequency from the calculated natural frequencies;

c) tuning the damping device characteristics to match the at least one desired frequency; and

d) using the calculated mode shapes to place the damping device.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein step a) comprises calculating a set of natural frequencies and mode shapes for a string of downhole electronics based on the mechanical properties of the downhole electronics and support members associated therewith.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein step c) comprises adjusting one or more properties selected from the group consisting of the mass of the inertia element, material density of the inertia element, moment of inertia of the inertia element to the longitudinal axis, shape of the inertia element, shape of the tool, density of the damping fluid, and viscosity of the damping fluid, and selecting a value that results in a damping tool frequency that most closely matches the desired frequency.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the mode shapes correspond to a calculated amplitude of vibration at each point along the tool and include nodes and antinodes and wherein step d) includes positioning a damping device at one or more antinodes.