An Introduction to
Drilling Dynamics
Copyright 2002 Smith International, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Objectives
• Understanding Drilling Vibrations
• Types of Vibration
• Recognizing and Dealing with Vibrations
Drill String Vibration
• Drill String Vibration is inevitable
• Low levels are usually harmless
• Severe vibrations are destructive
• Vibrations can be controlled.…to a degree
Drill String Vibration
• Severe Vibrations
Catastrophic DS Failure
MWD & Motor Damage
Hole enlargement
Premature Bit wear and failure
Reduce Rate of Penetration
…………basically inefficient drilling
See why it is important….
Tacoma Narrows Bridge
Washington State, USA
November 7th 1940
Drill String Vibration
• While drilling, it is VERY important to:
Identify the type(s) of vibration.
Take immediate action (change operating parameters)
Cause? Effect? Control?
Drill String Vibration
Three
main
modes of
Vibration
Torsional Lateral
Axial
Axial Vibration
Axial Vibration
Axial Vibration
• Vibration of Rig and Equipment (bouncing)
• Vertical movement of Pipe at surface
• Fluctuations in WOB / TQ / RPM as Bit loses
contact with bottom of Hole.
Most common with Rock Bits
Occasionally seen with PDC Bits in hard Formations
Axial Vibration
• Cause ?
Hard Rock interfaces
E.g Hard stringers interbedded with soft ones
hard limestone stringers in softer shale/clay
• Effects ?
Accelerated Bit Wear
Broken & Chipped Teeth, Bearings
MWD Failures & Damage to surface equipment
ROP reduction & shorter Bit runs
Poor Drilling efficiency
Axial Vibration
• Control ?
Change Drill String frequency
increase/reduce RPM
Restart Bit and establish new Profile
Lengthen BHA to change Axial frequency
Use of Shock Subs
Torsional Vibration
Torsional
Vibration
Torsional and Axial Vibrations
A 40 to 45 mile/hour wind produced axial vibrations (5 ft)
and torsional vibrations (14 vibs/min) before failure
Torsional Vibration (Stick Slip)
• Cause ?
Alternating rotational acceleration and deceleration of the
Drill String
Caused by interaction of BHA (particularly Stabilisers)
and the Wellbore and/or interaction between the Bit and
the Formation being drilled.
Most common when using PDC Drill Bits
Phenomenon is Formation dependent
Severe level when drill string rotation stops (stick), and
when sufficient torque has built up in drill string rotation
restarts (slip)
Torsional Vibration (Stick Slip)
• Stick Slip Definition
A severe form of torsional vibration when the Bit actually
stops rotating for a period of time (stick phase) until
sufficient torque builds up in the Drillstring to break it
loose.
The Bit then accelerates (slip phase), but eventually
slows and comes to rest again.
Torsional Vibration (Stick Slip)
Slip Stick Bit Speed
350
300
Amplitude (rpm)
250
200
150
100
50
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Time (seconds) Surface Speed
Torsional Vibration (Stick Slip)
• Effects ?
Downhole RPM ranges between zero and several times
surface RPM.
Premature Bit Wear
Loss of PDC Cutters with backward rotation
MWD Tool damage and failure
Over torqued connections
Connections may back off with backward rotation
Damage to rotary drive system
Damage to down hole motor drive mechanism
Torsional Vibration (Stick Slip)
• Control ?
Increase RPM
Decrease WOB
Limit PDC Cutter depth of cut
Operate below buckling limit and minmise contact with Wellbore
Reduce BHA Friction
Use Roller Reamers, Improve Mud Lubricity
Consider a less aggressive PDC Bit
Use a Soft Torque System
Improve Hole Cleaning, Wipe the Hole
Lateral Vibration
Lateral Vibration
Lateral Vibration
• Difficult to recognize at surface as Lateral
vibrations do not propagate up the Drill string
Need MWD detection Tools (eg DDS, VSS)
• Both Axial and Torsional Vibrations can be
physically seen at Surface
Lateral Vibration
• Cause ?
Off centre rotation of Bit or BHA component
Commonly referred to as Whirl and can be Bit or BHA
generated
Motor with bent sub will cause Whirl
Bit Whirl
• Whirl
Whirl is a form of lateral Bit vibration in which the Bit
rotates about a point other than its’ geometric centre.
When it occurs Cutters are subjected to irregular loading
and severe impacts
Phenomenon is relatively stable and difficult to remove
Whirl is intermittent and illustrated by …….
Bit Whirl
• Because of off-centre
rotation, individual cutters R
will move sideways and
backwards as they cut the
bottom hole pattern
• The centre of rotation shifts
to some other point on Bit
Face
Borehole Instantaneous
Center Center of
Rotation
Lateral Vibration
• Lateral vibration coupled with torsional vibration
can lead to two different types of whirling action:
Forward synchronous whirl
Backward whirl (most damaging)
Forward Whirl
• Occurs when the center of the bit moves in the
same direction as the drillstring rotation.
• Involves continuous slip between the bit gauge and
the borehole wall.
• Involves small penetration into the borehole wall.
• Cutters are always moving in a clockwise direction.
Backward Whirl
• Occurs when the center of the bit moves in the
opposite direction as the drillstring rotation.
• Shown by bouncing of the string and increased
torque.
• Also shown by the pipe “whipping” and clattering
around the kelly bushing.
Backward Whirl
• Most severe form of vibration.
• Slip velocity drops, bit gauge rolls along borehole
wall.
• Cutters move backward and sideways.
• Cutters are subjected to very high impact loads.
• More severe in harder formation.
Backward Whirl
Backward Whirl
• Effects?
Poor Borehole Quality (ledging, spiralled, overgauge)
Lobed bottom hole pattern.
Eccentric gauge wear.
Reduced ROP and premature bit failure.
MWD failures
Stabilizer blade damage
Non linear response to changes in RPM and WOB.
Backward Whirl
Whirling PDC bit Non Whirling PDC bit
Backward Whirl
• Control ?
Restart the Bit:
Re-establish proper bottom hole pattern.
Pick up approximately 5 feet.
Stop the rotary, let the string settle still.
Restart the rotary, return to drilling using low parameters.
If the problem continues, try lower RPM and/or higher
weight on bit.
Summary: Drill String Vibration
• Be cognizant of Vibration Modes
Axial & Torsional are apparent at Surface
Lateral is not evident at Surface
• Energy should be directed to the Bits drilling action,
and not residual vibration in Drill String.
• Bit Performance ultimately relies on managing
Drillstring dynamics ….search for Stability Zone.
Search for Stability Zone
Stability RPM - WOB Stability Diagram
25
Window for
Operating
Parameters 20
Torsional Instability Zone
WOB (Klbs)
Unstable
15
10 Stable
5
Unstable
Lateral Instability Zone
0
0 50 100 150 200 250
Rotary Speed (RPM)
An Introduction to
Drilling Dynamics
Copyright 2002 Smith International, Inc.
All rights reserved.
