Soft torque rotary system reduces drillstring failures
- Shell Offshore Inc., New Orleans, LA (United States)
This paper reports that the use of the soft torque system has significantly reduced torque fluctuations (up to 80%), torsional drillstring vibrations, and bit slip-stick conditions to help reduce drillstring failures and improve penetration rates in deep directional wells. The system was instrumental in eliminating expensive ($5-10 million) drillstring failures on Well SL 531 No. 3, a complex directional well in Mobile Bay. The soft torque rotary system attenuates and interrupts the torsional oscillations of the drillstring and thus prevents the buildup of energy in torsional waves that are reflected back and forth between the bit and the rotary table. The soft torque rotary system can be installed on any rig equipped with an independent electronically driven rotary table or top drive. The system is relatively inexpensive and easy to install.
- OSTI ID:
- 7026759
- Journal Information:
- Oil and Gas Journal; (United States), Journal Name: Oil and Gas Journal; (United States) Vol. 90:41; ISSN OIGJAV; ISSN 0030-1388
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
42 ENGINEERING
423000 -- Engineering-- Marine Engineering-- (1980-)
440400 -- Well Logging Instrumentation
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
DESIGN
DRILL BITS
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
DRILLING RIGS
DRILLS
EQUIPMENT
INSTALLATION
OFFSHORE OPERATIONS
OIL WELLS
PERFORMANCE
ROTARY DRILLS
TORQUE
WELLS