Operators drilling shale formations in the Permian Basin experience excessive shock and vibration, specifically high-frequency torsional oscillation (HFTO). Excessive HFTO is the leading cause of downhole tool failures, including cracked drill collars, broken measurement tools, and electronic component failures, which leads to additional trips, time, and costs.
In the past, Permian operators used different types of shock and vibration dampening tools to mitigate the effects of HFTO with minimal success. Field data showed similar spikes in amplitude and frequencies between dampened and nondampened BHAs. These high and sporadic shock amplitudes resulted in costly, fatigue-induced drillstring failures, including twistoffs and broken components in the RSS and MWD equipment.
SLB developed the HFTO Suppressor dampening tool designed to reduce downhole shock and vibration while drilling in challenging formations. Predictive modeling from the IDEAS platform simulated HFTO at various points throughout the BHA, helping SLB engineers determine the ideal location for the HFTO suppressor within the assembly.
The IDEAS platform verified the HFTO Suppressor tool would reduce shock amplitude by 64% compared with drillstrings without dampening tools. Additionally, the data revealed a 48% reduction in shock amplitude compared with other shock and vibration dampener tools. These promising results will help operators significantly reduce well time and costs by improving BHA reliability, reducing NPT, increasing ROP, and avoiding extra runs.
