A Proposed Design for a Smart Shock Absorber Using an Electro-Rheological Fluid

Abstract

This paper proposes a design for a smart down-hole shock absorber that can be used to optimize the vibrations that occur while drilling oil and gas wells. The tool reads the magnitude and frequency of vibrations resulting from the drilling process. It then compares those parameters to the recommended ranges that the drilling bit requires to achieve the highest rate of penetration in a given formation with the slightest damage occurring to drilling equipment. Accordingly, the smart shock absorber changes its properties to damp the vibrations and make them fall into the recommended range of vibrations. The paper starts with a quick introduction about why shock absorbers are used in drilling for oil and gas. Next, we discuss different vibration problems that occur while drilling. Then we present a brief review about smart fluids. Then we present the proposed design of the smart shock absorber. Finally, we discuss optimum placement of a shock absorber in the BHA.