Optimizing drilling efficiency: Comparative study of stick-slip vibration of steel and aluminum drill strings

Abstract

This study investigates the torsional stick-slip behavior of steel and aluminum drill strings under varying levels of aggressiveness, which refers to the intensity with which the drill bit interacts with the rock formation. Aggressiveness is primarily influenced by critical factors such as torque on bit (TOB), weight on bit (WOB), and rotational speed (RPM). It is quantitatively expressed as the ratio of TOB to WOB, a key determinant in the drilling process that influences how effectively the bit penetrates the formation. A small-scale drill string model was developed and tested under varying aggressiveness and RPMs using a numerical simulator. The objective was to assess how the different materials respond to torsional stick-slip vibrations across a range of operational parameters. The simulations were conducted over 30 s intervals with both stable and varying RPMs, allowing for a detailed comparison of the material's dynamic behaviors. The RPM limits, which indicate the maximum RPM beyond which severe stick-slip occurs, were calculated for both materials. Results revealed that steel drill strings exhibited superior stability, with fewer torsional oscillations and shorter sticking periods, particularly at higher aggressiveness ratios. While aluminum drill strings, being lightweight, showed greater susceptibility to torsional oscillations, especially at lower rotational speeds, leading to longer periods of stick-slips. Also, as the aggressiveness reduces, the RPM limits for both materials increases. This emphasizes the importance of identifying optimal RPM limits and material selection to minimize vibrations and improve drilling efficiency.

Keywords

Torsional stick slip / Aggressiveness / RPM limits / Steel / Aluminum / Numerical simulation

CRediT authorship contribution statement

Chinedu Ejike: Writing-original draft, Software, Methodology, Investigation, Formal analysis, Conceptualization. Khizar Abid: Writing-review & editing, Supervision, Investigation. Chinedu J. Okere: Writing-review & editing. Catalin Teodoriu: Writing-review & editing, Validation, Supervision, Software, Project administration, Investigation, Conceptualization.

Funding

This research was sponsored in part by Helmerich and Payne INC.

Declaration of competing interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Helmerich and Payne INC. for their fantastic support in building and maintaining the OU drilling vibration laboratories as well as for their priceless support for the WellScan software package. We also would like to thank the OU Drilling Vibration Laboratory at the University of Oklahoma.

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