Analysis on the nonlinear lateral vibration of drillstring in curved wells with beam finite element

This study focuses on the nonlinear lateral vibration of drillstring in curved wells. One of the most important features of this work is that the drillstring dynamics in curved wells (including both vertical, deflecting and horizontal well structures) are modeled and presented in actual drilling engineering scale. In the proposed model, beam finite element (FE) method is employed to calculate the drillstring dynamics in curved wells. The model is solved by the generalized-alpha method and verified by reproduction of the field data. The model has coupled the lateral, torsional and longitudinal vibrations of the drillstring, while we only pay our attention to the nonlinear lateral vibration of drillstring in curved wells. The efficient length of lateral vibration of a field curved well is firstly proposed, and the influences of rotation speed, weight on bit (WOB), coefficient of friction (COF) and stabilizer (STB) on the lateral vibration of drillstring in curved wells are discussed. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study models the nonlinear lateral vibration of drillstring in curved wells at an actual drilling engineering scale, using beam finite element method and verifying the model through field data reproduction. The study introduces the concept of efficient length for lateral vibration in curved wells and discusses the influences of rotation speed, weight on bit, coefficient of friction, and stabilizer on drillstring lateral vibration.