Modelling and dynamic analysis of an anti-stall tool in a drilling system including spatial friction

Abstract

This paper investigates the effects of a down-hole anti-stall tool (AST) in deviated wells on the drilling performance of a rotary drilling system. Deviated wells typically induce frictional contact between the drill-string and the borehole, which affects the drill-string dynamics. In order to study the influence of such frictional effects on the effectiveness of the AST in improving the rate-of-penetration and drilling efficiency, a model-based approach is proposed. A dynamic model with coupled axial and torsional dynamics of a drilling system including the down-hole tool in an inclined well is constructed. Furthermore, the frictional contact between the drill-string and the borehole is modelled by a set-valued spatial Coulomb friction law affecting both the axial and torsional dynamics. These dynamics are described by state-dependent delay differential inclusions. Numerical analysis of this model shows that the rate-of-penetration and drilling efficiency increases by inclusion of the AST, both in the case with and without spatial Coulomb friction. Furthermore, a parametric design study of the AST in different inclined drilling scenarios is performed. This study reveals a design for the AST, which gives optimal drilling efficiency, robustly over a broad range of inclined drilling scenarios.