Downhole pressure fluctuating feedback system

Claim 2

An improved feedback system connecting the first and second output legs and the first and second feedback nozzles of a fluid oscillator used in a tubular member in a drill string in a well bore, the improvement comprising: a tubular member with threaded ends for connection in the drill string, having a storage cavity formed within the body of the tubular member; a housing, secured within the storage cavity of the tubular member and divided into two chambers, each chamber functioning as an acoustical compliance and having a supply port and an exhaust port for the passage of fluid; a first supply passage that operates as an acoustical inertance and allows fluid to flow from the first output leg of the fluid oscillator into the first chamber through the supply port; a first exhaust passage that operates as an acoustical inertance and allows fluid to flow from the first chamber through the exhaust port to the first feedback nozzle of the fluid oscillator; a second supply passage that operates as an acoustical inertance and allows fluid to flow from the second output leg of the fluid oscillator into the second chamber through the supply port; a second exhaust passage that operates as an acoustical inertance and allows fluid to flow from the second chamber through the exhaust port to the second feedback nozzle of the fluid oscillator.

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the housing is releasably secured within the storage cavity of the tubular member.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the frequency of oscillation, F, is determined by the following formula: F=(K×A.sup..44 ×Q)/(L.sup..3 ×V.sup..87) where K is a constant (1.55); A is the cross-sectional area of one supply or exhaust passage in square feet; Q is the flow through the oscillator in gallons per minute; L is the combined length of one supply passage and one exhaust passage in feet; and V is the compliance volume of one chamber in cubic feet.

Claim 5

An improved feedback system for connecting the first and second output legs of a fluid oscillator to the first and second feedback nozzles of the fluid oscillator, the oscillator being of the type that is carried by a drill string composed of connected tubular members that are suspended in a well bore, comprising: a tubular member with an axial bore, having threaded ends for connection in the drill string; a central tube carried in the axial bore of the tubular member for directing the passage of fluid through the tubular member; a storage compartment defined by the interior wall of the tubular member and the central exterior wall of the tube; a housing divided into two sealed chambers, each chamber having a supply port and an exhaust port for the passage of fluid; a means for releasably securing the housing within the storage compartment; a first supply passage that operates as an acoustical inertance and allows fluid to flow from the first output leg of the fluid oscillator into the first chamber through the supply port; a first exhaust passage that operates as an acoustical inertance and allows fluid to flow from the first chamber through the exhaust port to the first feedback nozzle of the fluid oscillator; a second supply passage that operates as an acoustical inertance and allows fluid to flow from the second output leg of the fluid oscillator into the second chamber through the supply port; a second exhaust passage that operates as an acoustical inertance and allows fluid to flow from the second chamber through the exhaust port to the second feedback nozzle of the fluid oscillator.

Claim 6

An improved feedback system for connecting the first and second output legs of a fluid oscillator to the first and second feedback nozzles of the fluid oscillator, the oscillator being of the type that is carried by a drill string composed of connected tubular members that are suspended in a well bore, comprising: a tubular member with an axial bore, having threaded ends for connection in the drill string; a central tube carried in the axial bore of the tubular member for directing the passage of fluid through the tubular member; a storage compartment defined by the interior wall of the tubular member and the central exterior wall of the tube; a housing divided into two sealed chambers, each chamber having a supply port and an exhaust port for the passage of fluid; a means for releasably securing the housing within the storage compartment; a first supply passage that operates as an acoustical inertance and allows fluid to flow from the first output leg of the fluid oscillator into the first chamber through the supply port; a first exhaust passage that operates as an acoustical inertance and allows fluid to flow from the first chamber through the exhaust port to the first feedback nozzle of the fluid oscillator; a second supply passage that operates as an acoustical inertance and allows fluid to flow from the second output leg of the fluid oscillator into the second chamber through the supply port; a second exhaust passage that operates as an acoustical inertance and allows fluid to flow from the second chamber through the exhaust port to the second feedback nozzle of the fluid oscillator.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the storage compartment is further defined by an adjacent connected tubular member.

Claim 8

An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the central tube is releasably carried by the axial bore.

Claim 9

An improved feedback system connecting the first and second output legs and the first and second feedback nozzles of a fluid oscillator used in a tubular member in a drill string in a well bore, the improvement comprising: a tubular member with an axial bore; a central tube carried in the axial bore of the tubular member; a storage recess defined by the interior wall of the tubular member and the exterior wall of the central tube; a cylindrical housing that has a hollow central core to accommodate the central tube; a means for releasably securing the cylindrical housing within the storage recess; a divider means for dividing the housing into a first and second sealed chamber, each chamber operates as an acoustical compliance and is concentric to the central tube having a supply port and an exhaust port; a first supply passage that operates as an acoustical inertance and allows fluid to flow from the first output leg of the fluid oscillator into the first chamber through the supply port; a first exhaust passage that operates as an acoustical inertance and allows fluid to flow from the first chamber through the exhaust port to the first feedback nozzle of the fluid oscillator; a second supply passage that operates as an acoustical inertance and allows fluid to flow from the second output leg of the fluid oscillator into the second chamber through the supply port; a second exhaust passage that operates as an acoustical inertance and allows fluid to flow from the second chamber through the exhaust port to the second feedback nozzle of the fluid oscillator.

Claim 10

An improved feedback system connecting the first and second output legs and the first and second feedback nozzles of a fluid oscillator used in a tubular member in a drill string in a well bore, the improvement comprising: a tubular member with an axial bore; a central tube carried in the axial bore of the tubular member; a storage recess defined by the interior wall of the tubular member and the exterior wall of the central tube; a cylindrical housing that has a hollow central core to accommodate the central tube; a means for releasably securing the cylindrical housing within the storage recess; a divider means for dividing the housing into a first and second sealed chamber, each chamber operates as an acoustical compliance and is concentric to the central tube having a supply port and an exhaust port; a first supply passage that operates as an acoustical inertance and allows fluid to flow from the first output leg of the fluid oscillator into the first chamber through the supply port; a first exhaust passage that operates as an acoustical inertance and allows fluid to flow from the first chamber through the exhaust port to the first feedback nozzle of the fluid oscillator; a second supply passage that operates as an acoustical inertance and allows fluid to flow from the second output leg of the fluid oscillator into the second chamber through the supply port; a second exhaust passage that operates as an acoustical inertance and allows fluid to flow from the second chamber through the exhaust port to the second feedback nozzle of the fluid oscillator.

Claim 11

An improved feedback system for connecting the first and second output legs of a fluid oscillator to the first and second feedback nozzles of the fluid oscillator, the oscillator being of the type that is carried by a drill string in a well bore, comprising: a first threaded tubular member with first and second threaded ends, having an axial borehole that is enlarged at the second threaded end; a central tube of uniform diameter carried in the axial borehole of the first tubular member; a means for securing the central tube to the tubular member; a second tubular member having threaded pin and box ends for connection in a drill string; a cylindrical housing that has a hollow central core to accommodate the central tube; a divider means for dividing the housing into a first and second sealed chamber, each chamber operates as an acoustical compliance and has a supply port and an exhaust port; a means for releasably securing the housing to the pin end of the second tubular member; a compartment means defined by the interior wall of the enlarged axial borehole of the first tubular member, the exterior wall of the central tube, and the pin end of the second tubular member, for receiving the housing when the first tubular member and the second tubular member are connected together in the drill string; a first supply passage that operates as an acoustical inertance and allows fluid to flow from the first output leg of the fluid oscillator into the first chamber through the supply port; a first exhaust passage that operates as an acoustical inertance and allows fluid to flow from the first chamber through the exhaust port to the first feedback nozzle of the fluid oscillator; a second supply passage that operates as an acoustical inertance and allows fluid to flow from the second output leg of the fluid oscillator into the second chamber through the supply port; a second exhaust passage that operates as an acoustical inertance an allows fluid to flow from the second chamber through the exhaust port to the second feedback nozzle of the fluid oscillator.

Claim 12

An improved feedback system for connecting the first and second output legs of a fluid oscillator to the first and second feedback nozzles of the fluid oscillator, the oscillator being of the type that is carried by a drill string in a well bore, comprising: a first threaded tubular member with first and second threaded ends, having an axial borehole that is enlarged at the second threaded end; a central tube of uniform diameter carried in the axial borehole of the first tubular member; a means for securing the central tube to the tubular member; a second tubular member having threaded pin and box ends for connection in a drill string; a cylindrical housing that has a hollow central core to accommodate the central tube; a divider means for dividing the housing into a first and second sealed chamber, each chamber operates as an acoustical compliance and has a supply port and an exhaust port; a means for releasably securing the housing to the pin end of the second tubular member; a compartment means defined by the interior wall of the enlarged axial borehole of the first tubular member, the exterior wall of the central tube, and the pin end of the second tubular member, for receiving the housing when the first tubular member and the second tubular member are connected together in the drill string; a first supply passage that operates as an acoustical inertance and allows fluid to flow from the first output leg of the fluid oscillator into the first chamber through the supply port; a first exhaust passage that operates as an acoustical inertance and allows fluid to flow from the first chamber through the exhaust port to the first feedback nozzle of the fluid oscillator; a second supply passage that operates as an acoustical inertance and allows fluid to flow from the second output leg of the fluid oscillator into the second chamber through the supply port; a second exhaust passage that operates as an acoustical inertance an allows fluid to flow from the second chamber through the exhaust port to the second feedback nozzle of the fluid oscillator.