Vibration tool

Abstract

Various implementations described herein are directed to a vibration tool, e.g., for use in drilling or other downhole operations. In one implementation, the vibration tool may include a housing having a bore extending therethrough. The vibration tool may also include a piston subassembly positioned inside the bore, where the piston subassembly is configured to oscillate when fluid flow inside the piston subassembly exceeds a predetermined flow rate. The vibration tool may further include a valve mechanism positioned around the piston subassembly, where the valve mechanism is configured to restrict fluid to flow inside the piston subassembly when the valve mechanism is in a closed state and configured to allow the fluid to flow from the piston subassembly to the bore when the valve mechanism is in an open state.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vibration tool, comprising:
 a housing having a bore extending therethrough;   a piston subassembly positioned inside the bore, the piston subassembly configured to oscillate when fluid flow inside the piston subassembly exceeds a predetermined flow rate; and   a valve mechanism positioned at least partially around the piston subassembly, wherein the valve mechanism is configured to restrict fluid to flow inside the piston subassembly when the valve mechanism is in a closed state and configured to allow the fluid to flow from the piston subassembly to the bore when the valve mechanism is in an open state.   
     
     
         2 . The vibration tool of  claim 1 , further comprising an upper spring disposed outside of the piston subassembly and configured to bias the piston subassembly in an uphole direction and into a start position. 
     
     
         3 . The vibration tool of  claim 2 , wherein, when the valve mechanism is in the closed state, the piston subassembly is configured to move in a downhole direction away from the start position in response to fluid pressure. 
     
     
         4 . The vibration tool of  claim 1 , wherein the valve mechanism is configured to be in the closed state when the valve mechanism forms a face seal with a valve stopper of the piston subassembly. 
     
     
         5 . The vibration tool of  claim 4 , further comprising a valve spring disposed inside the bore and configured to bias the valve mechanism into the valve stopper to form the face seal. 
     
     
         6 . The vibration tool of  claim 4 , wherein the valve mechanism is configured to extend radially along a face of the valve stopper and axially along an axial surface of the valve stopper to form the face seal. 
     
     
         7 . The vibration tool of  claim 4 , wherein when the face seal is formed with the valve stopper:
 a ratio of between 0.5 and 2.0 is defined between a distance the valve mechanism extends along an axial surface of the valve stopper relative to a distance the valve mechanism extends radially along a face of the valve stopper;   a ratio of between 0.02 and 0.05 is defined between the distance the valve mechanism extends along the axial surface of the valve stopper relative to an outer diameter of the valve mechanism; or   a ratio of between 0.03 and 0.08 is defined between the distance the valve mechanism extends radially along a face of the valve stopper relative to the outer diameter of the valve mechanism.   
     
     
         8 . The vibration tool of  claim 4 , wherein, when the valve mechanism is in the closed state, the valve mechanism is configured to move in a downhole direction in conjunction with the piston subassembly based on fluid pressure while maintaining the face seal. 
     
     
         9 . The vibration tool of  claim 4 , wherein the piston subassembly is configured to move in a downhole direction relative to the valve mechanism after downhole movement of the valve mechanism is arrested, thereby breaking the face seal and transitioning the valve mechanism to the open state. 
     
     
         10 . The vibration tool of  claim 9 , wherein, once the valve mechanism is in the open state, the piston subassembly and the valve mechanism are configured to move in an uphole direction and again form the face seal. 
     
     
         11 . The vibration tool of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more pins configured to arrest a downhole movement of the valve mechanism, wherein the valve mechanism is configured to transition from the closed state to the open state once the one or more pins arrest the downhole movement.   
     
     
         12 . The vibration tool of  claim 1 , wherein the piston subassembly is configured to have a pressure force acting on the piston subassembly decrease after the valve mechanism transitions to the open state. 
     
     
         13 . The vibration tool of  claim 1 , wherein the piston subassembly is configured to impact the housing while oscillating to thereby creating vibrations. 
     
     
         14 . The vibration tool of  claim 1 , wherein the valve mechanism comprises:
 a valve sleeve movably disposed relative to the piston subassembly, wherein the valve sleeve comprises one or more communication ports that are aligned with one or more bypass ports on the piston subassembly when the valve sleeve is in the open state; and   one or more latching mechanisms coupled to the valve sleeve, wherein the latching mechanisms are configured to engage with one or more first latch stops disposed on the piston subassembly when the valve sleeve is in the closed state, and wherein the latching mechanisms are configured to engage with one or more second latch stops disposed on the piston subassembly when the valve sleeve is in the open state.   
     
     
         15 . The vibration tool of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more latching mechanisms are configured to move between the first latch stops and the second latch stops after downhole movement of the valve mechanism is arrested. 
     
     
         16 . The vibration tool of  claim 14 , wherein the piston subassembly comprises a bumper disposed between a respective first latch stop and a respective second latch stop. 
     
     
         17 . A latching valve subassembly for use in a tool, comprising:
 a valve sleeve movably disposed at least partially over a cylindrical body, the valve sleeve having one or more communication ports that are aligned with one or more ports of the cylindrical body when the valve sleeve is in a first state; and   one or more latching mechanisms coupled to the valve sleeve, the latching mechanisms protruding from an inner diameter of the valve sleeve, and wherein the latching mechanisms are configured to engage with one or more first latch stops disposed on the cylindrical body when the valve sleeve is in the first state, and wherein the latching mechanisms are configured to engage with one or more second latch stops disposed on the cylindrical body when the valve sleeve is in a second state.   
     
     
         18 . The latching valve subassembly of  claim 17 , wherein the ports are misaligned with the communication ports when the valve sleeve is in the second state. 
     
     
         19 . The latching valve subassembly of  claim 17 , wherein each latching mechanism comprises:
 a bar coupled to an outer diameter of the sleeve; and   a pocket coupled to the bar and having a ball disposed within, the ball protruding from an inner diameter of the sleeve.   
     
     
         20 . The latching valve subassembly of  claim 17 , wherein the valve sleeve is allowed a specified range of movement along the cylindrical body when engaged with either latch stop. 
     
     
         21 . An impact mitigation subassembly for use in a tool, comprising:
 an impact cap configured to couple to an end portion of a moving body; and   one or more springs disposed on an inside base of the impact cap, the springs being configured to allow displacement of the moving body within the impact cap when movement of the impact cap is arrested.   
     
     
         22 . The impact mitigation subassembly of  claim 21 , wherein the moving body is inserted into the impact cap in a manner that produces a predetermined load in the springs.