US Patent 9290995 Drill string oscillation methods

A method includes oscillating, with a first acceleration profile, at least a portion of a drill string using a top drive at least indirectly coupled to the drill string and includes oscillating, with a second acceleration profile different from the first acceleration profile, at least a portion of the drill string using the top drive. The method also includes oscillating, with a third acceleration profile, at least a portion of the drill string using the top drive, wherein the third acceleration profile is optimized based on feedback associated with the oscillation with the first acceleration profile and feedback associated with the oscillation with the second acceleration profile.