Patent ID: 7461705

Claim:
A method for oscillating a drillstring, the drillstring extending into the earth, the drillstring having a bit on a lower end thereof, the bit for drilling into the earth, the drillstring connected to a motive apparatus, the motive apparatus for rotating the drillstring, the motive apparatus having a power output associated with rotating the drillstring, the method comprising determining a first amount of energy and a second amount of energy, said determining including calculating the first amount of energy and the second amount of energy based on actual movement of the drillstring by a motive apparatus, the first amount of energy based on a measured amount of energy applied to the drillstring to move the drillstring to a first position, and the second amount of energy based on a measured amount of energy applied to the drillstring to move the drillstring to a second position, the second position subsequent to the first position, said calculating not based on an actual physical position of the drillstring and not based on an actual physical position of the bit, applying the first amount of energy to the drillstring in a first rotational direction to move the drillstring to the first position, stopping the drillstring at the first position without regard to location of the bit, after applying the first amount of energy to the drillstring applying the second amount of energy to the drilling in a second rotational direction, the second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction, and stopping the drillstring at the second position without regard to location of the bit, said oscillating accomplished without rotating the drillstring a predetermined angle.