A closed-loop circulating system for drilling wells has control of the flow rates in and out of the wellbore. Kicks and fluid losses are quickly controlled by adjusting the backpressure. Kick tolerance and tripping margins are eliminated by real-time determination of pore and fracture pressure. The
A closed-loop circulating system for drilling wells has control of the flow rates in and out of the wellbore. Kicks and fluid losses are quickly controlled by adjusting the backpressure. Kick tolerance and tripping margins are eliminated by real-time determination of pore and fracture pressure. The system can incorporate a rotating BOP and can be used with underbalanced drilling.
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The invention claimed is: 1. A system for operating a well having a fluid flow path defined by an injection line (14, 22) through which an inlet stream flows and a return line (27) through which an outlet stream flows, the system including, a pressure containment device (26) applied to the wellbore
The invention claimed is: 1. A system for operating a well having a fluid flow path defined by an injection line (14, 22) through which an inlet stream flows and a return line (27) through which an outlet stream flows, the system including, a pressure containment device (26) applied to the wellbore so that while the well is being drilled with a drill string (1) having a drilling liquid circulated therethrough, the well is kept closed from atmosphere at all times, means (10, 11, 15, 16, 28a, 28b) in said injection line (14, 22) and said return line (27) for measuring actual mass or actual fluid flow rate of liquid in the inlet and outlet streams to obtain actual mass or fluid flow signals, at least one pressure sensor (9, 17, 24, 28c) in said fluid flow path to obtain an actual pressure signal, a central data acquisition and control system (18) which receives said actual mass or fluid flow signals and said actual pressure signals, software installed in said central data acquisition and control system (18) which determines a real time ideal signal during drilling of the well, a control device (12) arranged and designed to apply backpressure to the wellbore, said software further arranged and designed to make a comparison between said real time ideal signal and a corresponding actual signal, said comparison yielding any discrepancy between said real time ideal signal and said corresponding actual signal, said software converting said discrepancy to a command value signal, and means for applying said command value signal to said control device (12) to adjust backpressure in the wellbore so that said actual signal is restored to said ideal signal, said software further arranged and designed to provide identification of an influx or loss event and, based on such identification, pre-emptively send a signal to said control device, thereby pre-emptively adjusting backpressure to immediately control the event without interruption of drilling operations. 2. The improved system of claim 1 wherein, said real time ideal signal is a real time ideal pressure signal, and said corresponding actual signal is a real time pressure signal. 3. The improved system of claim 1 wherein, said real time ideal signal is a real time ideal mass or fluid flow signal, and said corresponding actual signal is a real time actual mass or fluid flow signal. 4. The improved system of claim 1 wherein, said software provides said identification of an influx or loss event by acting on the principle of mass or volume conservation to determine the difference in mass or volume of liquid being injected and returned from the well, while compensating for factors including increase in hole volume and additional mass of rock returning as an indication of a possible fluid event occurring downhole; said software also receiving as inputs any early detection parameters, of influx or loss, which inputs trigger a chain of investigation of probable scenarios, to confirm that an influx or loss event has actually occurred; wherein the software after identifying that an influx or loss event has been ascertained, automatically sends a command to the control device (12) designed to adjust the backpressure applied to the wellbore so as to restore said signal value to the ideal signal value, thereby pre-emptively adjusting backpressure to immediately control the event. 5. The improved system of claim 4 wherein, said real time ideal signal is a predicted pressure signal, and said corresponding actual signal is a real time pressure signal. 6. The improved system of claim 5 wherein, said predicted pressure signal corresponds to a predetermined downhole operating pressure for operating the well, and said corresponding actual signal is an actual pressure measurement signal that corresponds to said predicted pressure signal. 7. The improved system of claim 1 wherein, said control device (12) is a pressure control device (12) on said return line (27) to keep backpressure on the well. 8. The improved system of claim 1 wherein, said control device (12) is a flow control device (12) on said return line (27). 9. A drilling arrangement for drilling a well comprising, a tubular drill string (1) having an upper and lower end and with a drill bit (2) at its lower end, a drive mechanism arranged and designed to turn said drill bit (2) in a borehole where a borehole annulus (3) is defined between an outer diameter of said tubular drill string (1) and an inner diameter of said borehole, a drilling fluid pump (6) in fluid communication with a drilling fluid reservoir (5), a drilling fluid injection line (14) extending between said pump (6) and said upper end of said drill string (1) and providing fluid communication between said pump (6) and said drill string (1), a fluid return line (27) extending between an outlet of said borehole annulus (3) and said drilling fluid reservoir (5), a pressure containment device (26) arranged and designed to keep said borehole closed from the atmosphere at all times while said well is being drilled with said drill string (1) having drilling fluid circulating therethrough, said injection line(14), drill string (1), borehole annulus (3) and return line (27) defining a flow path, an output flow measurement device (10, 11) in said fluid return line (27) arranged and designed to generate an actual drilling signal Foutactual(t) representative of actual flow rate of fluid in said fluid return line (27) as a function of time (t), a pressure measurement device (9, 17, 24) arranged and designed for generating an actual drilling signal Pactual(t) at a point in said flow path as a function of time (t), a central data acquisition and control system (18) arranged and designed, to receive at least one of said actual drilling signals, to determine in real time during drilling of said well an ideal drilling signal corresponding to said at least one of said actual drilling signals, and to determine a differential drilling signal Δ(t) representative of the difference between said at least one of said actual drilling signals and said corresponding ideal drilling signal, and a pressure/flow control device (12) in said fluid return line (27) responsive to said differential drilling signal Δ(t) and arranged and designed to adjust backpressure to said borehole annulus (3) of said well, thereby controlling said at least one actual drilling signal and restoring said at least one actual drilling signal to said ideal drilling signal, and said central data acquisition and control system (18) is further arranged and designed, to provide identification of an influx or loss event and based on such identification, pre-emptively sending a signal to pressure/flow control device (12), thereby pre-emptively adjusting backpressure to immediately control the event while drilling continues. 10. The arrangement of claim 9 further comprising, an input flow measurement device (15, 16) in said drilling fluid injection line (14) arranged and designed to generate an actual drilling signal Finactual(t) representative of actual flow rate of fluid in said fluid injection line (14), wherein said central data acquisition and control system (18) is further arranged and designed to identify a fluid influx event or a fluid loss event by acting on the principle of mass conservation to determine difference between said actual flow rate Finactual(t) in said fluid injection line (14) and said actual flow rate Foutactual(t) in said flow return line (27) while compensating for one or more drilling factors, and to receive as input any early detection parameters, said input triggering a chain of investigation of probable scenarios to confirm that an influx or loss event has occurred, and after confirming that an influx or loss event has occurred, to automatically send a command to said pressure/flow control device (12) in said fluid return line (27) to change flow restriction thereby pre-emptively adjusting said backpressure to said borehole annulus (3) of said well, to control said downhole event. 11. The arrangement of claim 10 wherein, said drilling factors include borehole pressure, borehole temperature, increase in volume of said borehole, and additional mass of rock returning from said borehole through fluid return line (27). 12. The arrangement of claim 9 wherein, said at least one of said actual drilling signals is Pactual(t), and said corresponding ideal drilling signal is Fideal(t). 13. The arrangement of claim 9 wherein, said at least one of said actual drilling signals is Foutactual(t), and said corresponding ideal drilling signal is Foutideal(t). 14. The arrangement of claim 13 wherein said central data acquisition and control system (18) further comprises, an input flow measurement device (15, 16) in said drilling fluid injection line (14) arranged and designed to generate an actual drilling parameter signal Finactual(t) representative of actual flow rate of drilling fluid applied to said drill string (1) through said fluid injection line (14) as a function of time (t), and said signal Foutideal(t) is generated as a function of at least said signal Finactual(t). 15. The arrangement of claim 13 wherein, said central data acquisition and control system (18) is further arranged and designed to generate said signal Foutideal(t) as a function of at least said signals Finactual(t) and Foutactual(t). 16. The arrangement of claim 13 further comprising, an apparatus (4, 19) for generating a signal Fcuttings(t) representative of mass of cuttings flow rate returning via said fluid return line (27) as a function of time (t), wherein said central data acquisition and control system (18) is further arranged and designed to receive said signal Fcuttings(t) and to generate said signal Foutideal(t) as a function of at least said signals Finactual(t) and Fcuttings(t). 17. The arrangement of claim 13 wherein, said central data acquisition and control system (18) is further arranged and designed to receive a signal Lpenetration(t) representative of drilling depth as a function of time (t) and to generate said signal Foutideal(t) as a function of at least said signals Finactual(t) and Lpenetration(t). 18. The arrangement of claim 13 wherein, said central data acquisition and control system (18) is further arranged and designed to generate said signal Foutideal(t) as a function of at least said signals Finactual(t) and Pactual(t). 19. The arrangement of claim 9 further comprising, an additional pressure containment device (26) arranged and designed to keep said borehole thereunder closed at all times while said well is being drilled, said additional pressure containment device (26) disposed within said borehole between said upper end and said lower end of said drill string (1), thereby defining a first pressure zone of said borehole annulus (3) below said additional pressure containment device (26) and a second pressure zone of said borehole annulus (3) above said additional pressure containment device (26), an additional fluid return line extending between an outlet of said first pressure zone and an inlet of said second pressure zone, and an additional pressure/flow control device (12) in said additional fluid return line responsive to signals from said central data acquisition and control system (18) and arranged and designed to change flow restriction in said additional fluid return line and apply backpressure to the well. 20. The arrangement of claim 9 further comprising, an additional drilling fluid pump (23) in fluid communication with said drilling fluid reservoir (5), and an additional drilling fluid injection line (22) extending between said additional drilling fluid pump (23) and said borehole annulus (3) and providing fluid communication between said additional pump (23) and said annulus (3). 21. The arrangement of claim 9 wherein, said pressure measurement device (9, 17, 24) is disposed at a position in said flow path and is arranged and designed for determining a downhole pressure signal Pactual(t) as a function of time (t), and said central data acquisition and control system (18) is further arranged and designed to determine that, if said fluid loss event is identified, said pressure signal Pactual(t) generated by said pressure measurement device (9, 17, 24) is representative of fracture pressure of the formation. 22. The arrangement of claim 9 wherein, said pressure measurement device (9, 17, 24) is disposed at a position in said flow path and is arranged and designed for determining a downhole pressure signal Pactual(t) as a function of time (t), and said central data acquisition and control system (18) is further arranged and designed to determine that, if a fluid influx is identified, said pressure signal Pactual(t) generated by said pressure measurement device (9, 17, 24) is representative of pore pressure of the formation. 23. A drilling arrangement for drilling a well comprising, a tubular drill string (1) having an upper and lower end and with a drill bit (2) at its lower end, a drive mechanism arranged and designed to turn said drill bit (2) in a borehole where a borehole annulus (3) is defined between an outer diameter of said tubular drill string (1) and an inner diameter of said borehole, a drilling fluid pump (6) in fluid communication with a drilling fluid reservoir (5), a drilling fluid injection line (14) extending between said pump (6) and said upper end of said drill string (1) and providing fluid communication between said pump (6) and said drill string (1), a fluid return line (27) extending between an outlet of said borehole annulus (3) and said drilling fluid reservoir (5), a pressure containment device (26) arranged and designed to keep said borehole closed from the atmosphere at all times while said well is being drilled with said drill string (1) having drilling fluid circulating therethrough, said injection line (14), drill string (1), borehole annulus (3) and return line (27) defining a flow path, an input flow measurement device (15, 16) in said drilling fluid injection line (14) arranged and designed to generate an actual drilling signal Finactual(t) representative of actual flow rate of drilling fluid applied to said drill string (1) through said fluid injection line (14) as a function of time (t), an output flow measurement device (10, 11) in said fluid return line (27) arranged and designed to generate an actual drilling signal Foutactual(t). representative of actual flow rate of fluid in said fluid return line (27) as a function of time (t), a pressure measurement device (9, 17, 24) arranged and designed for generating actual drilling signal Factual(t) at a point in said flow path as a function of time (t), a central data acquisition and control system (18) arranged and designed, to receive at least one of said actual drilling signals, to determine in real time during drilling of said well a predicted or ideal drilling signal corresponding to said at least one of said actual drilling signals, and to determine a differential drilling signal Δ(t) representative of the difference between said at least one of said actual drilling signals and said corresponding predicted or ideal drilling signal, and a pressure/flow control device (12) in said fluid return line (27) responsive to said differential drilling signal Δ(t) and arranged and designed to adjust backpressure to said borehole annulus (3) of said well, thereby controlling said at least one actual drilling signal and restoring said at least one actual drilling signal to said predicted or ideal drilling signal, and said central data acquisition and control system (18) is further arranged and designed, to identify a fluid influx event or a fluid loss event by acting on the principle of mass conservation to determine a difference in said actual flow rate Finactual(t) in said fluid injection line (14) and said actual flow rate Foutactual(t) in said flow return line (27) while compensating for one or more drilling factors affecting said actual flow rates, and after identifying that a downhole fluid event has occurred, to automatically send a command to said pressure/flow control device (12) in said fluid return line (27) to change flow restriction and backpressure on the well thereby pre-emptively adjusting Foutactual(t), and said backpressure to said borehole annulus (3) of said well, to control said downhole event while said drilling string (1) continues to turn to drill the well. 24. The arrangement of claim 23 wherein, said drilling factors include borehole pressure, borehole temperature, increase in volume of said borehole, and additional mass of rock returning from said borehole through fluid return line (27). 25. The arrangement of claim 23 wherein, said central data acquisition and control system (18) is further arranged and designed to receive as input any early detection influx or loss parameters, said input triggering a chain of investigation of probable scenarios to confirm that an influx or loss event has occurred, and after confirming that an influx or loss event has occurred, said central data acquisition and control system (18) automatically sends a command to said pressure/flow control device (12) in said fluid return line (27) to change flow restriction thereby adjusting signal Foutactual(t), and said backpressure to said borehole annulus (3) of said well, to control said downhole event. 26. The arrangement of claim 23 wherein, said at least one of said actual drilling signals is Pactual(t), and said corresponding predicted drilling signal is Pideal(t). 27. The arrangement of claim 23 wherein, said at least one of said actual drilling signals is Foutactual(t), and said corresponding predicted drilling signal is Foutpredicted(t). 28. The arrangement of claim 27 wherein, said central data acquisition and control system (18) is further arranged and designed to generate said signal Foutpredicted(t) as a function of at least said signal Pinactual(t). 29. The arrangement of claim 27 wherein, said central data acquisition and control system (18) is further arranged and designed to generate said signal Foutpredicted(t) a function of at least said signals Pinactual(t) and Foutactual(t). 30. The arrangement of claim 27 further comprising, an apparatus (4, 19) for generating a signal Fcuttings(t) representative of mass of cuttings flow rate returning via said fluid return line (27) as a function of time (t), wherein said central data acquisition and control system (18) is further arranged and designed to receive said signal Fcuttings(t) and to generate said signal Foutpredicted(t)as a function of at least said signals Finactual(t) and Fcuttings(t). 31. The arrangement of claim 27 wherein, said central data acquisition and control system (18) is further arranged and designed to receive a signal Lpenetration(t) representative of drilling depth as a function of time (t) and to generate said signal Foutpredicted(t) as a function of at least said signals Pinactual(t) and Lpenetration(t). 32. The arrangement of claim 27 wherein, said central data acquisition and control system (18) is further arranged and designed to generate said signal Foutpredicted(t) as a function of at least said signals Finactual(t) and Pactual(t). 33. The arrangement of claim 23 further comprising, an additional pressure containment device (26) arranged and designed to keep said borehole thereunder closed at all times while said well is being drilled, said additional pressure containment device (26) disposed within said borehole between said upper end and said lower end of said drill string (1), thereby defining a first pressure zone of said borehole annulus (3) below said additional pressure containment device (26) and a second pressure zone of said borehole annulus (3) above said additional pressure containment device (26), an additional fluid return line extending between an outlet of said first pressure zone and an inlet of said second pressure zone, and an additional pressure/flow control device (12) in said additional fluid return line responsive to signals from said central data acquisition and control system (18) and arranged and designed to change flow restriction in said additional fluid return line and apply backpressure to the well. 34. The arrangement of claim 23 further comprising, an additional drilling fluid pump (23) in fluid communication with said drilling fluid reservoir (5), and an additional drilling fluid injection line (22) extending between said additional drilling fluid pump (23) and said borehole annulus (3) and providing fluid communication between said additional pump (23) and said annulus (3). 35. The arrangement of claim 23 wherein, said pressure measurement device (9, 17, 24) is disposed at a position in said flow path and is arranged and designed for determining downhole pressure signal Pactual(t) as a function of time (t), and said central data acquisition and control system (18) is further arranged and designed to determine that, if said differential signal Δ(t) representing fluid loss is generated, said pressure signal Pactual(t) generated by said pressure measurement device (9, 17, 24) is representative of fracture pressure of the formation. 36. The arrangement of claim 23 wherein, said pressure measurement device (9, 17, 24) is disposed at a position in said flow path and is arranged and designed for determining a downhole pressure signal Pactual(t) as a function of time (t), and said central data acquisition and control system (18) is further arranged and designed to determine that, if said differential signal Δ(t) representing fluid influx is generated, said pressure signal Pactual(t) generated by said pressure measurement device (9, 17, 24) is representative of pore pressure of the formation. 37. A drilling arrangement for drilling a well comprising, a tubular drill string (1) having an upper and lower end and with a drill bit (2) at its lower end, a drive mechanism arranged and designed to turn said drill bit (2) in a borehole where a borehole annulus (3) is defined between an outer diameter of said tubular drill string (1) and an inner diameter of said borehole, a drilling fluid pump (6) in fluid communication with a drilling fluid reservoir (5), a drilling fluid injection line (14) extending between said pump (6) and said upper end of said drill string (1) and providing fluid communication between said pump (6) and said drill string (1), a fluid return line (27) extending between an outlet of said borehole annulus (3) and said drilling fluid reservoir (5), a pressure containment device (26) arranged and designed to keep said borehole closed from the atmosphere at all times while said well is being drilled with said drill string (1) having drilling fluid circulating therethrough, said injection line (14), drill string (1), borehole annulus (3) and return line (27) defining a flow path, an input flow measurement device (15, 16) in said drilling fluid injection line (14) arranged and designed to generate an actual drilling signal Finactual(t) representative of actual flow rate of drilling fluid applied to said drill string (1) through said fluid injection line (14) as a function of time (t), an output flow measurement device (10, 11) in said fluid return line (27) arranged and designed to generate an actual drilling signal Foutactual(t) representative of actual flow rate of fluid in said fluid return line (27) as a function of time (t), a pressure measurement device (9, 17, 24) arranged and designed for generating actual drilling signal Pactual(t) at a point in said flow path as a function of time (t), a central data acquisition and control system (18) arranged and designed, to receive at least one of said actual drilling signals, to determine in real time during drilling of said well a predicted or ideal drilling signal corresponding to said at least one of said actual drilling signals, and to determine a differential drilling signal Δ(t) representative of the difference between said at least one of said actual drilling signals and said corresponding predicted or ideal drilling signal, and a pressure/flow control device (12) in said fluid return line (27) responsive to said differential drilling signal Δ(t) and arranged and designed to adjust backpressure to said borehole annulus (3) of said well, thereby controlling said at least one actual drilling parameter and restoring said at least one actual drilling signal to said predicted or ideal drilling signal, and said central data acquisition and control system (18) is further arranged and designed, to identify a downhole fluid event by acting on the principle of mass conservation to determine a difference in said actual flow rate Finactual(t) in said fluid injection line (14) and said actual flow rate Foutactual(t) in said flow return line (27) while compensating for one or more drilling factors affecting said actual flow rates, to receive as input any early detection parameters, said input triggering a chain of investigation of probable scenarios to confirm that a downhole fluid event has occurred, and after determining that a downhole fluid event has occurred, to automatically send a command to said pressure/flow control device (12) in said fluid return line (27) to change flow restriction thereby pre-emptively adjusting Foutactual(t), and said backpressure to said borehole annulus (3) of said well, to control said downhole event without interruption of turning said drill string (1) to drill the well. 38. The arrangement of claim 37 wherein, said drilling factors include borehole pressure, borehole temperature, increase in volume of said borehole, and additional mass of rock returning from said borehole through fluid return line (27). 39. The arrangement of claim 37 wherein, said at least one of said actual drilling signals is Pactual(t), and said corresponding predicted or ideal drilling signal is Pideal(t). 40. The arrangement of claim 37 wherein, said at least one of said actual drilling signals is Foutactual(t), and said corresponding predicted drilling signal is Foutpredicted(t). 41. A drilling arrangement for drilling a well comprising, a tubular drill string (1) having an upper and lower end and with a drill bit (2) at its lower end, a drive mechanism arranged and designed to turn said drill bit (2) in a borehole where a borehole annulus (3) is defined between an outer diameter of said tubular drill string (1) and an inner diameter of said borehole, a drilling fluid pump (6) in fluid communication with a drilling fluid reservoir (5), a drilling fluid injection line (14) extending between said pump (6) and said upper end of said drill string (1) and providing fluid communication between said pump (6) and said drill string (1), a fluid return line (27) extending between an outlet of said borehole annulus (3) and said drilling fluid reservoir (5), a pressure containment device (26) arranged and designed to keep said borehole closed from the atmosphere at all times while said well is being drilled with said drill string (1) having drilling fluid circulating therethrough, said injection line (14), drill string (1), borehole annulus (3) and return line (27) defining a flow path, an input flow measurement device (15, 16) in said drilling fluid injection line (14) arranged and designed to generate an actual drilling parameter signal Finactual(t) representative of actual flow rate of drilling fluid applied to said drill string (1) through said fluid injection line (14) as a function of time (t), an output flow measurement device (10, 11) in said fluid return line (27) arranged and designed to generate an actual drilling parameter signal Foutactual(t) representative of actual flow rate of fluid in said fluid return line (27) as a function of time (t), a central data acquisition and control system (18) arranged and designed, to receive at least one of said actual drilling signals, to determine in real time during drilling of said well a predicted or ideal drilling parameter signal corresponding to said at least one of said actual drilling signals, and to determine a differential drilling signal Δ(t) representative of the difference between said at least one of said actual drilling parameter signals and said corresponding predicted or ideal drilling parameter signal, and a pressure/flow control device (12) in said fluid return line (27) responsive to said differential drilling signal Δ(t) and arranged and designed to adjust backpressure to said borehole annulus (3) of said well, thereby controlling said at least one actual drilling parameter and restoring said at least one actual drilling parameter signal to said predicted or ideal drilling parameter signal, and said central data acquisition and control system (18) is further arranged and designed, to identify a downhole fluid event by acting on the principle of mass conservation to determine a difference in said actual flow rate Pinactual(t) in said fluid injection line (14) and said actual flow rate Foutactual(t) in said flow return line (27) while compensating for drilling factors affecting said actual flow rates, and after determining that an downhole fluid event has occurred, to automatically send a command to said pressure/flow control device (12) in said fluid return line (27) to change flow restriction thereby pre-emptively adjusting Foutactual(t), and said backpressure to said borehole annulus (3) of said well, to control said downhole event without interruption of drilling the well. 42. The arrangement of claim 41 wherein, said central data acquisition and control system (18) is further arranged and designed to receive as input any early detection parameters, said input triggering a chain of investigation of probably scenarios to confirm that a downhole fluid event has occurred, and after confirming that a downhole fluid event has occurred, to automatically send a command to said pressure/flow control device (12) in said fluid return line (27) to change flow restriction thereby pre-emptively adjusting Foutactual(t) and said backpressure to said borehole annulus (3) of said well, to control said downhole event. 43. The arrangement of claim 41 wherein, said drilling factors include borehole pressure, borehole temperature, increase in volume of said borehole, and additional mass of rock returning from said borehole through fluid return line (27). 44. The arrangement of claim 41 further comprising, a pressure measurement device (9, 17, 24) arranged and designed for generating actual drilling parameter signal Pactual(t) at a point in said flow path as a function of time (t). 45. The arrangement of claim 44 wherein, said at least one of said actual drilling parameter signals is Pactual(t), and said corresponding predicted drilling parameter signal is Pideal(t). 46. The arrangement of claim 41 wherein, said at least one of said actual drilling parameter signals is Foutactual(t), and said corresponding predicted drilling parameter signal is Foutpredicted(t). 47. A drilling arrangement for drilling a well comprising, a tubular drill string (1) having an upper and lower end and with a drill bit (2) at its lower end, a drive mechanism arranged and designed to turn said drill bit (2) in a borehole where a borehole annulus (3) is defined between an outer diameter of said tubular drill string (1) and an inner diameter of said borehole, a drilling fluid pump (23) in fluid communication with a drilling fluid reservoir (5), a drilling fluid injection line (22) extending between said drilling fluid pump (23) and said borehole annulus (3) and providing fluid communication between said drilling fluid pump (23) and said borehole annulus (3), a fluid return line (27) extending between an outlet of said borehole annulus (3) and said drilling fluid reservoir (5), a rotating blowout preventer (26) arranged and designed to keep said borehole closed from the atmosphere at all times, said drilling fluid injection line (22), borehole annulus (3) and return line (27) defining a flow path, an input flow measurement device (28a, 28b) in said drilling fluid injection line (22) arranged and designed to generate an actual drilling signal Finactual(t) representative of actual flow rate of drilling fluid applied to said borehole annulus (3) through said fluid injection line (22) as a function of time (t), an output flow measurement device (10, 11) in said fluid return line (27) arranged and designed to generate an actual drilling signal Foutactual(t) representative of actual flow rate of fluid in said fluid return line (27) as a function of time (t), a pressure measurement device (9, 24, 28c) arranged and designed for generating an actual drilling signal Pactual(t) at a point in said flow path as a function of time (t), a central data acquisition and control system (18) arranged and designed, to receive at least one of said actual drilling signals, to determine in real time a predicted drilling signal corresponding to said at least one of said actual drilling signals, and to determine a differential drilling signal Δ(t) representative of the difference between said at least one of said actual drilling signals and said corresponding predicted drilling signal, and a pressure/flow control device (12) in said fluid return line (27) responsive to said differential drilling signal Δ(t) and arranged and designed to adjust backpressure to said borehole annulus (3) of said well, thereby controlling said actual drilling signal and restoring said actual drilling signal to said predicted drilling signal. 48. The arrangement of claim 47 wherein said central data acquisition and control system (18) is further arranged and designed, to identify a fluid influx event and a fluid loss event by acting on the principle of mass conservation to determine a difference in said actual flow rate Finactual(t) in said fluid injection line (22) and said actual flow rate Foutactual(t) in said flow return line (27) while compensating for drilling factors affecting said actual flow rates, and after identifying that an downhole fluid event has occurred, to automatically send a command to said pressure/flow control device (12) in said fluid return line (27) to change flow restriction thereby pre-emptively adjusting said backpressure to said borehole annulus (3) of said well to control said downhole event. 49. The arrangement of claim 47 wherein, said pressure measurement device (9, 24, 28c) is disposed at said lower end of said drilling string (1) and is arranged and designed for generating actual drilling parameter signal Pactual(t) as a function of time (t), and said central data acquisition and control system (18) is further arranged and designed to determine that, if said differential drilling signal Δ(t) representing fluid influx is generated, said pressure signal Pactual(t) generated by said pressure measurement device (9, 24, 28c) is representative of pore pressure of the formation. 50. In a drilling arrangement for drilling a well into a subterranean formation comprising, a tubular drill string (1) having an upper and lower end and with a drill bit (2) at its lower end, a drive mechanism arranged and designed to turn said drill bit (2) in a borehole where a borehole annulus (3) is defined between an outer diameter of said tubular drill string (1) and an inner diameter of said borehole, a drilling fluid pump (6) in fluid communication with a drilling fluid reservoir (5), a drilling fluid injection line (14) extending between said pump (6) and said upper end of said drill string (1) and providing fluid communication between said pump (6) and said drill string (1), a fluid return line (27) extending between an outlet of said borehole annulus (3) and said drilling fluid reservoir (5), a pressure containment device (26) arranged and designed to keep said borehole closed from the atmosphere at all times while said well is being drilled with said drill string (1) having drilling fluid circulating therethrough, said injection line (14), drill string (1), borehole annulus (3) and return line (27) defining a flow path, an output flow measurement device (10, 11) in said fluid return line (27) arranged and designed to generate an actual drilling signal Foutpredicted(t) representative of actual flow rate of fluid in said fluid return line (27) as a function of time (t), a pressure measurement device (9, 17, 24) disposed at a position in said flow path and arranged and designed for determining a downhole pressure signal Pactual(t) as a function of time (t), a central data acquisition and control system (18) arranged and designed, to receive at least one of said actual drilling signals, said central data acquisition and control system (18) having software responsive to said Foutactual(t) signal and other drilling signals to identify a loss event at a drilling time and depth of the well and to record said Pactual(t) signal as the fracture pressure of said formation at said depth. 51. In a drilling arrangement for drilling a well into a subterranean formation comprising, a tubular drill string (1) having an upper and lower end and with a drill bit (2) at its lower end, a drive mechanism arranged and designed to turn said drill bit (2) in a borehole where a borehole annulus (3) is defined between an outer diameter of said tubular drill string (1) and an inner diameter of said borehole, a drilling fluid pump (6) in fluid communication with a drilling fluid reservoir (5), a drilling fluid injection line (14) extending between said pump (6) and said upper end of said drill string (1) and providing fluid communication between said pump (6) and said drill string (1), a fluid return line (27) extending between an outlet of said borehole annulus (3) and said drilling fluid reservoir (5), a pressure containment device (26) arranged and designed to keep said borehole closed from the atmosphere at all times while said well is being drilled with said drill string (1) having drilling fluid circulating therethrough, said injection line (14), drill string (1), borehole annulus (3) and return line (27) defining a flow path, an output flow measurement device (10, 11) in said fluid return line (27) arranged and designed to generate an actual drilling signal Foutactual(t) representative of actual flow rate of fluid in said fluid return line (27) as a function of time (t), a pressure measurement device (9, 17, 24) disposed at a position in said flow path and arranged and designed for determining a downhole pressure signal Pactual(t) as a function of time (t), a central data acquisition and control system (18) arranged and designed, to receive at least one of said actual drilling signals, said central data acquisition and control system (18) having software responsive to said Foutactual(t) signal and other drilling signals to identify an influx event at a drilling time and depth of the well and to record said Pactual(t) signal as the pore pressure of said formation at said depth. 52. A system for operating a well having a fluid flow path defined by an injection line (14, 22) through which an inlet stream flows and a return line (27) through which an outlet stream flows, the system including, a rotating blowout preventer (26) applied to the wellbore so that while the well is being drilled with a drill string having a drilling liquid circulated therethrough, the well is kept closed from atmosphere at all times, means (10, 11, 15, 16, 28a, 28b) in said injection line (14, 22) and said return line (27) for measuring actual mass or actual fluid flow rate of liquid in the inlet and outlet streams to obtain actual mass or fluid flow signals, at least one pressure sensor (9, 17, 24, 28c) in said fluid flow path to obtain an actual pressure signal, a central data acquisition and control system (18) which receives said actual mass or fluid flow signals and said actual pressure signals, software installed in said central data acquisition and control system (18) which determines a real time ideal signal during drilling of the well, a control device (12) arranged and designed to apply backpressure to the wellbore, said software further arranged and designed to make a comparison between said real time ideal signal and a corresponding actual signal, said comparison yielding any discrepancy between said real time ideal signal and said actual signal, said software converting said discrepancy to a command value signal, and means for applying said command value signal to said control device (12) to adjust backpressure in the wellbore so that said actual signal is restored to said ideal signal.
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