Method and system for return of drilling fluid from a sealed marine riser to a floating drilling rig while drilling
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
E21B-007/128
E21B-007/12
출원번호
US-0807091
(2004-03-23)
등록번호
US-7448454
(2008-11-11)
발명자
/ 주소
Bourgoyne,Darryl A.
Hannegan,Don M.
출원인 / 주소
Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Strasburger & Price, LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
36인용 특허 :
188
초록▼
A floating rig or structure for drilling in the floor of an ocean using a rotatable tubular includes a seal housing having a rotatable seal connected above a portion of a marine riser fixed to the floor of the ocean. The seal rotating with the rotating tubular allows the riser and seal housing to ma
A floating rig or structure for drilling in the floor of an ocean using a rotatable tubular includes a seal housing having a rotatable seal connected above a portion of a marine riser fixed to the floor of the ocean. The seal rotating with the rotating tubular allows the riser and seal housing to maintain a predetermined pressure in the system that is desirable in underbalanced drilling, gas-liquid mud systems and pressurized mud handling systems. The seal is contemplated to be either an active seal or a passive seal. A flexible conduit or hose is used to compensate for relative movement of the seal housing and the floating structure because the floating structure moves independent of the seal housing. A method for use of the system is also disclosed.
대표청구항▼
We claim: 1. A system adapted for use with a rotatable tubular and a drilling fluid, comprising: a marine riser; a housing disposed above a portion of the marine riser having a first housing opening and a second housing opening, both to communicate the drilling fluid received from the marine riser;
We claim: 1. A system adapted for use with a rotatable tubular and a drilling fluid, comprising: a marine riser; a housing disposed above a portion of the marine riser having a first housing opening and a second housing opening, both to communicate the drilling fluid received from the marine riser; an inner member rotatable relative to the housing and having a passage through which the rotatable tubular may extend; a pressure relief mechanism blocking one of the housing openings, the pressure relief mechanism adapted to open at a predetermined fluid pressure; and a seal moving with the inner member to sealably engage the rotatable tubular. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the pressure relief mechanism comprises: a rupture disk blocking one of the housing openings to block fluid communication from the housing. 3. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a flexible conduit for communicating the drilling fluid from at least one of the housing openings. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing permits substantially full bore access to the marine riser. 5. The system of claim 1, the pressure relief mechanism further comprising: a connector, attachable to one of the housing openings, comprising: a pressure relief mechanism adapted to fully open at a predetermined fluid pressure. 6. The system of claim 5, the connector further comprising: a valve adapted to shut off fluid flow from the connector. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the valve is remotely operable. 8. The system of claim 5, further comprising: a flexible conduit, attachable to the connector, for communicating the drilling fluid from the marine riser. 9. A system adapted for use with a rotatable tubular and a drilling fluid, comprising: a marine riser; an assembly removably disposed above a portion of the marine riser, the assembly comprising: an inner member having a radially outwardly facing surface rotatable relative to the marine riser and the inner member having a passage through which the rotatable tubular may extend; a radially outwardly disposed outer member; a plurality of bearings interposed between the radially outwardly facing surface of the inner member and the radially outwardly disposed outer member; and a seal moving with the inner member to sealably engage the rotatable tubular so that said assembly manages pressure on the drilling fluid while the tubular rotates; a housing having a housing opening, the assembly removably disposed with the housing; and a flexible conduit having a first end and a second end for communicating the drilling fluid from the housing opening. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein said housing having a housing opening, said system further comprising: a pressure relief mechanism in fluid communication with said housing opening to manage pressure on the drilling fluid. 11. A system adapted for use with a drilling fluid, a marine riser and a tubular, comprising: a housing adapted for positioning above a portion of the marine riser, comprising: a housing opening to discharge the drilling fluid received from the marine riser, an assembly removably positionable within the housing, comprising: a sealing member, which rotates relative to the housing, and seals with the tubular; and a pressure relief mechanism blocking the housing opening, the pressure relief mechanism adapted to open at a predetermined fluid pressure. 12. The system of claim 11, further comprising: a flexible conduit having a first end and a second end for communicating the drilling fluid from the housing opening. 13. The system of claim 11, wherein the housing permits substantially full bore access to the marine riser. 14. The system of claim 11 further comprising an ocean surface, wherein a portion of the housing extends above the ocean surface. 15. The system of claim 11, further comprising: a connector, attachable to the housing opening and the pressure relief mechanism adapted to fully open at a predetermined fluid pressure. 16. The system of claim 15, further comprising: a valve for closing the connector. 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the valve is remotely operable. 18. The system of claim 15, the connector comprising: a rupture disk configured to rupture at a predetermined fluid pressure. 19. The system of claim 12, wherein the first end of the flexible conduit is attached to the housing, and wherein the flexible conduit compensates for relative movement between the housing and the second end of the flexible conduit. 20. A method, comprising: positioning a marine riser relative to an ocean floor; disposing a housing above a portion of the marine riser; rotatably sealing a rotatable tubular with the housing; and pressurizing a drilling fluid in the marine riser, comprising: blocking an opening in the housing to block fluid communication from the housing; and clearing the opening at a predetermined pressure of the drilling fluid. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of disposing a housing above a portion of the marine riser comprising: receiving the drilling fluid from the marine riser through an opening in the housing. 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the steps of: connecting a flexible conduit to the opening; and discharging the drilling fluid through the flexible conduit. 23. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of rotatably sealing a rotatable tubular with the housing comprising: rotating an inner member relative to the housing; and sealing the inner member with the rotatable tubular. 24. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of rotatably sealing a rotatable tubular with the housing comprising: removably positioning an assembly with the housing, a portion of the assembly rotatable relative to the housing; and sealing the rotatable tubular with the portion of the assembly. 25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the steps of: unsealing the rotatable tubular from the portion of the assembly; and removing the assembly from the housing, wherein the housing remains disposed above the portion of the marine riser. 26. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of disposing a housing above a portion of the marine riser comprising: positioning a portion of the housing above an ocean surface. 27. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of positioning a marine riser relative to an ocean floor comprising: fixing the marine riser to the ocean floor. 28. A system adapted for use with a drilling fluid and a rotatable tubular, comprising: a marine riser; a housing disposed above a portion of the marine riser and having a first housing opening and a second housing opening, both to communicate the drilling fluid received from the marine riser; an inner member rotatable relative to the housing and having a passage through which the rotatable tubular may extend; a rupture disk blocking one of the housing openings to block fluid communication from the housing; and a seal moving with the inner member to sealably engage the rotatable tubular. 29. A system adapted for use with a drilling fluid and a rotatable tubular, comprising: a marine riser; a housing disposed above a portion of the marine riser and having a first housing opening and a second housing opening, both to communicate the drilling fluid received from the marine riser; an inner member rotatable relative to the housing and having a passage through which the rotatable tubular may extend; a connector, attachable to one of the housing openings, comprising: a pressure relief mechanism blocking connector, the pressure relief mechanism blocking connector adapted to open at a predetermined fluid pressure; and a seal moving with the inner member to sealably engage the rotatable tubular. 30. A system adapted for use with a marine riser, a drilling fluid and a tubular, comprising: a housing adapted for positioning above a portion of the marine riser, comprising: a housing opening to discharge the drilling fluid received from the marine riser, an assembly removably positionable with the housing, comprising: a sealing member, which rotates relative to the housing, and seals with the tubular; and a connector, attachable to the housing opening, comprising: a rupture disk configured to rupture at a predetermined fluid pressure. 31. A system adapted for use with a marine riser, a drilling fluid and a tubular, comprising: a housing adapted for positioning above a portion of the marine riser, comprising: a housing opening to discharge the drilling fluid received from the marine riser, a pressure relief mechanism in fluid communication with the housing opening, an assembly removably positionable within the housing, comprising: a sealing member, which rotates relative to the housing, and seals with the tubular. 32. The system of claim 31, wherein the pressure relief mechanism is movable between a blocking position to block the flow of the drilling fluid and an open position to allow flow of the drilling fluid. 33. A system adapted for use with a rotatable tubular and a drilling fluid, comprising: a marine riser for use with the rotatable tubular; an assembly removably disposed above a portion of the marine riser, the assembly comprising: an inner member having a radially outwardly facing surface rotatable relative to the marine riser and having a passage through which the rotatable tubular may extend; an outer member disposed with the inner member; a plurality of bearings on the radially outwardly facing surface of the inner member; and a seal moving with the inner member to sealably engage the tubular so that said assembly manages pressure on the drilling fluid while the tubular rotates; a housing having a housing opening, the assembly removably disposed with the housing without any of the bearings on the radially outwardly facing surface of the inner member being in contact with the housing; and a flexible conduit having a first end and a second end for communicating the drilling fluid from the housing opening. 34. The system of claim 33, wherein said housing having a housing opening, said system further comprising: a pressure relief mechanism in fluid communication with said housing opening to manage pressure on the drilling fluid. 35. A system adapted for use with a drilling fluid and a tubular, comprising: a marine riser, a housing having a housing opening to discharge the drilling fluid from the marine riser, a valve in fluid communication with the housing opening to manage pressure in the marine riser, an assembly removably positionable within the housing, comprising: a sealing member, which rotates relative to the housing, and seals with the tubular. 36. A system adapted for use with a structure for drilling in a floor of an ocean using a riser, a rotatable tubular and a drilling fluid when the structure is floating on a surface of the ocean, the system comprising: a housing disposed on top of said riser and having a first housing opening to discharge drilling fluid received from said riser; a flexible conduit having a first end and a second end for communicating the drilling fluid from the first housing opening; an assembly adapted for removable positioning with said housing and having an inner member, a radially outwardly disposed outer member, and a plurality of bearings, wherein the inner member having a radially outwardly facing surface rotatable relative to the riser and a passage through which the tubular may extend, and the plurality of bearings disposed on the radially outwardly facing surface of the inner member without any of the bearings being in contact with the housing; a seal moving with the inner member to sealably engage the tubular; and the floating structure movable independent of the assembly when the tubular is sealed with the seal and the tubular is rotating. 37. Apparatus for communicating a drilling fluid from a riser having an axis and fixed relative to an ocean floor to a structure floating at a surface of the ocean, comprising: means for moving the drilling fluid from an opening in the riser adjacent a first level of the floating structure to a second level of the floating structure above said first level, the moving means being able to compensate for relative movement between the structure and the riser so as to allow the floating structure to move independent of the riser; wherein a first seal and a second seal spaced apart from said first seal are substantially axially aligned with said riser axis, and said first seal and said second seal are arranged to seal with the tubular while the tubular is moved along an axial direction. 38. A method of communicating a drilling fluid from a riser having an axis and fixed relative to an ocean floor to a structure floating at a surface of the ocean, comprising the steps of: allowing the floating structure to move independent of said riser; moving the drilling fluid from an opening in the riser adjacent a first level of the floating structure to a second level of the floating structure above said first level; wherein a first seal and a second seal spaced apart from said first seal are substantially axially aligned with said riser axis, and said first seal and said second seal with the tubular while the tubular is moved along an axial direction. 39. Apparatus for use with a structure for drilling in a floor of an ocean using a rotatable tubular and drilling fluid when the structure is floating at a surface of the ocean, comprising: a riser; a housing disposed above a portion of said riser, the housing having a first housing opening; an assembly having an inner member and removably disposed with said housing, the inner member rotatable relative to the housing and having a passage through which the rotatable tubular may extend; a first seal and a second seal spaced apart from said first seal movable with the inner member to sealably engage the tubular; and a flexible conduit for communicating the drilling fluid between the first housing opening and the structure whereby the structure is movable independent of the housing when the tubular is rotating. 40. Apparatus for use with a structure for drilling in a floor of an ocean using a rotatable tubular and drilling fluid when the structure is floating at a surface of the ocean, comprising: a riser; a first seal and a second seal spaced apart from said first seal for sealing the tubular with respect to the riser; and a flexible conduit for communicating the drilling fluid between the riser and the structure so as to compensate for relative movement of the structure and the riser when the floating structure is allowed to move independent of the riser. 41. A method of sealing a riser having an axis while drilling in a floor of an ocean from a structure floating at a surface of the ocean using a rotatable tubular and drilling fluid, comprising the steps of: sealing the tubular with respect to the riser with a first seal and a second seal spaced apart from said first seal; allowing the floating structure to move independent of the riser; and communicating the drilling fluid between the riser and the structure, using a flexible conduit, so as to compensate for relative movement of the structure and the riser. 42. Apparatus for use with a structure for drilling in the floor of an ocean using a rotatable tubular and drilling fluid when the structure is floating at a surface of the ocean, comprising: a riser fixable relative to the floor of the ocean, a portion of said riser extendable between the floor of the ocean and the surface of the ocean, said riser having a top, bottom and an internal diameter; a housing disposed on the top of said riser, said housing having a first housing opening above the surface of the ocean and an internal diameter, said first housing opening being sized to discharge drilling fluid received from said riser; a flexible conduit having a first end and a second end for communicating the drilling fluid from the housing opening; a bearing assembly having an inner member and an outer member and being removably positioned with said housing, said inner member being rotatable relative to said outer member and having a passage through which the rotatable tubular may extend; a first seal and a second seal spaced apart from said first seal movable with said inner member to sealably engage the tubular; a disconnect member to disconnect said bearing assembly from said housing; wherein the floating structure is movable independently of said bearing assembly when said tubular is sealed with said first seal and said second seal and the tubular is rotating.
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