Managed pressure drilling system having well control mode
AssigneeWeatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
InventorsSaid Boutalbi, Michael Brian Grayson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of drilling a subsea wellbore includes drilling the subsea wellbore and, while drilling the subsea wellbore: measuring a flow rate of the drilling fluid injected into a tubular string; measuring a flow rate of returns; comparing the returns flow rate to the drilling fluid flow rate to detect a kick by a formation being drilled; and exerting backpressure on the returns using a first variable choke valve. The method further includes, in response to detecting the kick: closing a blowout preventer of a subsea pressure control assembly (PCA) against the tubular string; and diverting the flow of returns from the PCA, through a choke line having a second variable choke valve, and through the first variable choke valve.
Claims24
A method of managing drilling pressures comprising:
- flowing returns through a returns line from a downhole tubular to a first spool, the first spool comprising a managed pressure (“MP”) choke;
- flowing returns through a choke line from the downhole tubular to a well control (“WC”) choke;
- flowing returns from the WC choke to the MP choke through a splice line connecting the choke line to the returns line;
- and
- tightening at least one of the MP choke and the WC choke.
A method of managing drilling pressures comprising:
- flowing returns through a returns line from a downhole tubular to a first spool, the first spool comprising a managed pressure (“MP”) choke;
- flowing returns through a choke line from the downhole tubular to a well control (“WC”) choke;
- flowing returns from the WC choke to the MP choke;
- tightening the MP choke until a back pressure exerted by the MP choke approaches a maximum operating pressure of the first spool;
- and
- in response to the back pressure approaching the maximum operating pressure, tightening the WC choke.
A method of managing drilling pressures comprising:
- flowing returns through a returns line from a downhole tubular to a first spool, the first spool comprising a managed pressure (“MP”) choke;
- detecting a kick occurring in a wellbore;
- and
- in response to detecting the kick:
- flowing returns through a choke line from the downhole tubular to a well control (“WC”) choke;
- flowing returns from the WC choke to the MP choke;
- and
- tightening at least one of the MP choke and the WC choke.
A method of managing drilling pressures comprising:
- flowing returns through a returns line from a downhole tubular to a first spool, the first spool comprising a managed pressure (“MP”) choke;
- detecting a lost circulation occurring in a wellbore;
- and
- in response to detecting the lost circulation:
- flowing returns through a choke line from the downhole tubular to a well control (“WC”) choke;
- flowing returns from the WC choke to the MP choke;
- and
- loosening at least one of the MP choke and the WC choke.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.