Apparatus for and method of monitoring a drilling installation

A method of monitoring seals in an assembly, the assembly comprising:

• two tubular elements;
• a primary seal and a secondary seal arranged between the two tubular elements;
• and
• a seal cavity formed between the two tubular elements, the primary seal and the secondary seal,
• the method comprising:
• securing a seal monitoring apparatus to one of the two tubular elements, the seal monitoring apparatus comprising a housing which comprises a chamber wherein is arranged a separator, the separator dividing the chamber into a first sub-chamber and a second sub-chamber, the first sub-chamber being fluidly connected to the seal cavity and being filled with a hydraulic fluid, the separator being movable in a first direction relative to the housing so as to increase a volume of the first sub-chamber and to decrease a volume of the second sub-chamber, and in a second direction relative to the housing so as to decrease the volume of the first sub-chamber and to increase the volume of the second sub-chamber;
• and
• using a position sensor to monitor a position of the separator in the housing.

A method of monitoring a loading of two tubular elements in an assembly, the assembly comprising:

• the two tubular elements;
• a primary seal and a secondary seal arranged between the two tubular elements;
• and
• a seal cavity formed between the two tubular elements, the primary seal and the secondary seal,
• the method comprising:
• securing a seal monitoring apparatus to one of the two tubular elements, the seal monitoring apparatus comprising a housing which comprises a chamber wherein is arranged a separator, the separator dividing the chamber into a first sub-chamber and a second sub-chamber, the first sub-chamber being fluidly connected to the seal cavity and being filled with a hydraulic fluid, the separator being movable in a first direction relative to the housing so as to increase a volume of the first sub-chamber and to decrease a volume of the second sub-chamber, and in a second direction relative to the housing so as to decrease the volume of the first sub-chamber and to increase the volume of the second sub-chamber;
• and
• using a position sensor to monitor a position of the separator in the housing.