Dynamic annular pressure control apparatus and method
AssigneeShell Oil Company
InventorEgbert Jan van Riet
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for controlling formation pressures during drilling of a subterranean formation utilizing a selectively fluid backpressure system in which fluid is pumped down the drilling fluid return system in response to detected borehole pressures. A pressure monitoring system is further provided to monitor detected borehole pressures, model expected borehole pressures for further drilling and control the fluid backpressure system.
Claims12
A system for controlling formation pressure during the drilling of a subterranean formation, comprising:
- a drill string extending into a borehole, the drill string including a bottom hole assembly, the bottom hole assembly comprising, drill bit, sensors, and a telemetry system capable of receiving and transmitting data, including sensor data, said sensor data including at least pressure and temperature data;
- a surface telemetry system for receiving data and transmitting commands to the bottom hole assembly;
- a primary pump for selectively pumping a drilling fluid from a drilling fluid source, through said drill string, out said drill bit and into an annular space created as said drill string penetrates the formation;
- a fluid discharge conduit in fluid communication with said annular space for discharging said drilling fluid to a reservoir to clean said drilling fluid for reuse;
- a fluid backpressure system connected to said fluid discharge conduit;
- said fluid backpressure system comprised of a flow meter, a fluid choke, a backpressure pump, a fluid source, whereby said backpressure pump may be selectively activated to increase annular space drilling fluid pressure.
A method for controlling formation pressure during the drilling of a subterranean formation, the steps comprising:
- deploying a drill string extending into a borehole, the drill string including a bottom hole assembly, the bottom hole assembly comprising, drill bit, sensors, and a telemetry system capable of receiving and transmitting data, including sensor data, said sensor data including at least pressure and temperature data;
- providing a surface telemetry system for receiving data and transmitting commands to said bottom hole assembly;
- selectively pumping a drilling fluid utilizing a primary pump from a drilling fluid source, through said drill string, out said drill bit and into an annular space created as said drill string penetrates the formation;
- providing a fluid discharge conduit in fluid communication with said annular space for discharging said drilling fluid to a reservoir to clean said drilling fluid for reuse;
- selectively increasing annular space drilling fluid pressure utilizing a fluid backpressure system connected to said fluid discharge conduit;
- said fluid backpressure system comprised of a flow meter, a fluid choke, a backpressure pump, and a fluid source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.