Well control method and apparatus

Well apparatus adapted for use with a floating drilling vessel and adapted for connection to the structural casing string in a well bore established beneath the seabed comprising,

• a conductor casing,
• a first wellhead connected to the structural casing string,
• a first connector means for connecting a first conduit to the first wellhead,
• an annular blowout preventer connected to the first conduit providing a flow path between the bore of the wellhead and the bore of the annular blowout preventer when the blowout preventer is normally open, and
• stripper and guidance means connected to the blowout preventer by a second connector for guiding said conductor casing through the blowout preventer and into the borehole and for stripping said conductor casing while it is being inserted therein.

In a well established beneath the sea floor by means of a floating drilling vessel and having apparatus adapted for connection to the structural casing string in the well established beneath the seabed and having,

• a wellhead connected to the structural casing string,
• a first wellhead connector means for connecting additional apparatus to the first wellhead housing,
• an annular blowout preventer connected to the first wellhead connector means by a first conduit providing a flow path between the bore of the wellhead and the bore of the annular blowout preventer when the blowout preventer is in its normal open position,
• a valve disposed in a line connected to the first conduit between the blowout preventer and the first wellhead connector,
• a kill line extending between the line and the drilling vessel,
• a vent line connected to the first wellhead at one end, the other end being open to the sea, and having a vent valve in the line,
• a marine riser connected by means of a second wellhead connector means to the top of the annular blowout preventer, and a flow diverter attached to the riser above the sea surface below the rotary table of the drilling rig,
• a method to control the well while establishing conductor casing in the well comprising the steps of,
• drilling a bore hole for establishing the conductor casing and diverting any gas kicks encountered while drilling by means of the flow diverter attached to the top of the marine riser,
• removing the drill string from the well and closing the annular blowout preventer for complete vertical flow path shut off,
• disconnecting the second wellhead connector means from the blowout preventer and removing the marine riser diverter and connector,
• connecting a stripper and guidance assembly having a stripping means and having a length of the conductor casing releasably retained therein to the top of the blowout preventer,
• opening the blowout preventer, and
• stripping the conductor casing into the well by means of the stripping means.

In a well established beneath the sea floor by means of a floating drilling vessel and having an annular blowout preventer connected to the flow path of a structural casing string in the well and a marine riser connected between the annular blowout preventer and the drilling vessel, a method to control the well while establishing conductor casing in the well comprising the steps of,

• drilling a borehole for establishing the conductor casing in the hole,
• closing the annular blowout preventer for complete shut off of the well,
• disconnecting and removing the marine riser,
• attaching a stripper and guidance means to the top of the annular blowout preventer,
• opening the annular blowout preventer, and
• stripping the conductor casing into the well.

In a well established beneath the sea floor by means of a floating drilling vessel and having an annular blowout preventer connected to the flow path of a structural casing string in the well, a method to control the well while establishing conductor casing in the well comprising the steps of,

• drilling a borehole for establishing the conductor in the hole,
• closing the annular blowout preventer for complete shut off of the well,
• attaching a stripper and guidance means to the top of the annular blowout preventer,
• opening the annular blowout preventer, and
• stripping the conductor casing into the well.

In a well established beneath the sea floor by means of a floating drilling vessel and having an annular blowout preventer connected to the flow path of a structural casing string in the well, a method to control the well while establishing conductor casing in the well comprising the steps of,

• drilling a borehole for establishing the conductor casing in the hole,
• closing the annular blowout preventer for complete shut off of the well,
• attaching a stripper and guidance means to the top of the annular blowout preventer,
• opening the annular blowout preventer, and
• stripping the conductor casing into the well.