Multi-gradient drilling method and system
AssigneeMaurer Technology Incorporated
InventorsWilliam C. Maurer, George H. Medley, Jr., William J. McDonald
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multi-gradient system for drilling a well bore from a surface location into a seabed includes an injector for injecting buoyant substantially incompressible articles into a column of drilling fluid associated with the well bore. Preferably, the substantially incompressible articles comprises hollow substantially spherical bodies.
Claims86
A system for drilling a well bore, said well bore having a bottom, into a seabed from a drilling location, which comprises:
- a drilling fluid system for creating a column of drilling fluid above said bottom;
- an injection system for injecting substantially incompressible articles into said column at an injection point between said bottom and said drilling location, said incompressible articles having a density less than the density of said drilling fluid;
- and,
- a separation system for separating said incompressible articles from drilling fluid returned to said drilling location from said column, said separation system returning separated drilling fluid to said drilling fluid system and separated incompressible articles to said injection system.
A method of drilling a well bore, said well bore having a bottom, into a seabed from a drilling location, which comprises the steps of:
- injecting substantially incompressible articles into a column of drilling fluid at an injection point positioned between said bottom of said well bore and said drilling location, said articles having a density less than the density of said drilling fluid to create a first drilling fluid pressure gradient in said column below said injection point and a second drilling fluid pressure gradient above said injection point;
- separating incompressible articles from drilling fluid returned to said drilling location from said column of drilling fluid;
- injecting separated drilling fluid into said column at said bottom of said well bore;
- and,
- reinjecting separated incompressible articles into said column at said injection point.
A system for adjusting the pressure gradient in a column of drilling fluid, which comprises:
- a drilling fluid system for injecting drilling fluid into said column;
- a conduit connected between a drilling location and an injection point in said column;
- an injection system for injecting into said conduit a slurry comprising a mixture of substantially incompressible articles and a slurry fluid, said incompressible articles having a density less than the density of said drilling fluid;
- a separation system for separating said incompressible articles and said drilling fluid returned from said column, said separation system returning separated drilling fluid to said drilling fluid system and separated incompressible articles to said injection system.
A system for drilling a well bore, said well bore having a bottom, into a seabed from a drilling location, which comprises:
- a drilling fluid system for creating a column of drilling fluid above said bottom;
- and,
- a conduit connected between a surface location and an injection point between said bottom and said drilling location;
- means for injecting a slurry comprising a fluid and substantially incompressible articles into said conduit at said surface location, said substantially incompressible articles having a density less than the density of said drilling fluid;
- means for separating said substantially incompressible articles from said fluid of said slurry prior to injecting said substantially incompressible articles into said column;
- and,
- means for injecting separated substantially incompressible articles into said column.
A method of drilling a well bore, said well bore having a bottom, into a seabed from a drilling location, which comprises the steps of:
- creating a column of drilling fluid between said bottom of said well bore and said drilling location;
- conveying a slurry comprising substantially incompressible articles and a slurry fluid to an injection point positioned in said column between said bottom of said well bore and said drilling location, said substantially incompressible articles having a density less than the density of said drilling fluid;
- separating said substantially incompressible articles from said slurry fluid at a position adjacent said injection point;
- injecting said separated substantially incompressible articles into said drilling fluid column to create a first drilling fluid pressure gradient in said column below said injection point and a second drilling fluid pressure gradient above said injection point.
A system for adjusting the pressure gradient in a column of drilling fluid, which comprises:
- a conduit connected between a drilling location and an injection point in said column;
- a system for injecting into said conduit a slurry comprising a mixture of substantially incompressible articles and a slurry fluid, said incompressible articles having a density less than the density of said drilling fluid;
- means for separating said substantially incompressible articles from said slurry fluid at a position adjacent said injection point;
- and,
- means for injecting separated substantially incompressible articles into said column.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.