Active controlled bottomhole pressure system & method

A drilling system for drilling a wellbore, comprising:

• (a) a drill string;
• (b) a source of drilling fluid supplying drilling fluid under pressure into the drill string (a “supply fluid”) the drilling fluid returning uphole via an annulus around the drill string (a “return fluid”);
• (c) an active pressure differential device (“APD Device”) associated with the return fluid to create a pressure drop across said APD Device to reduce pressure in the annulus around the drill string downhole of said APD Device;
• and
• (d) a comminution device positioned downhole of said APD device, said comminution device configured to reduce the size of cuttings entrained in the return fluid.

A drilling system for drilling a wellbore, comprising:

• (a) a drill string:
• (b) a source of drilling fluid supplying drilling fluid under pressure into the drill string(a “supply fluid”), the drilling fluid returning uphole via an annulus around the drill string (a “return fluid”);
• and
• (c) an active pressure differential device (“APD Device”) associated with the return fluid to create a pressure drop across said APD Device to reduce pressure in the annulus around the drill string downhole of said APD Device;
• and
• (d) sensor for detecting a parameter of interest.

A drilling system for drilling a wellbore, comprising

• (a) a drill string;
• (b) a source of drilling fluid supplying drilling fluid under pressure into the drill string (a “usupply fluid”), said drilling fluid returning uphole via an annulus around the drill string (a “return fluid”);
• (c) an active pressure differential device (“APD Device”) placed in the annulus to create a pressure drop across said APD Device to reduce pressure in the wellbore downhole of said APD Device, said APD Device in fluid communication with the return fluid;
• and
• (d) an electric drive assembly being substantially isolated from the supply fluid.

A method for drilling a wellbore, comprising:

• (a) providing a drill string;
• (b) supplying drilling fluid under pressure into the drill string (a “supply fluid”), the drilling fluid returning uphole via an annulus around the drill string (a “return fluid”);
• and
• (c) positioning an active pressure differential device (“APD Device”) in fluid communication with the return fluid to create a pressure drop across the APD Device to reduce pressure in the annulus around the drill string downhole of the APD Device.

A method for drilling a wellbore, comprising:

• (a) providing a drill string:
• (b) supplying drilling fluid under pressure into the drill string (a “supply fluid”), the drilling fluid returning uphole via an annulus around the drill string (a “return fluid”);
• (c) positioning an active pressure differential device (“APD Device”) in fluid communication with the return fluid to create a pressure drop across the APD Device to reduce pressure in the annulus around the drill string downhole of the APD Device;
• and
• (d) positioning a comminution device downhole of the APD device, the comminution device configured to reduce the size of cuttings entrained in the return fluid.

A method for drilling a wellbore, comprising:

• (a) providing a drill string;
• (b) supplying drilling fluid under pressure into the drill string (a “supply fluid”), the drilling fluid returning uphole via an annulus around the drill string (a “return fluid”);
• (c) positioning an active pressure differential device (“APD Device”) in fluid communication with the return fluid to create a pressure drop across the APD Device to reduce pressure in the annulus around the drill string downhole of the APD Device;
• and
• (d) detecting a parameter of interest with a sensor.

A method for drilling a wellbore, comprising

• (a) providing a drill string;
• (b) supplying drilling fluid under pressure into the drill string (a “supply fluid”), the drilling fluid returning uphole via an annulus around the drill string (a “return fluid”);
• (c) placing an active pressure differential device (“APD Device”) in the annulus to create a pressure drop across the APD Device to reduce pressure in the wellbore downhole of the APD Device, the APD Device in fluid communication with the return fluid;
• and
• (d) driving the APD device with an electric drive assembly that is substantially isolated from the supply fluid.

A method for drilling a wellbore, comprising

• (a) conveying a drill string having a drill bit into the wellbore;
• (b) supplying drilling fluid under pressure into the drill string (a “supply fluid”), the drilling fluid returning uphole via an annulus around the drill string (a “return fluid”);
• (c) positioning en active pressure differential device (“APD Device”) in fluid communication with the return fluid;
• (d) operating the APD Device to create a pressure drop across the APD Device to reduce pressure in the annulus around the drill string downhole of the APD Device;
• and
• (d) rotating the drill bit substantially independently of operating the APD Device.

A drilling system for drilling a wellbore, comprising:

• (a) a drill string;
• (b) a source of drilling fluid supplying drilling fluid under pressure into the drill string (a “supply fluid”), the drilling fluid returning uphole via an annulus around the drill string (a “return fluid”);
• and
• (c) an active pressure differential device (“APD Device”) associated with the return fluid to control pressure in the annulus around the drill string downhole of said APD Device to at least partially offset an equivalent circulating density associated with the flowing drilling fluid.

A method for drilling a wellbore, comprising:

• (a) conveying a drill string into the wellbore;
• (b) supplying drilling fluid under pressure into the drill string (a “supply fluid”), the drilling fluid returning uphole via an annulus around the drill string (a “return fluid”);
• (c) positioning an active pressure differential device (“APD Device”) in fluid communication with the return fluid;
• and
• (d) operating the APD Device to at least partially offset an equivalent circulating density associated with the flowing drilling fluid.