Method and apparatus for programmable pressure drilling and programmable gradient drilling, and completion
First Claim
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1. A method for programmable pressure drilling comprising:
- forming an annular seal at a distal end of a drill string to create a first pressure zone and a second pressure zone in a well bore;
sensing pressure in both the first pressure zone and the second pressure zone;
adjusting pressure between the first pressure zone and the second pressure zone to achieve a specific pressure gradient; and
drilling within the first pressure zone in the well bore while dynamically adjusting pressure in the first pressure zone, and while maintaining the annular seal.
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Abstract
A method for creating a programmable pressure zone adjacent a drill bit bottom hole assembly by sealing near a drilling assembly, adjusting the pressure to approximately or slightly below the pore pressure of the well bore face to permit flow out of the formation, and, while drilling, adjusting by pumping out of, or choking fluid flow into, the drilling assembly between the programmable pressure zone and the well bore annulus to avoid overpressuring the programmable pressure zone unless required to control the well.
27 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for programmable pressure drilling comprising:
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forming an annular seal at a distal end of a drill string to create a first pressure zone and a second pressure zone in a well bore; sensing pressure in both the first pressure zone and the second pressure zone; adjusting pressure between the first pressure zone and the second pressure zone to achieve a specific pressure gradient; and drilling within the first pressure zone in the well bore while dynamically adjusting pressure in the first pressure zone, and while maintaining the annular seal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for programmable pressure drilling of a well bore comprising:
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disposing an annular seal proximal to a distal end of a drill pipe equipped with a bottom hole assembly, said annular seal allowing continuous movement of the drill pipe; engaging the annular seal with the well bore to form an alterable annular pressure in an annulus adjacent the bottom hole assembly below the seal in said well bore; drilling the well bore utilizing the bottom hole assembly while maintaining the annular seal; and maintaining the well bore pressure on a distal side of the seal during the drilling of the bore at a pressure different from a pressure on a proximal side of the seal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification