Offshore universal riser system

• US 9,376,870 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2014
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Orbell, Charles R., Leuchtenberg, Christian, Godfrey, Craig W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sayre, James G
• Application Number:
  US14/491,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20150075804A1
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 166/367, 175/5
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/01 Risers
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/08 Controlling or monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid, e.g. automatic filling of boreholes, automatic control of bottom pressure valve arrangements therefor E21B21/10
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/106 Valve arrangements outside the borehole, e.g. kelly valves valves specifically for maintaining circulation of drilling fluid while connecting or disconnecting tubular joints E21B21/019
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/02 Surface sealing or packing
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/038 Connectors used on well heads, e.g. for connecting blow-out preventer and riser
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/12 Underwater drilling using heave compensators E21B19/09

Abstract

An offshore universal riser system. A riser system includes a valve module which selectively permits and prevents fluid flow through a flow passage extending longitudinally through a riser string. An anchoring device releasably secures the valve module in the flow passage. A method of constructing a riser system includes the steps of installing the valve module in the flow passage, and installing at least one annular seal module in the flow passage. The annular seal module is operative to prevent fluid flow through an annular space between the riser string and a tubular string positioned in the flow passage. Drilling methods include injecting relatively low density fluid compositions into the annular space, and selectively varying a restriction to flow through a subsea choke in a drilling fluid return line. The riser string, including housings for the various modules and external control systems, is dimensioned for installation through a rotary table.

Claims

1. A riser system for use with a tubular string, comprising:

a riser string comprising opposite end connections;

multiple seals longitudinally spaced apart along and within the riser string between the opposite end connections, each seal comprising an engagement surface configured to sealingly engage the tubular string when positioned in the riser string while the tubular string rotates; and

wherein the tubular string is rotatable relative to the engagement surfaces of the seals.

2. The riser system of claim 1, wherein the seals remain stationary within the riser string when the tubular string rotates.

3. A drilling method, comprising:

positioning multiple seals within a riser string between opposite end connections thereof;

sealing engaging a tubular string in the riser string with an engagement surface of each seal;

rotating the tubular string in the riser string; and

maintaining the engagement surfaces stationary relative to the riser string while the tubular string rotates.