Chevron U.s.a. Inc.

John Lofton

Manuel Eduardo Gonzalez

Robert B Carpenter

James Benjamin Bloys

Krystian K Maskos

Joseph Henry Schmidt

Gregory P Pepin

Omid Oujani

Pressure within a subsea well is managed as temperature within the well fluctuate. The management of the pressure mitigates stress to the structure of the well caused by the pressure. To manage the pressure, fluid is received from and/or provided to the well to reduce and/or increase pressure within the well.

System and method for regulating pressure within a well annulus

A method and a system for minimizing circulating fluid return losses during drilling of a well bore are disclosed. Circulating fluid, or mud, is heated above conventional temperatures for circulating fluids. The heated circulating fluid then contacts a region of a formation, in which a well bore is to be drilled, maintaining the formation at a relative higher temperature than if no special sources of heat were used to add heat to the circulating fluid. The region, at the relatively higher temperature, has a tendency to expand and to be placed in a relatively higher compressive state as compared to a formation at a lower temperature. Consequently, the use of the heated circulating fluid minimizes fracture initiation and growth and circulation fluid losses into the formation.

Method and system for minimizing circulating fluid return losses during drilling of a well bore

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Woodlands, TX, United States of America

John Lofton