The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 25, 2019
Filed:
Feb. 07, 2017
Weatherford Technology Holdings, Llc, Houston, TX (US);
Said Boutalbi, Houston, TX (US);
Michael Brian Grayson, Sugar Land, TX (US);
WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A method of drilling a subsea wellbore includes drilling the subsea wellbore and, while drilling the subsea wellbore: measuring a flow rate of the drilling fluid injected into a tubular string; measuring a flow rate of returns; comparing the returns flow rate to the drilling fluid flow rate to detect a kick by a formation being drilled; and exerting backpressure on the returns using a first variable choke valve. The method further includes, in response to detecting the kick: closing a blowout preventer of a subsea pressure control assembly (PCA) against the tubular string; and diverting the flow of returns from the PCA, through a choke line having a second variable choke valve, and through the first variable choke valve.