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:
Jul. 11, 1978
Filed:
Apr. 11, 1977
Leo Donald Maus, Houston, TX (US);
Exxon Production Research Company, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
An improved offshore drilling method and apparatus are disclosed which are useful in preventing formation fracture caused by excessive hydrostatic pressure in a drilling riser. Gas is injected into the riser to provide the lift necessary to return the drilling fluid to the surface and to reduce the density of the drilling fluid. The rate of gas injection overlifts the drilling fluid to the extent that the pressure of the fluid is reduced to less than that of the seawater surrounding the riser. Seawater is permitted to flow into the lower end of the riser in response to the differential pressure between the drilling fluid and seawater so that the pressures of the drilling fluid and the seawater approximately equalize.