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.

Date of Patent:
Dec. 19, 2017

Filed:

Apr. 19, 2016
Applicant:

Weatherford Technology Holdings, Llc, Houston, TX (US);

Inventors:

Don M. Hannegan, Fort Smith, AR (US);

Thomas F. Bailey, Abilene, TX (US);

Melvin T. Jacobs, Fort Smith, AR (US);

Nicky A. White, Poteau, OK (US);

Assignee:
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
E21B 21/00 (2006.01); E21B 33/03 (2006.01); E21B 33/08 (2006.01); E21B 43/10 (2006.01); E21B 33/13 (2006.01); E21B 36/00 (2006.01); E21B 21/08 (2006.01); E21B 19/00 (2006.01); E21B 21/10 (2006.01); E21B 47/06 (2012.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
E21B 33/03 (2013.01); E21B 19/00 (2013.01); E21B 21/00 (2013.01); E21B 21/08 (2013.01); E21B 21/10 (2013.01); E21B 33/085 (2013.01); E21B 33/13 (2013.01); E21B 36/001 (2013.01); E21B 43/10 (2013.01); E21B 47/06 (2013.01); E21B 47/065 (2013.01); E21B 2021/006 (2013.01);
Abstract

A Drill-To-The-Limit (DTTL) drilling method variant to Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) applies constant surface backpressure, whether the mud is circulating (choke valve open) or not (choke valve closed). Because of the constant application of surface backpressure, the DTTL method can use lighter mud weight that still has the cutting carrying ability to keep the borehole clean. The DTTL method identifies the weakest component of the pressure containment system, such as the fracture pressure of the formation or the casing shoe leak off test (LOT). With a higher pressure rated RCD, such as 5,000 psi (34,474 kPa) dynamic or working pressure and 10,000 psi (68,948 kPa) static pressure, the limitation will generally be the fracture pressure of the formation or the LOT. In the DTTL method, since surface backpressure is constantly applied, the pore pressure limitation of the conventional drilling window can be disregarded in developing the fluid and drilling programs.


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