Abstract: A system and method for maintaining fluid pressure within a well bore includes: (a) an axially reciprocable choke; (b) a mud pump; (c) a programmable controller in communication with the choke and providing operational control of the axial reciprocation of the choke to maintain a set point choke pressure; (d) the controller configured to associate a drilling set point choke pressure within the well bore with a drilling pump rate and associate a predetermined connection set point choke pressure within the well bore with a pump rate; and (e) a mud pump monitor configured to communicate with the mud pump and the programmable controller, measure the pump rate of the pump, and communicate the measured pump rate to the programmable controller.

Abstract: A system and method for conducting subterranean operations. In an embodiment, the system can include a monitoring system configured to monitor at least one criterion of a plurality of operational systems selected from the group of choke valves, mud pumps, drawworks, backpressure pumps, top drive, mud gas separator, flow line, blowout preventer, inside blowout preventer, or any combination thereof, and a logic device configured to generate a capacity value for each operational system of the plurality of the operational systems based on the at least one criterion, and further configured to change a state of one or more of plurality of the operational systems to control a downhole pressure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for conducting subterranean operations and managing a bottom hole pressure (BHP) in a wellbore include receiving a first signal at a controller indicating a drill pipe connection or disconnection is beginning and switching the controller from a first control mode to a second control mode. The bottom hole pressure (BHP) in the wellbore is determined, a BHP set point is determined by the controller, and a first pressure set point is sent to a single set point choke (SSPC). The BHP is maintained by comparing the determined BHP to the BHP set point and adjusting the first pressure set point based on the comparison. The controller receives a second signal after the drill pipe connection or disconnection is complete prompting the controller to switch back to the first control mode.

Abstract: A system for conducting subterranean drilling operations comprising a chromatography device adapted to detect a composition of gas; a sensor adapted to measure a mass flowrate of the gas; and a logic device adapted to calculate volumetric mass flow rates of components of the gas utilizing the mass flowrate from the sensor and the composition from the chromatography device.

Abstract: A method and system for conducting a subterranean operation that can include receiving a first signal at a controller indicating a drill pipe connection is beginning; switching the controller from a first control mode to a second control mode in response to receiving the first signal; determining a bottom hole pressure (BHP) in a wellbore; receiving a BHP set point at the controller and sending a first pressure set point to a single set point choke (SSPC); maintaining the BHP by comparing the determined BHP to the BHP set point and adjusting the first pressure set point based on the comparing; receiving a second signal at the controller after the connection or disconnection is complete and pumps are ramping up; and switching the controller back to the first control mode in response to the second signal.

Abstract: A system and method for conducting subterranean operations. In an embodiment, the system can include a monitoring system configured to monitor at least one criterion of a plurality of operational systems selected from the group of choke valves, mud pumps, drawworks, backpressure pumps, top drive, mud gas separator, flow line, blowout preventer, inside blowout preventer, or any combination thereof, and a logic device configured to generate a capacity value for each operational system of the plurality of the operational systems based on the at least one criterion, and further configured to change a state of one or more of plurality of the operational systems to control a downhole pressure.

Abstract: The present disclosure contemplates a method and apparatus for maintaining well pressure control despite fluctuations arising due to mud pump speed changes during startup and shutdown of a mud pump. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for closely coordinating changes in mud pump speed, or the flow rate of drilling mud, with the operation of choke valves for the maintenance of a constant drilling fluid pressure during drilling breaks such as the addition of drill pipe sections to the drill string.