Abstract: A rotating control device (RCD) for use in pressurized drilling operations. The RCD having a non-rotating RCD housing enclosing an elongate passage, a tubular RCD mandrel extending along the elongate passage of the RCD housing, wherein the RCD mandrel has a longitudinal axis and is configured in use to rotate relative to the RCD housing about the longitudinal axis, and a stripper element which is mounted on an end of the RCD mandrel and which is configured to seal against and rotate with a tubular drill pipe extending along the elongate passage of the RCD housing, wherein the stripper element is secured to the end of the RCD mandrel by a flexible sleeve which is more flexible than the stripper element.

Abstract: A deployment tool that can be used on land, jack-up and floating drilling rigs. The tools is installed around a drillpipe tool joint making it independent of the drill string load path as well as independent of the drill pipe thread and drill pipe size. It is designed for the largest commonly used drillpipe size, so has a single outer dimeter configuration that can be adapted from the largest drillpipe to the smallest in use with simple mechanical adapters. Thus, one main tool and a set of adapters is all that is required. The tool may be used in the deployment of RCDs, for example in the landing of an RCD bearing assembly on an RCD housing, or in the deployment of tubing hangers, lining hangers, casing hangers or other or any other temporary completion tool.

Abstract: A Jack-up drilling rig or land drilling rig riser system with quick connectors that can be used to rapidly install and de-install RCD housings between the BOP and the drill floor. The quick connector design can handle different bore diameters without changing the external design of the connector. The connector assembly may be used to connect a blowout preventer or rotating control device housing to a tubular riser, a blowout preventer housing to an RCD housing, or to join two tubular risers. A connector assembly connects a tubular pin end to a housing has a tubular connector body with a first end to receive the pin end and a second end secured to the housing. The connector assembly also includes a latching mechanism movable between a lock position to prevent the pin end from being removed and an unlock position in which the pin end can be removed.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a rotating control device used in a drilling system having a non-rotating tubular RCD housing enclosing an elongate passage. A mandrel rotatably extends along the passage about an axis. A seal assembly seals the RCD housing to the mandrel and provides first and second seals against the mandrel's exterior surface. The first and second seals are spaced parallel to the mandrel's axis to create space between the mandrel and the first and second seals. The first seal has a first side exposed to fluid pressure in the RCD housing and a second side exposed to fluid in the space between the seals. The second seal has a first side exposed to fluid pressure in the space between the seals and a second side exposed to fluid pressure at the exterior of the RCD housing. A pressure stepping mechanism supplies fluid to the space between the two seals.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a choke system includes connecting to the positioner an electronic controller which is programmed to output a control signal representing the desired position of the plug, connecting to the electronic controller a flowmeter which is configured to provide a flow signal representing the rate of flow of fluid from the pump to the inlet and a pressure sensor which is configured to provide a pressure signal representing the fluid pressure at the inlet, connecting the inlet to a reservoir of fluid via a pump which is operable to pump fluid from the reservoir into the inlet at varying flow rates, and using gain scheduling to determine optimum values of proportional gain and integral gain required for control of the choke using a proportional differential and integral controller at a plurality of different rates of flow of fluid along the central flow passage.

Abstract: A deployment tool that can be used on land, jack-up and floating drilling rigs. The tools is installed around a drillpipe tool joint making it independent of the drill string load path as well as independent of the drill pipe thread and drill pipe size. It is designed for the largest commonly used drillpipe size, so has a single outer dimeter configuration that can be adapted from the largest drillpipe to the smallest in use with simple mechanical adapters. Thus, one main tool and a set of adapters is all that is required. The tool may be used in the deployment of RCDs, for example in the landing of an RCD bearing assembly on an RCD housing, or in the deployment of tubing hangers, lining hangers, casing hangers or other or any other temporary completion tool.

Abstract: A Jack-up drilling rig or land drilling rig riser system with quick connectors that can be used to rapidly install and de-install RCD housings between the BOP and the drill floor. The quick connector design can handle different bore diameters without changing the external design of the connector. The connector assembly may be used to connect a blowout preventer or rotating control device housing to a tubular riser, a blowout preventer housing to an RCD housing, or to join two tubular risers. A connector assembly connects a tubular pin end to a housing has a tubular connector body with a first end to receive the pin end and a second end secured to the housing. The connector assembly also includes a latching mechanism movable between a lock position to prevent the pin end from being removed and an unlock position in which the pin end can be removed.

Abstract: A rotating control device (RCD) for use in pressurized drilling operations. The RCD having a non-rotating RCD housing enclosing an elongate passage, a tubular RCD mandrel extending along the elongate passage of the RCD housing, wherein the RCD mandrel has a longitudinal axis and is configured in use to rotate relative to the RCD housing about the longitudinal axis, and a stripper element which is mounted on an end of the RCD mandrel and which is configured to seal against and rotate with a tubular drill pipe extending along the elongate passage of the RCD housing, wherein the stripper element is secured to the end of the RCD mandrel by a flexible sleeve which is more flexible than the stripper element.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a rotating control device used in a drilling system having a non-rotating tubular RCD housing enclosing an elongate passage. A mandrel rotatably extends along the passage about an axis. A seal assembly seals the RCD housing to the mandrel and provides first and second seals against the mandrel's exterior surface. The first and second seals are spaced parallel to the mandrel's axis to create space between the mandrel and the first and second seals The first seal has a first side exposed to fluid pressure in the RCD housing and a second side exposed to fluid in the space between the seals. The second seal has a first side exposed to fluid pressure in the space between the seals and a second side exposed to fluid pressure at the exterior of the RCD housing. A pressure stepping mechanism supplies fluid to the space between the two seals.

Abstract: A rotating control device for use in a drilling system, the rotating control device comprising a non-rotating tubular RCD housing enclosing an elongate passage, a mandrel which extends along the elongate passage, the mandrel having an axis and being configured in use to rotate about said axis, and a seal assembly which is configured to provide a substantially fluid tight seal between the RCD housing and the mandrel, wherein the seal assembly comprises a first seal ring which is fixed around an exterior face of the mandrel for rotation with the mandrel, and a second seal ring which is secured to the RCD housing, the first and second seal rings each having a sealing face, and a biasing assembly which acts on one of the seal rings to push the sealing faces together by means of a biasing force which is generally parallel to the axis of the mandrel.