Abstract: A seal assembly for use in a pressure containment device for containing a fluid pressure in an annular space around a drill string whilst allowing the drill string to rotate in the pressure containment device. The seal assembly includes a seal with an inner surface and a tubular body, and a wear sensor embedded in the tubular body of the seal. The wear sensor emits an alert signal when the inner surface of the seal has been worn away by a first preset amount. The alert signal includes a pressure signal and/or a chemical signal.

Abstract: A drilling system for drilling a subterranean well bore includes a controller and a first and a second set of field devices. Each of the first and second set of field devices measure a physical characteristic of the drilling system and to transmit to the controller signals representing a measured value of the physical characteristic. The controller is programmed to use a first set of algorithms to process the signals received from the first set of field devices to determine if the measured values represented by the signals indicate that there might have been an influx of formation fluid into the subterranean well bore, and a second set of algorithms to process the signals received from the second set of field devices to determine if the measured values represented by the signals indicate that there might have been an influx of formation fluid into the subterranean well bore.

Abstract: A seal assembly for use in a pressure containment device for containing a fluid pressure in an annular space around a drill string whilst allowing the drill string to rotate in the pressure containment device. The seal assembly includes a seal with an inner surface and a tubular body, and a wear sensor embedded in the tubular body of the seal. The wear sensor emits an alert signal when the inner surface of the seal has been worn away by a first preset amount. The alert signal includes a pressure signal and/or a chemical signal.

Abstract: A seal assembly for use in a pressure containment device for containing a fluid pressure in an annular space around a drill string while allowing the drill string to rotate in the pressure containment device. The seal assembly includes a seal comprising and an inner surface and a tubular body, and a wear sensor embedded in the tubular body. The wear sensor emits an alert signal when the inner surface of the seal has been worn away by a preset amount.

Abstract: A drilling system for drilling a subterranean well bore includes a controller and a first and a second set of field devices. Each of the first and second set of field devices measure a physical characteristic of the drilling system and to transmit to the controller signals representing a measured value of the physical characteristic. The controller is programmed to use a first set of algorithms to process the signals received from the first set of field devices to determine if the measured values represented by the signals indicate that there might have been an influx of formation fluid into the subterranean well bore, and a second set of algorithms to process the signals received from the second set of field devices to determine if the measured values represented by the signals indicate that there might have been an influx of formation fluid into the subterranean well bore.

Abstract: A seal assembly for use in a pressure containment device for containing a fluid pressure in an annular space around a drill string whilst allowing the drill string to rotate in the pressure containment device. The seal assembly includes a seal comprising and an inner surface and a tubular body, and a wear sensor embedded in the tubular body. The wear sensor emits an alert signal when the inner surface of the seal has been worn away by a preset amount.