Abstract: A gimbal device for suspending a riser on a mobile offshore drilling vessel (MODU), having a first frame, a second frame and a plurality of cushioning units, wherein each of the said plurality of cushioning units are circumferentially positioned in between the first frame and the second frame. The gimbal device further includes a plurality of tethering items, which are separate from the cushioning units and configured to take up tensioning loads. The plurality of tethering items are circumferentially positioned in between the first frame and the second frame.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement and methods to control volume of fluids in a well system having a riser (7) extending from a well to a rig. The riser (7) has an increased diameter section (1) situated below the upper end of the riser (7) and above any slip joint (12) in the riser. The arrangement further comprises a sensor (5) to continuously measure the position of the slip joint (12). the increased diameter section (1) is coupled to an outlet (19) that is in fluid communication with a fluid return system (18), and the arrangement further comprises a return pump (2) coupled between the outlet (19) and the mud return system (18). The outlet (19) is arranged at a lower level than the mud return system (18). Level sensors (22) measure the level of liquid within the increased diameter section (1).

Abstract: A riser system in the form of a pumped riser, i.e. a riser having an outlet from the riser at a depth below the surface of a body of water, where the outlet is coupled to a return pump to return fluid from the riser to the surface, and various operational methods to facilitate greater versatility when performing hydrocarbon drilling related operations. A sealing element to seal an annulus of the riser, and a by-pass around the sealing element. Various methods make it possible to switch between open mode and closed mode, and vice versa, monitoring leakage across the sealing element, as well as performing other operations exploiting the advantages of the two different modes.

Abstract: A riser system in the form of a pumped riser, i.e. a riser having an outlet from the riser at a depth below the surface of a body of water, where the outlet is coupled to a return pump to return fluid from the riser to the surface, and various operational methods to facilitate greater versatility when performing hydrocarbon drilling related operations. A sealing element to seal an annulus of the riser, and a by-pass around the sealing element. Various methods make it possible to switch between open mode and closed mode, and vice versa, monitoring leakage across the sealing element, as well as performing other operations exploiting the advantages of the two different modes.

Abstract: A riser system in the form of a pumped riser, i.e. a riser having an outlet from the riser at a depth below the surface of a body of water, where the outlet is coupled to a return pump to return fluid from the riser to the surface, and various operational methods to facilitate greater versatility when performing hydrocarbon drilling related operations. A sealing element to seal an annulus of the riser, and a by-pass around the sealing element. Various methods make it possible to switch between open mode and closed mode, and vice versa, monitoring leakage across the sealing element, as well as performing other operations exploiting the advantages of the two different modes.

Abstract: An arrangement and a method for preventing collection of debris on or for removing debris, such as cuttings, from the top of a closed riser sealing device (215) in a subsea riser (1). The arrangement comprises a flushing line and at least one flushing fluid inlet (294) to direct a jet of flushing fluid into said riser (1). The inlet (294) directs flushing fluid into a space in the riser (1) immediately above said closing element. The invention also relates to a swirl element (351) located immediately above the riser sealing device (215) and being rotationally coupled to a drillstring (11).

Abstract: A riser system in the form of a pumped riser, i.e. a riser having an outlet from the riser at a depth below the surface of a body of water, where the outlet is coupled to a return pump to return fluid from the riser to the surface, and various operational methods to facilitate greater versatility when performing hydrocarbon drilling related operations. A sealing element to seal an annulus of the riser, and a by-pass around the sealing element. Various methods make it possible to switch between open mode and closed mode, and vice versa, monitoring leakage across the sealing element, as well as performing other operations exploiting the advantages of the two different modes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a riser system in the form of a pumped riser, i.e. a riser having an outlet from the riser at a depth below the surface of a body of water, where the outlet is coupled to a return pump to return fluid from the riser to the surface, and various operational methods to facilitate greater versatility when performing hydrocarbon drilling related operations. The arrangement also comprises a sealing element to seal an annulus of the riser, and a by-pass around the sealing element. Various methods makes it possible to switch between open mode and closed mode, and vice versa, monitoring leakage across the sealing element, as well as performing other operations exploiting the advantages of the two different modes.

Abstract: A riser system in the form of a pumped riser, i.e. a riser having an outlet from the riser at a depth below the surface of a body of water, where the outlet is coupled to a return pump to return fluid from the riser to the surface, and various operational methods to facilitate greater versatility when performing hydrocarbon drilling related operations. A sealing element to seal an annulus of the riser, and a by-pass around the sealing element. Various methods make it possible to switch between open mode and closed mode, and vice versa, monitoring leakage across the sealing element, as well as performing other operations exploiting the advantages of the two different modes.

Abstract: A riser system in the form of a pumped riser, i.e. a riser having an outlet from the riser at a depth below the surface of a body of water, where the outlet is coupled to a return pump to return fluid from the riser to the surface, and various operational methods to facilitate greater versatility when performing hydrocarbon drilling related operations. A sealing element to seal an annulus of the riser, and a by-pass around the sealing element. Various methods make it possible to switch between open mode and closed mode, and vice versa, monitoring leakage across the sealing element, as well as performing other operations exploiting the advantages of the two different modes.

Abstract: A riser system in the form of a pumped riser, i.e. a riser having an outlet from the riser at a depth below the surface of a body of water, where the outlet is coupled to a return pump to return fluid from the riser to the surface, and various operational methods to facilitate greater versatility when performing hydrocarbon drilling related operations. A sealing element to seal an annulus of the riser, and a by-pass around the sealing element. Various methods make it possible to switch between open mode and closed mode, and vice versa, monitoring leakage across the sealing element, as well as performing other operations exploiting the advantages of the two different modes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a riser system in the form of a pumped riser, i.e. a riser having an outlet from the riser at a depth below the surface of a body of water, where the outlet is coupled to a return pump to return fluid from the riser to the surface, and various operational methods to facilitate greater versatility when performing hydrocarbon drilling related operations. The arrangement also comprises a sealing element to seal an annulus of the riser, and a by-pass around the sealing element. Various methods makes it possible to switch between open mode and closed mode, and vice versa, monitoring leakage across the sealing element, as well as performing other operations exploiting the advantages of the two different modes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a riser system in the form of a pumped riser (1), i.e. a riser (1) having an outlet (6) from the riser (1) at a depth below the surface (S) of a body of water, where the outlet (6) is coupled to a return pump (7) to return fluid from the riser (1) to the surface (S), and various operational methods to facilitate greater versatility when performing hydrocarbon drilling related operations. The arrangement also comprises a sealing element (15, 16) to seal an annulus (5) of the riser (1), and a by-pass (17) around the sealing element (15, 16). Various methods makes it possible to switch between open mode and closed mode, and vice versa, monitoring leakage across the sealing element (15, 16), as well as performing other operations exploiting the advantages of the two different modes.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement and methods to control volume of fluids in a well system having a riser (7) extending from a well to a rig. The riser (7) has an increased diameter section (1) situated below the upper end of the riser (7) and above any slip joint (12) in the riser. The arrangement further comprises a sensor (5) to continuously measure the position of the slip joint (12). the increased diameter section (1) is coupled to an outlet (19) that is in fluid communication with a fluid return system (18), and the arrangement further comprises a return pump (2) coupled between the outlet (19) and the mud return system (18). The outlet (19) is arranged at a lower level than the mud return system (18). Level sensors (22) measure the level of liquid within the increased diameter section (1).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a riser system in the form of a pumped riser (1), i.e. a riser (1) having an outlet (6) from the riser (1) at a depth below the surface (S) of a body of water, where the outlet (6) is coupled to a return pump (7) to return fluid from the riser (1) to the surface (S), and various operational methods to facilitate greater versatility when performing hydrocarbon drilling related operations. The arrangement also comprises a sealing element (15, 16) to seal an annulus (5) of the riser (1), and a by-pass (17) around the sealing element (15, 16). Various methods makes it possible to switch between open mode and closed mode, and vice versa, monitoring leakage across the sealing element (15, 16), as well as performing other operations exploiting the advantages of the two different modes.

Abstract: A restrictor device for controlling a return flow of drilling fluid from a borehole where drilling fluid is provided from a surface installation via a drill string to a bottom-hole assembly is disclosed. Drill pipes forming the drill string are provided with pipe joints including enlarged-diameter pipe portions. An annulus is formed between a riser and the drill string. The annulus is in fluid communication with a drilling-fluid flow path. The restrictor device is arranged in the annulus. The restrictor device includes a restrictor pipe anchored to the riser and surrounds at least one restrictor element placed on an intermediate pipe portion that connects two enlarged-diameter pipe portions. The length of the restrictor device exceeds the largest distance between two consecutive restrictor elements. The restrictor element is a drill-pipe/casing protector with an external diameter larger than a diameter of the pipe joints.

Abstract: A subsea drilling method and system controls drilling fluid pressure in the borehole of a subsea well, and separates gas from the drilling fluid. Drilling fluid is pumped into the borehole through a drill string and returned through an annulus between the drill string and the well bore and between the drill string and a riser. Drilling fluid pressure is controlled by draining fluid out of the riser or a BOP at a level between the seabed and the surface in order to adjust the hydrostatic head of drilling fluid in the riser. The drained drilling fluid and gas is separated in a subsea separator, where the gas is vented to the surface through a vent line, and the fluid is pumped to the surface via a subsea pump. A closing device and a choke line and valve can release pressure after a gas kick in the well.

Abstract: An impeller for a centrifugal pump for pumping fluid containing solid particles includes: a rear side wall; a front side wall; a plurality of vanes located between the rear side wall and the front side wall, each vane having an outer edge and a vane width in an axial direction of the impeller. At least one of a periphery of the rear side wall or a periphery of the front side wall projects by a radial distance beyond the outer edges of the vanes, the radial distance being at least 0.5 times the vane width.

Abstract: A pump varies output flow. For all cross-sections, which are vertical to the axis of rotation between axial outer positions for the cross-sectional areas of flow at the periphery of the impeller, the inner wall of the pump housing forms approximately circular profiles. The approximately circular profiles are mainly concentric and have a continuously increasing radius from one toward the other one of the axial outer positions. A tongue, which truncates the outlet or diffuser of the pump from an annulus of the pump housing, does not contact the circular profiles between the axial outer positions.

Abstract: A restrictor device (6) for controlling a return flow of drilling fluid from a borehole (51) where drilling fluid is provided from a surface installation (3) via a drill string (4) to a bottom-hole assembly (45), drill pipes (41) forming the drill string (4) being provided with pipe joints (42) including enlarged-diameter pipe portions (43), and where an annulus (22) is formed between a pipe, for example a marine riser (1), and the drill string (4), and where the annulus (22) is in fluid communication with or forms parts of a drilling-fluid flow path (23), and where the restrictor device (6) is arranged in the annulus (22), the restrictor device (6) being formed of a restrictor pipe (61) anchored to said riser (1) and surrounding at least one restrictor element (64) placed on an intermediate pipe portion (44) that connects two enlarged-diameter pipe portions (43), and the length (L) of the restrictor device (6) exceeding the largest distance (M) between two consecutive restrictor elements (64), the restrictor