Integrated MPD Riser Joint Annular Sealing System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional managed pressure drilling (MPD) systems are economically and logistically challenging in deepwater and ultra-deepwater applications due to their large size and weight, which restricts their adoption and installation offshore.
Innovation Solution
An integrated MPD riser joint is designed with an annular sealing system and a flow spool, eliminating the need for a drill string isolation tool, allowing for a reduced size and weight, enabling independent control of upper and lower sealing elements to maintain a pressure tight seal during installation, servicing, and replacement of sealing elements without an intervening pressure containment device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an integrated MPD riser joint includes an annular sealing system, drill string isolation tool, and flow spool, then the system maintains a pressure tight seal on the annulus, but the device size and weight exceed 15m length and 45,000 kg weight making offshore installation infeasible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the drill string isolation tool from the integrated MPD riser joint configuration, extracting only the essential components (annular sealing system and flow spool) needed to maintain pressure tight seal, thereby reducing overall weight and size while preserving critical sealing functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The annular sealing system is divided into upper and lower sealing elements that can independently engage and disengage, allowing selective installation and servicing of sealing components without requiring the entire assembly, reducing the operational weight and complexity of the system
2Reliability
If the annular sealing system uses multiple sealing elements, then the pressure tight seal is maintained during installation and servicing, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The upper and lower sealing elements are designed with independent engagement and disengagement capabilities, allowing dynamic control of sealing operations where one sealing element can be serviced while the other remains active, maintaining pressure tight seal while simplifying operational procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing elements are configured to allow installation and servicing operations to be performed independently without requiring intervention from additional pressure containment devices, enabling self-sufficient maintenance operations that reduce system complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
An integrated managed pressure drilling (MPD) riser joint includes an annular sealing system that allows for the installation, engagement, service, maintenance, disengagement, removal, or replacement of one or more sealing elements while maintaining a pressure tight seal on the annulus without a drill string isolation tool, or equivalent thereof. The integrated MPD riser joint is limited to the annular sealing system and a flow spool, or equivalent thereof, disposed directly below the annular sealing system, without any intervening pressure containment devices or systems. Advantageously, the integrated MPD riser joint does not require a drill string isolation tool, or equivalent thereof, and may be substantially shorter in length and weigh substantially less than a conventional integrated MPD riser joint. The reduction in size and weight enables adoption of MPD technology in applications where conventional integrated MPD riser joints are not economically feasible or are otherwise precluded from use.