ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR REGULATING BOTTOM HOLE PRESSURES WHEN DRILLING DEEPWATER OFFSHORE WELLS

摘要

An arrangement and a method to control and regulate the bottom hole pressure in a well during subsea drilling in deep waters: the method involves adjustment of a liquid/gas interface level in a drilling riser up or down. The arrangement comprises a high pressure drilling riser and a surface BOP at the upper end of the drilling riser. The surface BOP has a gas bleeding outlet. The riser also comprises a BOP, with a by-pass line. The drilling riser has an outlet at a depth below the water surface, and the outlet is connected to a pumping system with a flow return conduit running back to a drilling vessel/platform.