Heave compensation system for assembling a drill string

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9631442-B2
Application number	US-201414541354-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 14, 2014
Priority date	Dec 19, 2013
Publication date	Apr 25, 2017
Grant date	Apr 25, 2017

Abstract

A method of deploying a jointed tubular string into a subsea wellbore includes lowering the tubular string into the subsea wellbore from an offshore drilling unit. The tubular string has a slip joint. The method further includes, after lowering, anchoring a lower portion of the tubular string below the slip joint to a non-heaving structure. The method further includes, while the lower portion is anchored: supporting an upper portion of the tubular string above the slip joint from a rig floor of the offshore drilling unit; after supporting, adding one or more joints to the tubular string, thereby extending the tubular string; and releasing the upper portion of the extended tubular string from the rig floor. The method further includes: releasing the lower portion of the extended tubular string from the non-heaving structure; and lowering the extended tubular string into the subsea wellbore.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of deploying a jointed tubular string into a subsea wellbore, comprising:
lowering the tubular string into the subsea wellbore from an offshore drilling unit, wherein the tubular string has a slip joint;
sending a wireless command signal from the offshore drilling unit down the tubular string to a setting tool to set an anchor, wherein the sending the wireless command signal comprises at least one of:
pumping a wireless identification tag through the tubular string; and
modulating rotation of the tubular string;

after lowering, anchoring a lower portion of the tubular string below the slip joint to a non-heaving structure;
while the lower portion is anchored:
supporting an upper portion of the tubular string above the slip joint from a rig floor of the offshore drilling unit;
after supporting, adding one or more joints to the tubular string, thereby extending the tubular string; and
releasing the upper portion of the extended tubular string from the rig floor;

releasing the lower portion of the extended tubular string from the non-heaving structure; and
lowering the extended tubular string into the subsea wellbore.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-heaving structure is a casing string cemented in the subsea wellbore.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein:
the anchor is disposed below the slip joint, and
the lower portion is anchored by setting the anchor against the casing string.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the setting tool is disposed between the slip joint and the anchor.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the anchor is set by the sending the wireless command signal to the setting tool and circulating fluid through the tubular string.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein:
the tubular string is rotated during lowering,
rotation is ceased before anchoring,
the setting tool has a controller and a tachometer, and
the controller sets the anchor in response to detection of cessation of rotation using the tachometer.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-heaving structure is one of: a marine riser, a lower marine riser package, and a blowout preventer (BOP) stack.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein:
the slip joint is a tensioner,
the non-heaving structure has a drill string gripper, and
the portion is anchored by engaging the gripper with the drill string.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the tubular string is lowered through the marine riser and an upper marine riser package having a rotating control device (RCD),
the method further comprises closing a BOP against the drill string, and
the tensioner is operated by pressurizing the riser between the RCD and the closed BOP.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein:
fluid is circulated through the tubular string during lowering,
the drill string further has a flow sub, and
the tensioner is operated by engaging a clamp with the flow sub to maintain circulation during anchoring.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising engaging the gripper with the drill string in response to detection of a well control event.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the tubular string is a drill string having a drill bit at a bottom thereof, and
fluid is circulated through the drill string and the drill bit is rotated during lowering, thereby drilling the wellbore.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the setting tool comprises an antenna.

14. A heave compensation system for assembling a jointed tubular string, comprising:
a jointed tubular string comprising:
a slip joint;
an anchor comprising slips movable between an extended position and a retracted position; and
a setting tool connecting the slip joint to the anchor, comprising:
an actuation piston operable to move the slips between the positions;
a plurality of toggle valves, each valve in fluid communication with a respective face of the setting actuation piston and operable to alternately provide fluid communication between the respective piston face and either a bore of the setting tool or an exterior of the setting tool;
an electronics package operable to alternate the toggle valves; and
an antenna; and

a wireless identification tag, pumpable through the tubular string, and operable to transmit a command signal to the antenna.

15. A method of deploying a jointed tubular string into a subsea wellbore, comprising:
lowering the tubular string into the subsea wellbore from an offshore drilling unit, wherein the tubular string has a slip joint;
after lowering, anchoring a lower portion of the tubular string below the slip joint to a non-heaving structure, wherein the non-heaving structure is one of: a marine riser, a lower marine riser package, and a blowout preventer (BOP) stack;
while the lower portion is anchored:
supporting an upper portion of the tubular string above the slip joint from a rig floor of the offshore drilling unit;
after supporting, adding one or more joints to the tubular string, thereby extending the tubular string; and
releasing the upper portion of the extended tubular string from the rig floor;

releasing the lower portion of the extended tubular string from the non-heaving structure; and
lowering the extended tubular string into the subsea wellbore, wherein:
the slip joint is a tensioner,
the non-heaving structure has a drill string gripper, and
the portion is anchored by engaging the gripper with the drill string.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the tubular string is lowered through the marine riser and an upper marine riser package having a rotating control device (RCD),
the method further comprises closing a BOP against the drill string, and
the tensioner is operated by pressurizing the riser between the RCD and the closed BOP.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
fluid is circulated through the tubular string during lowering,
the drill string further has a flow sub, and
the tensioner is operated by engaging a clamp with the flow sub to maintain circulation during anchoring.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising engaging the gripper with the drill string in response to detection of a well control event.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the tubular string is a drill string having a drill bit at a bottom thereof, and
fluid is circulated through the drill string and the drill bit is rotated during lowering, thereby drilling the wellbore.

Assignees

• Weatherford Tech Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Bansal Ram K
• Ring Lev
• Hannegan Don M

Classifications

• E21B47/092

  by detecting magnetic anomalies · CPC title

• E21B31/20

  gripping internally, e.g. fishing spears · CPC title

• E21B19/07

  Slip-type elevators · CPC title

• E21B17/07

  Telescoping joints for varying drill string lengths; Shock absorbers · CPC title

• E21B19/06

  Elevators, i.e. rod- or tube-gripping devices · CPC title