Measuring drill pipe alignment in rotating control device system

1 . A system, comprising:

a drill pipe; and

a rotating control device comprising:

a housing defining a bore through which the drill pipe extends during a managed pressure drilling operation;

a sealing element disposed in the housing that is configured to seal against the drill pipe to block fluid flow through an annular space surrounding the drill pipe;

a bearing assembly disposed in the housing that enables the sealing element to rotate relative to the housing;

an insert that at least partially interfaces between the sealing element and the bearing assembly, wherein the insert is comparatively more rigid than the sealing element; and

at least one load cell integrated into the insert and configured to detect eccentricity or misalignment of the drill pipe within the rotating control device during the managed pressure drilling operation.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one load cell is configured to output information relating to alignment of the drill pipe within the rotating control device during the managed pressure drilling operation.

3 . A method comprising:

extending a drill pipe through a bore defined in a housing of a rotating control device, the rotating control device further comprising:

a sealing element disposed in the housing that is configured to seal against the drill pipe to block fluid flow through an annular space surrounding the drill pipe;

a bearing assembly disposed in the housing that enables the sealing element to rotate relative to the housing;

an insert that at least partially interfaces between the sealing element and the bearing assembly; and

at least one load cell integrated into the insert;

actuating the sealing element of the rotating control device to seal about the drill pipe;

rotating the drill pipe to initiate a managed pressure drilling operation; and

detecting, via the at least one load cell, eccentricity or misalignment of the drill pipe within the rotating control device during the managed pressure drilling operation.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the insert is comparatively more rigid than the sealing element.

5 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

correcting the eccentricity or the misalignment of the drill pipe within the rotating control device.

6 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

recording data or information relating to alignment of the drill pipe within the rotating control device in real time.

7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

monitoring a condition of the rotating control device based on the data or information.

8 . A system, comprising:

a drill pipe; and

a rotating control device comprising:

a housing defining a bore through which the drill pipe extends during a managed pressure drilling operation;

a sealing element disposed in the housing that is configured to seal against the drill pipe to block fluid flow through an annular space surrounding the drill pipe;

a bearing assembly disposed in the housing that enables the sealing element to rotate relative to the housing;

an insert that at least partially interfaces between the sealing element and the bearing assembly, wherein the insert is comparatively more rigid than the sealing element; and

a plurality of load cells placed in an interface between the sealing element and the insert, wherein each load cell of the plurality of load cells is configured to detect eccentricity or misalignment of the drill pipe within the rotating control device during the managed pressure drilling operation.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of load cells is configured to output information relating to alignment of the drill pipe within the rotating control device during the managed pressure drilling operation.